Low voter turnout anticipated for novel Montgomery County Road Bond package
Low turnout seen for road bond vote
9/11/2005
Howard Roden
The Courier
Copyright 2005
Early voter turnout on the $160 million road bond package has created a little concern among some Montgomery County officials, while others remain steadfastly optimistic the issue will receive overwhelming approval by county residents.
Five major construction projects totaling $219 million, as well as another $60 million in local improvements, are at the heart of the today's bond election. Twenty polling locations will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., but most officials anticipate an extremely light turnout.
Based on the 1,079 votes cast during early voting, County Judge Alan Sadler and Montgomery County Elections Administrator Carol Chedsey Gaultney expect a turnout of around 5,000 today. However, Precinct 3 Commissioner Ed Chance believes voter turnout could be as high as 10,000-12,000.
"I was satisfied," said Chance of the early voter turnout. "The turnout in The Woodlands and Conroe has been very strong and I expect that support to continue in those areas. I believe people will show up (today) and support an issue that is very important to our county."
Although an overt, organized opposition to the proposed bond package has been noticeably absent during the past two weeks, the early voting total was lower than what Sadler expected.
"Especially when you consider the amount of media coverage (the election) has received," he said. "It's not that county residents don't know about it. I'm not sure what to make of it. I knew there would be a low turnout, but not this low."
Gaultney said Friday that her Elections Central office had received quite a number of phone calls from county residents claiming they had just become aware of the election. She said her staff had e-mailed "thousands" of newsletters with information pertaining to the election.
"Not everyone has access to a computer and no everyone reads the newspaper," she said.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Craig Doyal said response to the proposed road bond package has been "very, very much" in the affirmative, but he agreed he would feel more comfortable with a greater turnout at the polls today.
"It's (the early turnover) a little frustrating," he said. "You always want to see a large turnout, but that's true in every election."
The bond election is a major component of the Pass-Through Toll Agreement, a first-of-its-kind funding mechanism in Texas that is supposed to accelerate much-needed road projects in Montgomery County. The road bonds will be used to fund construction, with the Texas Department of Transportation contractually agreeing to reimburse the county $207 million for pending and future projects.
At the same time the county voters will vote on the road bonds, city of Magnolia residents will decide today whether they will give its city council the authority to sell its natural gas utility distribution system.
Howard Roden can be reached at hroden@mail.hcnonline.net.
©Houston Community Newspapers Online 2005 : www.zwire.com
9/11/2005
Howard Roden
The Courier
Copyright 2005
Early voter turnout on the $160 million road bond package has created a little concern among some Montgomery County officials, while others remain steadfastly optimistic the issue will receive overwhelming approval by county residents.
Five major construction projects totaling $219 million, as well as another $60 million in local improvements, are at the heart of the today's bond election. Twenty polling locations will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., but most officials anticipate an extremely light turnout.
Based on the 1,079 votes cast during early voting, County Judge Alan Sadler and Montgomery County Elections Administrator Carol Chedsey Gaultney expect a turnout of around 5,000 today. However, Precinct 3 Commissioner Ed Chance believes voter turnout could be as high as 10,000-12,000.
"I was satisfied," said Chance of the early voter turnout. "The turnout in The Woodlands and Conroe has been very strong and I expect that support to continue in those areas. I believe people will show up (today) and support an issue that is very important to our county."
Although an overt, organized opposition to the proposed bond package has been noticeably absent during the past two weeks, the early voting total was lower than what Sadler expected.
"Especially when you consider the amount of media coverage (the election) has received," he said. "It's not that county residents don't know about it. I'm not sure what to make of it. I knew there would be a low turnout, but not this low."
Gaultney said Friday that her Elections Central office had received quite a number of phone calls from county residents claiming they had just become aware of the election. She said her staff had e-mailed "thousands" of newsletters with information pertaining to the election.
"Not everyone has access to a computer and no everyone reads the newspaper," she said.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Craig Doyal said response to the proposed road bond package has been "very, very much" in the affirmative, but he agreed he would feel more comfortable with a greater turnout at the polls today.
"It's (the early turnover) a little frustrating," he said. "You always want to see a large turnout, but that's true in every election."
The bond election is a major component of the Pass-Through Toll Agreement, a first-of-its-kind funding mechanism in Texas that is supposed to accelerate much-needed road projects in Montgomery County. The road bonds will be used to fund construction, with the Texas Department of Transportation contractually agreeing to reimburse the county $207 million for pending and future projects.
At the same time the county voters will vote on the road bonds, city of Magnolia residents will decide today whether they will give its city council the authority to sell its natural gas utility distribution system.
Howard Roden can be reached at hroden@mail.hcnonline.net.
©Houston Community Newspapers Online 2005 :
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Sunday, September 11, 2005
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