Vote In HCAD Races-Insist Elected Democrats Help Out

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​Important elections for the Harris County Appraisal District will be held on May 4. Early voting is April 22-April 30. If needed, a runoff would be in early June. 

This is a new elected position. There are three seats on the ballot. The seats are at-large. All Harris County votes for all three seats.

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."     

I encourage you to read the full story. There is a lot of detail and explanation. Here is the website of the Harris County Appraisal District.   

A leading advocate of this new elected office is far-right, election denying State Senator Paul Bettencourt. That's a loud alarm bell. 

Th public policy implications of the changes to the HCAD merit attention. But that is not the focus of the Houston Democracy Project.     

The point here is that every elected Republican contributes to the local infrastructure of authoritarianism. Republicans at every level of government are serious when they talk about suspension of civil liberties and mass round-ups of migrants. These attacks on our freedoms and our communities will require many local partners and boosters.   

In 2023 we saw three Republicans elected to Houston City Council At-Large positions. (There are five At-large positions total.) That's three more supporters of Trump and his democracy-busting plans in local public office. I've been watching Houston City Council meetings. I can report that At-Large Republican Julian Ramirez is an effective partisan for countywide Republican candidates.    

Our Democratic elected officials in Houston and Harris County mostly sat on the sidelines in these lost races last year. Just as they so often do in local, state and federal races. We must insist they do better for the HCAD spots. 

Here is who I am voting for in the HCAD races:  

Place 1: Kathy Blueford Daniels
Place 2: Melissa Noriega
Place 3: Pelumi Adeleke

Above you see Ms. AdelEke. She is new to Harris County politics. We had a cup of coffee. She told me about her view of the HCAD position & I told her how every public office held by someone who believes in democracy makes us all safer and stronger. She's good for the office in every respect and will be an effective advocate for the people of Harris County.

Ms Blueford Daniels is a former member of the HISD board who was robbed of her authority in the wrongful anti-democratic state takeover of HISD. Ms. Noriega is a former member of the Texas House of Reps. & Houston City Council. I've known Melissa for a long time and she is a good person.  

There are no Democrats other than Ms. Daniels and Ms. Adeleke in the Place 1 & 3 races. In my view, Ms. Noriega is the easy pick for Place 2. 

These will be low turnout elections. Republicans made certain the votes take place outside of normal primary or General Election days. (The Molly Cook-Jarvis Johnson election to complete John Whitmire's Senate term is May 4.)   

Vote in the HCAD election. Tell others about the election. Call, e-mail, text and talk to elected Democrats about taking an active part in the HCAD election & in all the fights ahead in 2024. They have an obligation to do so.    

Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.  

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected]

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