Peggy's Community Newsletter - October 2016 First and Foremost......This HOMETOWN is truly a community of first class friends and neighbors. KEEP ASKING WHY!!!! Voting by mail has already begun. I have been asked, emailed and texted for my recommendations. So here we go. I am not going to comment on any election except our own Township election. As I have said for the past several years, The Woodlands is going through a change and residents are listening and watching. As many of you may know, I have stepped down from public office. I now can sit back and watch who is really working for the people of our Hometown and who is not. We have many new leaders stepping forward. They represent no special interests, rather just you and me. They are not in the magazines, not one of The Woodlands elite, they have never cut any ribbons; they just stand up for US? By the way, don't be confused or misled by brochures & robo calls . They will often endorse candidates who are probably committed to voting for their “special” projects; like extending Woodlands Parkway. ..........Be careful. (PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS TO ANY AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS) "ASK PEGGY WHY?" TOP QUESTIONS image0011) Who are you endorsing in the upcoming Township election and why? 2) I thought Mike Bass was stepping down? SO DID I. Read his letter below 3) Is Incorporation on the ballot? NO..NO..NO. 4) Should we start saving for the Future now? YES..YES..YES 5) Who is behind the scare tactics? See below Get out and VOTE-VOTE-VOTE...Whether you agree with me or not does not matter. What does matter is your voice...... spoken with your vote.....be part of the solution. VOTERS: If you are voting straight ticket, you still need to scroll to the bottom of the ballot to vote in our Woodlands Township Election. My Township Choices Because. These are my opinions and my opinions only. TOWNSHIP DIRECTOR - POSITION 1 GORDY BUNCH: GORDY is a gentleman, has Integrity and is a TRUE LEADER!!!!! REMEMBER.....He led the petition charge with Matthew Burton to tell JUDGE DOYAL, MIKE BASS, BRUCE TOUGH and CHARLIE RILEY....THERE WILL BE NO WOODLANDS PARKWAY EXTENSION ON A BOND. He has brought fresh ideas to The Township, money-saving plans, rattled a few and asked a lot of questions. He has been the VOICE of the people, and has a wonderful ability to unite. His leadership skills, his business sense, and his can-do spirit are the future of our Hometown. I know he is accessible to the people and VOTES for US.....He has my vote... Why not Bob? Bob Leilich - I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY BOB IS RUNNING. HE WAS JUST ELECTED TO THE NEW MUD#1. HE JUST WAS SEATED ON THE BOARD. MY QUESTION IS THIS? IS HE GOING TO COMPLETE HIS TERM ON THE TOWNSHIP IF ELECTED? OR IS HE GOING TO LOSE INTEREST IN A MATTER OF MONTHS AND MOVE ON TO ANOTHER POSITION? HELP ME SEND A MESSAGE TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ....SERVE THE TERM OF THE OFFICE YOU JUST RAN FOR....ELECTIONS ARE A COMMITMENT, THEY ARE EXPENSIVE AND WE ARE WATCHING!!!!!!!!! I ALSO WONDER WHY HE LENT HIS NAME and PICTURE TO A VERY MISLEADING FLYER TO SCARE RESIDENTS INTO A BOGUS 70% TAX INCREASE. Amy Lampman – Don’t know Amy, but she also lent her name and photo to that flyer. TOWNSHIP DIRECTOR - POSITION 2 Brian Boniface - YES to replace Mike Bass at this Position 2 for sure. Brian will do a great job. He is a FRESH SET OF EYES. He will and does listen. Brian has integrity, comes from a military family, he is an Eagle Scout, a gentleman and a proud father. Brian and his wife, Nicole, are raising two beautiful young daughters. He has the heart of our Hometown. When Brian received the flyer he immediately started questioning the information. He asked why would or should I sign anything without learning the facts. What is this pledge really all about? He has the business sense, management skills and my vote for The Township board. Mike Bass - NO...Here is why.....Because he supported The Woodlands Pkwy Extension. He did not believe in the residents when they spoke. He thought he knew more then the 6000 people who signed a petition and said we don't want a pork ridden bloated road bond. Especially one that includes Woodlands Parkway being turned into the next 1960. He supported the bond with his thumb high in the air. HE ALSO SENT A LETTER TO THE BOARD AFTER THE BOND WAS DEFEATED. HE BASICALLY SAID. I QUIT. I HAVE PLACED A COPY FOR YOU TO REVIEW . YOU READ HIS LETTER AND YOU DECIDE. Our "HOMETOWN" does not need a director who doesn't support the voice of the people. (See letter below) TOWNSHIP DIRECTOR - POSITION 3 John Anthony Brown - YES - ANOTHER fresh set of eyes. John is a hard worker. He enjoys life here with his wife, Bonnie, and their 8-year-old daughter, Madison. I believe we can use his expertise and dedication. He has served on the Alden Bridge Village Association board where he was nominated as Volunteer of the Year in 2015. He brings a common sense approach and a Hometown excitement to the board. He will listen, ask questions and protect our HOMETOWN. John does not bring a special interest AGENDA with him. Stuart Schroeder: I have known Stuart for years. He is a gentleman, great community volunteer, fellow