Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect that Natalie Carter received 5,223 votes in the Humble ISD Position 3 race during the May 3 election.

Updated 2:20 p.m., May 19

Humble ISD has accepted trustee Position 3 candidate Natalie Carter’s petition for an official recount of the results of the May 3 election, HISD Chief Communications Officer Jamie Mount confirmed May 19.

The details

According to the Harris County Elections Department, Position 3 incumbent Chris Parker edged out Carter by a margin of 40 votes in the May 3 election.


While trustees canvassed the results of the election during the board’s May 13 meeting, HISD General Counsel Jeremy Binkley said the process was legally required and doesn't automatically seat the candidates.

What’s next

In a May 18 post to her campaign’s Facebook page, Carter said the recount is expected to begin May 23.

If the recount for the Position 3 race were to result in a change of the winner, Binkley said the board would be required to recanvass the results of that race.


Posted 2:45 p.m., May 14

Humble ISD trustees canvassed the results of the May 3 election amid a potential recount for the Position 3 race and questions raised about the winner's eligibility in the Position 4 race.

The details

Trustees canvassed the results of the election during the board’s May 13 meeting.


According to the Harris County Elections Department, the results of the May 3 election are as follows:
  • Position 1: Oscar Silva defeated Gracie de Leon by a margin of 5,944 votes to 4,526 votes.
  • Position 3: Incumbent Chris Parker edged out challenger Natalie Carter by a margin of 5,263 votes to 5,223 votes.
  • Position 4: Brittnai Brown defeated incumbent Ken Kirchhofer and Tracy Shannon by a margin of 4,066 votes to 3,197 and 3,237 votes, respectively.
  • Position 5: Elizabeth Shaw defeated Scott Ford and Judy Castillo by a margin of 5,562 votes to 3,523 and 1,374 votes, respectively.
On May 13, Carter officially submitted a petition for a recount of the results of the Position 3 race, according to a May 13 post on her campaign’s Facebook page. Additionally, questions were raised during the May 13 meeting concerning Brown’s eligibility to serve as Position 4 trustee due to the home address listed in some of her campaign filing documents.

A closer look

HISD General Counsel Jeremy Binkley said the results of the election were canvassed as legally required by Texas Election Code. However, he noted canvassing the election doesn't automatically seat the candidates.

“There is currently a petition for a recount pending and a challenge to a candidate's eligibility,” Binkley said. “However, under Texas law, neither of these would affect the district's obligation to canvas the election results.”


Concerning the Position 4 race, Binkley said there had been no determination or declaration of ineligibility as of May 13.

Brown did not return Community Impact’s request for comment as of press time.

Concerning the recount for the Position 3 race, a recount coordinator will have 48 hours to review Carter's petition once it is received, according to the Texas Secretary of State's website. If the petition is approved, a recount supervisor would be required to order a recount to be held within seven days of its approval.

What’s next


If the recount for the Position 3 race were to result in a change of the winner, Binkley said the board would be required to recanvass the results of that race.

If Brown is determined to be ineligible to serve as Position 4 trustee, Binkley said it would create a vacancy for that position that would either be filled by an appointment from the board or a special election.