Events

Local Candidate Forums at The Woodlands Area Chamber

By Lauren Joerg | October 1, 2018

The Woodlands, TX – Election season is heating up in Montgomery County with numerous local races packed on the ballot. In an effort to inform the public on issues important to local voters as it relates to business, The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Advocacy Council will host candidate forums for Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, Conroe ISD Board of Trustees and The Woodlands Township Board of Directors.

The forums will be held at The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, located at 9320 Lakeside Blvd., Suite 200 in The Woodlands.

The Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District forum is on Friday, October 5 from 8-9:15 a.m. and features the following candidates:

Place 2: Jim Spigener and Garry Oakley
Place 3: John Paul Bouche
Place 5: Harry Hardman
Place 6: Jackie W. Chance Sr. and Webb Melder
Place 7: Larry A. Rogers, Emery E. Gallagher and Kent Maggert

The Conroe ISD Board of Trustees forum is on Wednesday, October 10 from 4-5 p.m. and features the following candidates:

Position 1: Paul K. Piper Jr., Theresa Wagaman, Dale R. Inman and Kathleen Harmatuk-Swisher
Position 3: Skeeter Hubert

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors forum is on Tuesday, October 16 from 5-6 p.m. and features the following candidates:

Position 2: Treva Taglieri and Brian Boniface
Position 4: Bruce Rieser and Francis “Frank” Dargavage

Representatives from Community Impact Newspaper will moderate the forums.

“As an organization whose mission is to advocate for business and economic development, The Woodlands Area Chamber has a keen interest in knowing what is happening in government. But it goes deeper. The Chamber is made up of members who live and work in the area. This is home; our members want to know who their elected officials are and where they stand on issues that affect us all,” said Chamber President J.J. Hollie.

While the Business Advocacy Council will take positions on broad policy issues, The Chamber does not endorse candidates.

“A candidate forum allows candidates seeking public office to express their views openly, so community members can understand their positions and make informed voting choices,” said Lupe Cuellar, government affairs director for The Chamber. “The Chamber provides the forums as a public service, and we are privileged and proud to play a role in the democratic process.”

Area residents are encouraged to participate by attending the candidate forums in person. Contact The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce at 281-367-5777 with any questions.

The General Election is November 6, with early voting from October 22 to November 2. For more information about the upcoming Montgomery County elections, visit legacy.mctx.org/election.

As the largest business organization in the Houston region, The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to advocating for businesses, creating marketing and networking opportunities, serving as a professional and community resource and supporting charitable causes. For more information, please visit www.woodlandschamber.org.