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Four fight for seat in the CISD special election
  
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By Kassia Micek
Four newcomers are battling it out for the last remaining Conroe Independent School District trustee seat.
Candidates in the running for CISD Position 2 are Ed Blackburne, a 38-year-old university economics associate professor from Conroe; Chris Irish, a 34-year-old healthcare consultant from The Woodlands; Clarence Lewis, Jr., a 42-year-old mortician from Conroe; and Joe Michels, a 52-year-old attorney from Oak Ridge North. The election takes place Nov. 4.
Blackburne, Irish and Lewis currently have children in CISD and each cite that as one major reason they are running.
“I have…a vested interest in making sure our school functions properly,” said Blackburne, a father of six children ranging from 11 years to six months.
Lewis has two school-aged daughters.
“I’m interested in the school system state,” he said. “I have children in the school system. I want to represent those who have concerns and don’t know how to approach those who make the decisions.
“I want to be a voice for our whole school system of students, parents, staff and community. I wanted to bring a new perspective to the vision the board had already set.”
Irish has three school-aged children.
“I have three kids in the school district attending our schools,” he said. “I care deeply about the school district, the community and our children. …
“I know parents who like to have somebody who is invested like they are in the school district.”
Michels, a father of two college-aged daughters, said having had children at every level in CISD, gives him first-hand knowledge of what different schools and families need.
He and Blackburne stressed a critical area of concern is preparing students for the future.
“We need to make sure our children are prepared for an ever-changing future,” Michels said.
Blackbrune, a Conroe High School graduate, agreed.
“I want to make sure graduates are served well and compete at the national level,” he said.
Blackburne pointed to the current economic financial crisis as a major area of concern.
“Believe it or not, that will impact the school district and the ability to raise bonds and build schools,” he said. “We are in a growing population area, so resources are going to continue to be stretched. We can’t continue increasing property values.”
Michels addressed the need to attract and keep quality teaching staff.
“We need to make sure we provide wages to teachers and administrators that attract quality employees to CISD,” Michels said. “I believe I have the experience, history and passion to do the best job.”
He and Irish both stressed the district’s need to be fiscally responsible. As mayor of Oak Ridge North for six years, Michels said he lowered taxes.
“I understand fiscal responsibility,” Michels said. “I know how taxes affect our businesses. I know a strong school system builds our businesses and community.”
However, Irish said his background in business management and marketing would help him steer the board toward fiscal responsibility.
“Before we pass a bond, I think we need to ask ourselves if we’ve used all our resources the best we can.”
Lewis stressed he wants to help district employees embrace diversity and help all students achieve their goals no matter their needs. Other areas of concern include taxes, maintenance of school facilities and safety of children and teachers, he said.
“I’m a representative of the whole district,” he said. “I feel like I can be an official candidate for each campus and the areas they serve.”
Areas of concern to Irish are to teach students the county’s national heritage and to support teachers while not under mining what parents teach at home.
“I think we don’t do enough to support our teachers, bus drivers and other staff,” Irish said. “At the same time, we don’t want the school district to under mind the teachings we do at home.”
He would also stress transparency with district actions.
Irish has served as a member of the Village of Alden Bridge Community Association, scout leader, YMCA coach, Sunday school teacher and co-founded the Family Values Action Committee in Montgomery County.
A CHS graduate, Lewis has been serving his community continuously on church boards, the city planning commission, Concerned Citizens, Conroe Noon Lions Club, Greater Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce and Literacy Volunteers of America in addition to helping with the family business.
Aside from his work with the city of Oak Ridge North, Michels served on the CISD Facilities Planning Committee twice, YMCA board of directors, The Woodlands Waterway Art Council board, Oak Ridge High School Band Boosters, Friends of Tamina, South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce and chaired Parents Advocating Stellar Schools.
“I’ve been active in all phases of our community,” Michels said.
Blackburne has served on numerous university and church committees and his family owns several Conroe business, including Conroe’s Incredible Pizza Company, two manufacturing companies and recently purchased the River Plantation County Club, he said.
“I understand how important is it to reach issues with a consensus,” he said
A vacancy was left in Position 2 when Bruce Tough resigned after he was elected to The Woodlands Township board May 10.
Incumbents Ann Snyder, Lynda Sasser, John Husbands and Gerald Irons in Position 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, did not have opponents and will retain their seats.
Name: Ed Blackburne
Age: 38
Occupation: university economics associate professor
Residence: Conroe
Family: Wife Nicole, six children ages 11, 10, 7, 5, 3, 6 months
Contact: (936) 203-8855
Position sought: CISD Position 2
Name: Chris Irish
Age: 34
Occupation: healthcare consultant
Residence: The Woodlands
Family: Wife Jennifer, three children ages 9, 7, 4
Contact: www.chrisirish.org
Position sought: CISD Position 2
Name: Clarence Lewis, Jr.
