Less than a week after being re-elected to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors, Chairman Bruce Tough announced Nov. 11 his intention to file as a Republican nominee for the District 15 seat on the House of Representatives. The position is currently held by Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, who intends to run for the District 4 seat on the house Senate, left vacant by Sen. Tommy Williams.

"Our district has a very bright future," Tough said. "But to continue our growth, prosperity and high quality of life, we must develop and successfully implement an action plan to address some critical issues in our region and our state. We need to take action now to ensure we can maintain our high educational and public safety standards, and that we have the roads and transportation options and water infrastructure we need to meet the demands that will be created by future development."

The primary will be in March 2014, and the general election will be in Nov. 2014. Tough ran unopposed and was re-elected to the township board of directors on Nov. 5 to serve a two-year term. He will begin serving the term at the Nov. 20 township board meeting.

Tough and his wife, Diana, moved to The Woodlands in 1996, where they have raised their four daughters, according to a press release. He was elected to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in 2008, and is currently serving in his third year as chairman. He also served on The Woodlands Community Association for 11 years—including five years as president—and was a member of the Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees for five years.

"Public safety, economic development, high-quality education and great quality of life are important to all of us, and we have raised the bar in our community," he said. "But these issues require significant state and regional involvement, and it is important to ensure our tax dollars are spent wisely. I am committed to making this happen. I am pleased to offer my candidacy and would be honored to serve as your state Representative."

Meanwhile, Toth is joined in the race for the vacant District 4 Senate seat by Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Woodlands Township Director Gordy Bunch. The special election for the position will be held in May.