Practically three weeks after the Might 3 election, two of the 4 Humble ISD college board seats that had been on the poll stay in limbo.
The district northeast of Houston introduced this week that trustee-elect Brittnai Brown is ineligible to serve on the varsity board as a result of her voter registration didn’t include an deal with inside the Houston-area district earlier than the required deadline.
The place 4 seat is technically vacant in consequence, Humble ISD mentioned in a information launch posted to its web site, though incumbent Ken Kirchhofer continues to function trustee beneath a state regulation relating to vacancies.
“Underneath Texas regulation, the Board could both maintain a particular election or appoint a alternative to fill the place,” the district mentioned in its information launch. “The Faculty Board has not but met to find out the strategy for filling the emptiness.”
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The board’s subsequent common assembly is scheduled for June 10, when the opposite not too long ago elected trustees are set to be sworn in. However one of many different races, for the place 1 seat, is headed to a recount.
Natalie Carter, who misplaced to incumbent board president Chris Parker by 40 votes in a race wherein almost 10,500 ballots had been solid, petitioned for a recount and paid the required deposit, based on Humble ISD spokesperson Jamie Mount. Mount mentioned Friday the recount is scheduled to start Tuesday.
Parker didn’t instantly reply to a Friday message looking for remark concerning the recount.
The affirmation of Brown’s ineligibility got here per week after one other candidate within the race, Tracy Shannon, filed a lawsuit towards Brown and Humble ISD election administrator Karen Martin. In her lawsuit, Shannon argued she ought to be declared the winner on account of Brown’s ineligibility and since she secured the second-most votes within the three-candidate race, which additionally included the incumbent Kirchhofer.
“[Shannon] is hoping that the district will do the suitable factor and have one other election or appoint someone that might signify the district’s values,” Shannon’s legal professional, Martin Etwop, advised Houston Public Media on Friday. “I will name the legal professional after which draft one thing and ship it to them saying … ‘We’ve got agreed that we’re not going ahead with the swimsuit anymore.’ “
Humble ISD mentioned in its information launch about Brown’s ineligibility that Texas regulation requires a candidate to be registered to vote inside the district the place they’re looking for workplace earlier than the submitting deadline.
Brown’s voter registration as of Feb. 14 — candidates’ submitting deadline for the Might 3 election — didn’t have a Humble ISD deal with in impact, the district mentioned.
“Brown’s voter registration listed her residency in Houston ISD till she modified her deal with on her voter registration to Humble ISD,” the district mentioned in its launch. “The change grew to become efficient on March 16, 2025. Texas Secretary of State tips specify that deal with adjustments for voter registration grow to be efficient 30 days after submission and acceptance.”
Brown obtained essentially the most votes with 4,066, whereas Shannon positioned second with 3,237 votes and Kirchhofer obtained 3,197.
Brown couldn’t be reached for remark Friday. However in a letter filed in court docket — written earlier than she was deemed ineligible by the district — Brown mentioned her major deal with has been inside the district since August 2024.
“I often journey between my Humble ISD residence and my dad and mom’ residence to offer assist to my sister and to avail myself of childcare provisions for my son,” Brown wrote within the submitting. “I used to be not cognizant that voting at my dad and mom’ deal with could possibly be interpreted as disputing my residency. My voting motion was solely based mostly on comfort and necessity. … No misrepresentation of my residency was meant.”
The Humble ISD Board of Trustees canvassed the outcomes of the Might 3 election final week. Through the assembly, Humble ISD’s normal counsel, Jeremy Binkley, clarified that state regulation required trustees to canvass the outcomes.
“The district is required to canvas the election outcomes by the eleventh day after the election beneath the Texas Election Code,” Binkley mentioned. “As we have heard, there’s presently a petition for a recount pending and a problem to a candidate’s eligibility. Nevertheless, beneath Texas regulation, neither of those would have an effect on the district’s obligation to canvas the election outcomes.”