scout and fantastic guy. I am just puzzled on his positions and his picture on this misleading mail out. TOWNSHIP DIRECTOR - POSITION 4 BRUCE REISER - YES: I have known Bruce and his wife Sarah for years. He is a man of his word, Integrity, and he will do the research. I trust his judgement. I do know he will speak the message of the people and help shut down special interests. You won't see him photographed with thumbs up, signing pledges to satisfy people, he will listen. HE LISTENED WHEN WE SAID NO WOODLANDS PARKWAY EXPANSION, NO WASTE AND NO SPECIAL INTERESTS. Bruce has had an international business career while remaining rooted in The Woodlands with his family. Bruce is semi-retired so he has plenty of time to serve and help our HOMETOWN. He has my vote. Chris Grice: I really do not know him. I only know that he serves on the Montgomery. County Hospital District. He would have to step down from that board. He did Facebook me on a response and ask that I post. "Thanks Peggy then I hope you will clarify that my postion is as follows and ask the question why all candidates did not sign up to pledge. No Drastic Increase In Our Property Tax Rate , Protecting Our Township’s Unique Quality Of Life Pursuing A Responsible Pathway To Incorporation (No need to rush) My only response to that is, I think all of these points count to Integrity. I don't personally care if someone signs a pledge. I expect every public servant to watch for waste and always look for responsible paths. To me that's a given. I always watch what my public officials do, not pledges they sign. Then I cast my vote accordingly. I still remember the directors who DID NOT SIGN THE PETITION to eliminate Woodlands Parkway expansion from the road bond. If you recall this was the $350M bond that would have extended Woodlands Parkway out to 249. They were ROBB, TOUGH, LONG and BASS. DID THEY NOT KNOW THAT THE RESIDENTS DO NOT WANT A ROAD LIKE 1960 in our "Hometown?" BASS'S LETTER AFTER THE BOND WAS VOTED DOWN. Subject: Politics As many of you may know I have entertained the idea of running for County Commissioner, Precinct 3. It would be a tough campaign, but not one I would shy away from. I believe I could bring a much more professional and consensus building approach to dealing with the problems we face in Montgomery County. But the Bond election, including the recent public discourse at Commissioner Court, reminded me of how mean spirited and distasteful political service can be. I doubt that anything will change in the future. My wife and I realize that political service is not what we envisioned our future would, or should, hold. Thus, I have decided to get completely out of politics. I will not be running for County Commissioner in 2016. I will serve out my term as a Woodlands Township Director (ends in November 2016) but will not seek re-election. I can assure everyone that I will stay just as dedicated to serving as a Director for the remainder of my term as I have in the past. No change! But, Georgie and I are going to get back to working on those things we want to do, including staying involved in our community. Mike Bass, Director The Woodland's Township Board of Directors THE WOODLANDS INCORPORATION SCARE: SHOULD WE SAVE FOR THE FUTURE? YES! - "The Woodlands Concerned Taxpayers” fliers threatening a 70% tax increase is bogus information. Incorporation is not on the ballot and neither is a tax increase. The Woodlands Township budget for 2017 has been adopted and the tax rate is 0.23/1000, - the same as last year. Never on the flyer does it say if an increase it would only be on your Township tax. Ask yourself why, Ed Robb, Mike Bass, Ann Snyder and Jeff Long do not want you to put away a reserve for our future freedom to choose whether we want to be incorporated? They voted to not place designated funds away for our future planning. Did we not already say we want to be free of annexation? Ask yourself why someone does not want to save? The Township has other reserves, so this would not be unusual if one was set up. Saving now for the future is prudent and smart. Your family saves for the future and I hope my Woodlands family leader do as well. Why were they not concerned about your future? WATCH THIS VIDEO CLIP FROM THE TOWNSHIP MEETING. THEN ASK YOURSELF WHY????? https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yn7PJGPWFhMHlpWDU2Q0x2ZWc/view WHY ARE THEY TRYING TO SCARE YOU? DO THEY HAVE AN AGENDA? CLOSING COMMENTS THANK YOU! I have typed this paragraph before and it is worth repeating. I want to thank every candidate for stepping up to the plate to run for a position. It is not only a humbling experience, it is expensive, time consuming and you learn real fast who your true friends really are. So when you go to the polls and vote, stop and thank as many of the candidates as you can. Check out their web-site, call and place a sign in your yard for your choice or contribute financially to their campaigns. Don't stop asking questions. And remember: Poor candidates get elected by good people who DON’T vote! Thank-you and never stop asking WHY!!! "Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching" Feel free to forward to friends & family. I know I just did . This can be taken with you into the voting booth.