Lone Star College System Transitions to District Elections

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Trustee Elections for the Lone Star College System are in the process of transitioning to being elected by district, rather than at-large as they have for many years.

The college began the change in 2014 with trustees for districts 3, 4 and 9 garnering votes just in those districts.

Voters may only cast a ballot in the election if they live in one of the affected districts.

“The reason for the change was that the U.S. Justice Department struck down at-large elections in Texas
under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, ruling them discriminatory because they at times dilute the minority vote,” said Bill Van Rysdam, LSCS manager of media relations told Community Impact News. “There was no allegation of Lone Star College doing anything wrong, but the college needed to change the way its board was set up to be in compliance.”

This year, three Lone Star College System trustee positions will be up for re-election this fall on the Nov. 8 ballot, with trustees for districts 5, 6 and 7.

Incumbent David Vogt and Luis Granados are running for the District 5 position, and Myriam Saldivar is running unopposed for the District 6 position.
Incumbent Linda Good is running against District 8 trustee Ron Trowbridge for the District 7 slot.

Good’s term expires this year, and Trowbridge’s term will expire in 2018.

However, should Trowbridge be elected as District 7’s trustee, another person will need to be appointed as trustee for District 8.

To fill an unexpired position after Election Day, a chair-appointed committee will solicit and review applications, interview candidates and make a recommendation to the board, Van Rysdam said.

After the election in 2018, all nine districts will have been voted on by district rather than at large, Van Rysdam said.

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