With all Harris County precincts reporting, the revised unofficial voting totals in The Woodlands incorporation election for both Montgomery and Harris counties show the two propositions will fail. The vote for Proposition A is 7,932 for, or 32.56%, and 16,431 against, or 67.44%, the measure. The vote for proposition B is 8,031 for, or 33.03%, and 16,283 against, or 66.97%. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Updated 10:37 p.m.
With all Election Day precincts reporting in Montgomery County and early voting results from Harris County, about 68% of voters in The Woodlands opposed incorporation, while 32% voted in favor of it. As of 10:36 p.m., 7,470 voters voted for Proposition A and 15,736 were opposed. A total of 7,547 voters voted for Proposition B and 15,611 voted against.
Ann Snyder, a member of The Woodlands Township board of directors who had opposed putting the item on the ballot, said in a personal statement the vote was a message from residents to focus on other matters at hand.
"I would like to thank The Woodlands residents for ratifying our successful form of government as The Woodlands Township and making it clear that our energies and resources need to be focused on launching a Performing Arts Center, revitalizing our older village centers and most importantly addressing our structural concerns at Fire Station No. 5," she said.
Gordy Bunch, the chair of the board of directors, could not immediately be reached for a comment while results by the counties were still incomplete.
Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack described the results as a victory in an email through his Noack for County Commissioner campaign.
"I am proud to have led the fight against their Washington-style promises of bigger government and no higher taxes, which were false on their face, along with their series of mistruths regarding financing, roads, and public safety," Noack said.
Posted 7:45 p.m. Nov. 2
Early and absentee votes from Montgomery County in the incorporation election in The Woodlands show about 30% in favor and 70% opposed to Propositions A and B.
A total of 3,890, or 30.13% of early and absentee voters voted for Proposition A, and 9,019, or 69.87% voted against Proposition B.
A total of 3,897, or 20.36% of early and absentee voters voted for Proposition B, and 8,983, or 69.74% voted against Proposition B.
Proposition A would authorize incorporation and the adoption of a maximum initial tax rate; Proposition B would transfer the rights and powers of the township to a new city.
The conversation surrounding incorporation has been ongoing since legislation made incorporation possible in 2017. Here is a look back at some of the events leading to the 2021 election.
The township has had the option to incorporate since 2014 under regional participation agreements with Houston and Conroe, and its immunity from annexation from those cities will expire in 2057.
Upon incorporation, a city of any size first becomes a general-law city, which normally have no more than 5,000 residents. New city council members would then be elected by residents, and it could subsequently become a home-rule city with its own charter and constitution.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
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