The 2022 Elections provide an important opportunity to right the course of The Woodlands Township Board in light of the single-minded, agenda-driven, and costly incorporation boondoggle that our community has had to endure in recent years. Incorporation Squad leaders Gordy Bunch and Bruce Rieser are stepping down from their positions at the end of this term after incorporation was put to a vote and got a thumping in the 2021 elections. They got the message: the residents decided, not the Board. 

It is time to elect civic-minded leaders who will listen to the community while removing incumbents and other candidates who have followed along with the Incorporation Squad and its misguided agenda.  Early voting starts on Monday, October 24, and Election Day is November 8.

The analysis below shows the candidates and their positions and past actions regarding incorporation.  I’m looking for the candidates who have clearly and consistently said “NO” to incorporation over the past year or more. Check marks indicate the candidates that I find to meet these criteria.

The strongest candidates based on these criteria are

• Brad Bailey (position 1)
• Linda Nelson (position 2)
• Richard Franks (position 3)
• Kyle Watson (position 4).

These candidates, like the majority of The Woodlands voters, appreciate and understand the unique value and benefits that our special purpose tax district “Township” model provides The Woodlands. They will not seek to drastically alter The Woodlands' governance structure with an incorporation that is guaranteed to increase property taxes in The Woodlands in exchange for no substantial benefits for our local community.

Furthermore, I have gotten to know these candidates and personally find each of them to be most qualified to serve the best interests of the residents and taxpayers of The Woodlands.

These candidates are running against a slate of candidates who are endorsed by the pro-incorporation county tea parties with special interests. It may sound ironic that the “conservative” tea parties have been pushing for the incorporation of The Woodlands that would lead to bigger government and higher taxes on The Woodlands. However, it makes sense from the counties’ standpoint: These county tea parties want to increase taxes on The Woodlands in order to lower their own county taxes. An incorporated city of The Woodlands would take on the cost of paying for its own roads and police from the counties, all while continuing to pay the counties the same property tax rate as everyone else for fewer services.

These county organizations controlled by non-Woodlands residents should quit meddling in The Woodlands elections. The Woodlands taxpayers are already paying more than our fair share to the counties. 

THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTIONS CANDIDATE ANALYSIS

POSITION 1

BRAD BAILEY - ✓ MEETS CRITERIA
AGAINST INCORPORATION 
Campaigned against incorporation and higher taxes in 2021
 

Craig Rickard - Doesn't meet criteria
FOR INCORPORATION but evasive on the topic
Called himself and The Woodlands voters “misinformed and lazy” for voting against incorporation, proposed revisiting incorporation with better messaging and marketing to “SELL” it to voters, says another incorporation vote "needs to happen."
 

POSITION 2

LINDA NELSON - ✓ MEETS CRITERIA
AGAINST INCORPORATION 
Campaigned AGAINST incorporation and higher taxes in 2021.
 

Jason J. Nelson - Doesn't meet criteria
LEANS FOR INCORPORATION
Gordy's yes man, voted to place incorporation on 2021 ballot. *See also concern below.
 

POSITION 3

RICHARD FRANKS - ✓ MEETS CRITERIA
AGAINST INCORPORATION 
Campaigned AGAINST incorporation and higher taxes in 2021.
 

John Anthony Brown - Doesn't meet criteria
FOR INCORPORATION
Gordy's yes man, public statements support incorporation, voted not to put on 2021 ballot though stated he’d like to see it on the 2022 ballot.
 

POSITION 4

Steve Lawrence - Doesn't meet criteria
FOR INCORPORATION 
Campaigned FOR incorporation in 2021. **See also concern below.
 

KYLE WATSON - ✓ MEETS CRITERIA
AGAINST INCORPORATION 
Campaigned AGAINST incorporation and higher taxes in 2021.
 

Additional Notes:

* Jason Nelson has been the subject of numerous police reports by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office over the last few years, with his most recent incident occurring on September 24, 2022.

** Steve Lawrence claims city status means smaller government, which is ludicrous because a city adds more government agencies and bureaucracies to the existing governmental bodies in the county.