Kameron Searle, Cynthia Blackman and Christopher Sanders
Three Run as Slate for Katy ISD Board
In a surprise move, three Katy ISD School Board challengers have united to form a conservative tax cutting slate for the May 10 election. Kameron Searle, Cynthia Blackman and Chris Sanders are combining their efforts in an attempt to replace each of the three incumbents in this year's race. The incumbents are Chris Crockett, Eric Duhon and Judy Snyder.
When asked how they came together, Cynthia Blackman said "we kept running into each other on the campaign trail and realized we all had the same basic goals." "Those goals include: cutting taxes, reducing the size of the District's bureaucracy and improving security in the schools so children will be safe and can excel to their full potential."
Searle, Blackman and Sanders agree that the main goal should be the best possible education for students in the District, but don't believe the only solution is to throw more of the taxpayers' money at the problem every time. "Scholastic performance is down in recent years and yet we are paying the highest school taxes of any large school district in Texas," says Chris Sanders. "We do not believe that the taxpayers are getting their money's worth and we want to do something about it."
It is their contention that spending in KISD is out of control and that Tom Law the only fiscal conservative on the Board is outvoted on money matters 6 to 1 every time. They would like to change that if they can. They contend that adding 3 more tax cutting trustees to the board would result in 4 to 3 votes for a fiscally responsible budget. Law has endorsed all three of the challengers.
All three have children enrolled in Katy ISD and are taxpayers in the District. "With middle class families and small businesses threatened by a possible recession and home owners squeezed by the housing crises, the last thing Katy residents need is another tax hike," says Searle.
Calling their team "Your Conservative Voice" the three have vowed to strengthen the Katy ISD School Board which they believe has been weakened over the years by the District's top heavy administration. In a recent candidates forum, the Superintendent actually suggested that he was an 8th member of the School Board.
"The response from voters we have talked to has been very positive," says Sanders. "Many have said they are far more likely to go vote in this year's school board election now that they can see real hope for change in the direction of the School Board and the District."
Searle, Blackman and Sanders are all members of C.L.O.U.T (Citizens Lowering Our Unfair Taxes). CLOUT was founded by Edd Hendee and is a grass roots movement and powerful political action committee boasting more than 20,000 members, who are committed to changing the political landscape in Texas to limit the unrestrained growth of government.
Kameron Searle, Cynthia Blackman and Chris Sanders are running for KISD School Board Trustee positions 3, 4 and 5 respectively.
Lone Star Times Article: "CLOUT Members Form Team in Conservative Bid to Reform Katy ISD"