Both the Texas Secretary of State and Texas Attorney General have confirmed receipt of a formal complaint over the handling of vote counting from last Saturday’s Katy ISD school board election.
Representatives from both offices yesterday confirmed the complaint filed by Katy resident Cynthia Murray Langley had been received and is being assigned for investigation.
Irene R. Diaz with the Secretary of State’s Elections Legal Division said the complaint was being assigned to an attorney for review. Also, Carlos Ibanez with the Texas Attorney General’s Office said the allegations would be given a criminal justice review.
Handling of the vote count for Saturday’s Katy ISD Board of Trustees election led to the complaint being filed.
Langley filed the election complaint with both agencies late Monday after she and another certified poll watcher were excluded from witnessing the delayed vote count at Katy ISD’s Education Support Complex Saturday night.
Among the irregularities cited, the complaint alleges Katy ISD’s elections administrator Bill Haskett and presiding poll judge Butch Adams refused to allow Langley and Darcy Kahrhoff, both certified poll watchers, observe the ballot counting process after problems arose amid reports of missing ballots from two polling locations.
Langley also said despite official poll watchers such as herself and Kahrhoff being refused entry, several people were admitted through a rear door of the Katy ISD administration building into the counting area. Among those Langley said were allowed in were former Katy ISD Trustee Eric Duhon and current Board President Joe Adams.
When contacted for comment by InstantNewsKaty, Katy ISD spokesman Steve Stanford said the district would not comment.
“Since this is a pending complaint, we don’t have a response at this time,” Stanford said.
Now the matter is in the hands of those responsible on a statewide basis to oversee such things.
Sad to say, they probably have more experience with fraud and under handed deals than anyone wants to admit, so I am sure they are well qualified to review this matter.
I was not at the ESC and only voted, so I have no first hand knowledge of these matters. I suspect most of us fall into this category and we should take a time out and let others attempt to resolve this dispute.
It seems there are only a few of areas of concern.
Polls watchers not allowed into the counting room.
The suspicion that some unauthorized persons were inside the counting room.
1600 misplaced votes which showed up later in the evening.
Each item seems to be within the scope and ability of the A. G.’s office to delve into, let’s allow them to do so and wait for the report.
In the meantime there is nothing to be gained by pointing fingers and calling people names. I hope we will receive a clean report and one we can all be satisfied with and then call it a day.
However, if violations did occur, then the question will be what action is to be taken. No one is alleging any of the candidates did anything illegal or improper but even so, depending on what the determination is, another election may be needed. I hope this is not the case and we can install Charles and Bryan and get things moving in a safe and productive manner.
There are many pressing issues coming before the trustees in the near future; setting the tax rate, the budget, staffing, etc., all need to be addressed and FAST otherwise we face a train wreck of sorts in the near term.
Sir, you are on notice if you do not run for school board next go round I am writing your name in!!!! :)
The real complaints are about the election processes we heard about on Saturday night. First the ‘winners’ were going to file a contest, and then they won. “Oh! Never mind….!” But who wants to go onto a school board of trustees with a dark cloud over it? Good intentions can go astray.
The integrity of an election conducted by a school district employee, who works for Supt Frailey, who openly endorsed his candidates and then won, should lift a few eye brows in our community. Does the school district follow the election code of Texas?
We heard Supt Frailey say that the district broke state and federal laws when his staff gave Joe Adams a list of every students’ emergency phone numbers. Joe Adams gave Becky Fox a copy which was later determined by Frailey to NOT follow the laws. These phone numbers were used during the Nov 2010 Bond Election by George Huntoon’s ROBO caller for the bond to pass.
What has happened with these events? Joe Adams was made president and Becky Fox was made V-P of the BOT.
* There were the ethics violations by Ann Hodge.
* A previous board of trustees hired Frailey without his superintendent certificate, but teachers have to have one to get hired by the district.
* Former Board President Judy Synder has not filed her accounting reports from last year’s BOT election.
*There was the firing of 500 teachers with $180 M in the local rainy day fund of the district. We had near riots in Katy schools over it.
*Bullying and intimidation happens in our school district to students, parents, teachers and staff.
Basically nothing happens in Katy when the school district breaks the laws and no one seems to care. The authorities cannot do their job until someone files such a complaints.
Let the dust settle and see what happens. Maybe this time we can clear the air and get back into integrity, honesty, and educating our children well.
I hope the real winners are our children and not the vendors.
KatyHome, I’m not sure where you get your information BUT at no time did the Griffin/Michalsky campaign ever consider contesting the vote. We had no reason to based on what our projections showed.
Looking at the numbers going into the final day of voting we had a good feeling that the numbers would play out close to what they did… I actually thought we would do better than ~55% for Bryan and ~47% for Charles but I’m an optimist (58% and 50%). The biggest surprise was how well Mrs. Majors did and how poorly Mrs. Blackman showed…
I would look to the Facbook postings of others to see the real thoughts about the evening… Don’t try and plant that seed on this side of the isle…
A complaint filed? Someone is not happy? I’m shocked….
Incidentally, I know a lady who worked for Karen Rue at Golbow Elem. and then for Terri Majors. She made it clear that she would not be voting for Mrs. Majors based on her methods and style of leadership. She felt we could do better. Pretty strong “un-endorsement” for me personally. Kind of like “would you hire this person again” when someone calls you for a reference.
Yes Harry,
By all means base your vote on one person’s opinion.
Oh! MY! Harry Potter!
Are you constipated? Need a couple doses of salts? You need a bar of soap.
You STINK on INK again. Too close to slander! Where is the violation button the thang?
So, when do we expect to hear the outcome of this investigation?