After all voting centers and precincts in Harris and Montgomery counties were counted, the incumbents on The Woodlands Township board of directors kept their election night leads and retained their two-year seats.
For Position 1, incumbent Gordy Bunch received 30,230, or 67.28%, of the votes. Jerry D. Smith Jr. received 9,188, or 20.45%, of the votes. Ron Keichline, who withdrew from the race, received 5,515, or 12.27% of the votes.
Bunch said in an email Nov. 4 he appreciate the support he had received in the election.
"I am very grateful to have the opportunity to continue serving the hometown I love," Bunch said, "I'd like the thank my family, friends, volunteers and most of all The Woodlands residents for their vote of confidence. Elections can be contentious at times and now is the time to set aside our differences and focus on taking care of our community. I'd like to thank all the candidates that chose to run this year and congratulate Directors Nelson, Brown and Rieser on their respective re-election victories."
Meanwhile, Position 2 incumbent Jason J. Nelson received 20,442, or 48.02%, of the votes. Jimmie Dotson received 14,235, or 33.44%, of the votes. Tom Chumbley received 4,005, or 9.41%, of the votes. Louis Granados received 3,892, or 9.14%, of the votes.
Runoff elections, which feature candidates with less than 50% of the vote, are not held in The Woodlands Township.
"It’s a humbling honor to be elected by the residents of The Woodlands," Nelson said in an email. "I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve this great community."
Nelson added, "I want to thank my family, friends and all those who supported me."
Incumbent Bruce Rieser received 23,904, or 57.24%, of the votes for Position 4, while Dan Hannon received 17,854, or 42.76%, of the votes.
Editor's note: The vote tallies were updated at 9:43 a.m. based on final unofficial numbers from The Woodlands Township. Comments from Gordy Bunch were added at 10:51 a.m.
Updated 10:39 p.m.
The incumbents in three contested seats on The Woodlands Township board of trustees have received the most votes in the Nov. 3 election counted thus far, according to unofficial results.
With 100 of 100 precincts reporting in Montgomery County and 257 of 797 precincts reporting in Harris County, Gordy Bunch, Jason J. Nelson and Bruce Rieser have the highest vote totals among the candidates vying for the three seats.
For Position 1, incumbent Gordy Bunch received 27,881, or 67.52%, of the votes. Jerry D. Smith Jr. received 8,531, or 20.66%, of the votes. Ron Keichline, who withdrew from the race, received 4,884, or 11.83% of the votes.
Meanwhile, Position 2 incumbent Jason J. Nelson received 18,627, or 47.55%, of the votes. Jimmie Dotson received 13,416, or 34.25%, of the votes. Tom Chumbley received 3,612, or 9.22%, of the votes. Louis Granados received 3,515, or 8.97%, of the votes.
Incumbent Bruce Rieser received 22,057, or 57.55% of the votes for Position 4, while Dan Hannon received 16,270, or 42.45% of the votes.
Bunch and Nelson could not immediately be reached on election night.
Rieser said he felt the presidential election had helped to bring voters to the polls, but that those voting on local issues in The Woodlands residents had expressed confidence in their current governance with their votes.
"This is a win for the residents," Rieser said. "They’ve spoken very clearly in the last four election cycles they want us to complete the incorporation study, educate them on the results and let them decide."
Updated 7:46 p.m.
With early voting results released, incumbents took an early lead in races for The Woodlands Township board of directors among votes cast in Montgomery County and Harris County.
Position 1
Incumbent Gordy Bunch received 22,740, or 77.23%, of the votes. Jerry D. Smith Jr. received 7,516, or 22.77%, of the votes. Ron Keichline, who withdrew from the race, received 3,598, or 10.96% of the votes.
Bunch is president and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group and serves as The Woodlands Township board of directors chair, among other roles.
Smith is a clinical psychologist and former federal law-enforcement officer among other roles.
Position 2
Incumbent Jason J. Nelson received 17,380, or 48.93%, of the votes. Jimmie Dotson received 11,824, or 33.29%, of the votes. Tom Chumbley received 3,195, or 8.99%, of the votes. Louis Granados received 3,121, or 8.79%, of the votes.
Nelson is a minister and current member of the board of directors. Dotson is a retired Houston ISD chief of police and retired executive assistant chief of police in Houston. Chumbley, a consultant, has served on Grogan's Mill and Cochran's Crossing Village boards. Granados is a mechanical and nuclear engineer.
Position 4
Incumbent Bruce Rieser received 20,177, or 55.23% of the votes. Dan Hannon received 14,503, or 44.77% of the votes.
Rieser, an aviation consultant, has served two terms on the board of directors, currently as vice chairman.
Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide/election-results to see results from all local elections in your community.
Results are updated as of 7:16 p.m. and are unofficial until they are canvassed and certified by the county clerk.
Under Texas election law, the clerk accepts and counts mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day and received by Nov. 4, if they were sent from inside the U.S., or Nov. 9 if they were sent from outside the U.S.
