All About The HCAD Races

What is going on? When can I vote? Where can I vote? 

Early voting for three new elected Harris County Appraisal District positions ends May 1. General Election Day is Saturday, May 4. There are three seats on the ballot. The seats are at-large. All Harris County votes for all three seats. Here is where you can vote from Harris Votes. 

Who should I vote for? 

Position One: Kathy Blueford Daniels
Position Two: Melissa Noriega
Postion Three: Pelumi Adeleke 

​These are three good, fully competent to do the job and trustworthy candidates who are best-positioned to defeat Republican challengers in this election. This is the slate endorsed by local organized labor. The Houston LGBTQ Political Caucus did not endorse for procedural reasons that had nothing to do with the candidates. Each of these candidates is a Democrat.    
  
Why should I vote? 

Every elected Republican contributes to the local infrastructure of authoritarianism. Republicans at every level of government are serious when they talk about the suspension of civil liberties and mass round-ups of migrants. These attacks on our freedoms and on our communities will require many local partners and boosters. The Harris County Republican Party has endorsed a slate of one candidate in each of the three HCAD spots. Republicans are focused on winning elections at all levels of government. We could learn from that focus.     

The Houston Democracy Project is all about democracy. Democracy is on the ballot in every election.   

With these high stakes and with democracy on the ballot in every election, have local elected Democrats that  I support helped get the word out about the HCAD vote?  

As is so often the case when their own names are not on the ballot, most have sat on the sidelines. Here is what Houston-area Democratic State Rep. Christina Morales said in the Houston Chronicle:

"Even some members of the Texas Legislature aren't aware of the appraisal district board elections, State Rep. Christina Morales, a Houston Democrat, said last week. “In one of the group texts, I said, 'You realize there’s an election on May 4? ' And two in the group said 'I had no clue,'” Morales said. “These are my colleagues who voted on this piece of legislation.” 

We must demand more from the people we support.   

​What exactly are these new positions?  

Here is a story about the new positions from the Texas Tribune.

From the Tribune:

"....This May, voters in those most populous counties will be asked to elect three members of their respective appraisal district boards. When Texas voters approved constitutional amendments to lower property taxes....they also approved new political positions within their appraisal districts that are now up for election in May.....Appraisal districts determine annual property valuations based on market value, which helps local taxing entities calculate how much tax revenue they can receive in a given year, and set their tax rates and budgets. Since 1980, these districts have included a property tax appraiser and an appointed board...Beginning in May, there will be four-year terms for members of the boards for appraisal districts with populations over 75,000 and each will have eight members. Three of this those will be elected."     

Here is the website of the Harris County Appraisal District. 

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