Age: 42
Occupation: mortician
Residence: Conroe
Family: Wife Janice, two daughters ages 14, 10
Contact: (936) 672-1565
Position sought: CISD Position 2
Name: Joe Michels
Age: 52
Occupation: attorney
Residence: Oak Ridge North
Family: Wife Gail, two daughters in college
Contact: www.jmichels.com or (281) 681-5939
Position sought: CISD Position
Candidates in the running for CISD Position 2 are Ed Blackburne, a 38-year-old university economics associate professor from Conroe; Chris Irish, a 34-year-old healthcare consultant from The Woodlands; Clarence Lewis, Jr., a 42-year-old mortician from Conroe; and Joe Michels, a 52-year-old attorney from Oak Ridge North. The election takes place Nov. 4.
Blackburne, Irish and Lewis currently have children in CISD and each cite that as one major reason they are running.
“I have…a vested interest in making sure our school functions properly,” said Blackburne, a father of six children ranging from 11 years to six months.
Lewis has two school-aged daughters.
“I’m interested in the school system state,” he said. “I have children in the school system. I want to represent those who have concerns and don’t know how to approach those who make the decisions.
“I want to be a voice for our whole school system of students, parents, staff and community. I wanted to bring a new perspective to the vision the board had already set.”
Irish has three school-aged children.
“I have three kids in the school district attending our schools,” he said. “I care deeply about the school district, the community and our children. …
“I know parents who like to have somebody who is invested like they are in the school district.”
Michels, a father of two college-aged daughters, said having had children at every level in CISD, gives him first-hand knowledge of what different schools and families need.
He and Blackburne stressed a critical area of concern is preparing students for the future.
“We need to make sure our children are prepared for an ever-changing future,” Michels said.
Blackbrune, a Conroe High School graduate, agreed.
“I want to make sure graduates are served well and compete at the national level,” he said.
Blackburne pointed to the current economic financial crisis as a major area of concern.
“Believe it or not, that will impact the school district and the ability to raise bonds and build schools,” he said. “We are in a growing population area, so resources are going to continue to be stretched. We can’t continue increasing property values.”
Michels addressed the need to attract and keep quality teaching staff.
“We need to make sure we provide wages to teachers and administrators that attract quality employees to CISD,” Michels said. “I believe I have the experience, history and passion to do the best job.”
He and Irish both stressed the district’s need to be fiscally responsible. As mayor of Oak Ridge North for six years, Michels said he lowered taxes.
“I understand fiscal responsibility,” Michels said. “I know how taxes affect our businesses. I know a strong school system builds our businesses and community.”
However, Irish said his background in business management and marketing would help him steer the board toward fiscal responsibility.
“Before we pass a bond, I think we need to ask ourselves if we’ve used all our resources the best we can.”
Lewis stressed he wants to help district employees embrace diversity and help all students achieve their goals no matter their needs. Other areas of concern include taxes, maintenance of school facilities and safety of children and teachers, he said.
“I’m a representative of the whole district,” he said. “I feel like I can be an official candidate for each campus and the areas they serve.”
Areas of concern to Irish are to teach students the county’s national heritage and to support teachers while not under mining what parents teach at home.
“I think we don’t do enough to support our teachers, bus drivers and other staff,” Irish said. “At the same time, we don’t want the school district to under mind the teachings we do at home.”
He would also stress transparency with district actions.
Irish has served as a member of the Village of Alden Bridge Community Association, scout leader, YMCA coach, Sunday school teacher and co-founded the Family Values Action Committee in Montgomery County.
A CHS graduate, Lewis has been serving his community continuously on church boards, the city planning commission, Concerned Citizens, Conroe Noon Lions Club, Greater Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce and Literacy Volunteers of America in addition to helping with the family business.
Aside from his work with the city of Oak Ridge North, Michels served on the CISD Facilities Planning Committee twice, YMCA board of directors, The Woodlands Waterway Art Council board, Oak Ridge High School Band Boosters, Friends of Tamina, South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce and chaired Parents Advocating Stellar Schools.
“I’ve been active in all phases of our community,” Michels said.
Blackburne has served on numerous university and church committees and his family owns several Conroe business, including Conroe’s Incredible Pizza Company, two manufacturing companies and recently purchased the River Plantation County Club, he said.
“I understand how important is it to reach issues with a consensus,” he said
A vacancy was left in Position 2 when Bruce Tough resigned after he was elected to The Woodlands Township board May 10.
Incumbents Ann Snyder, Lynda Sasser, John Husbands and Gerald Irons in Position 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, did not have opponents and will retain their seats.
Name: Ed Blackburne
Age: 38
Occupation: university economics associate professor
Residence: Conroe
Family: Wife Nicole, six children ages 11, 10, 7, 5, 3, 6 months
Contact: (936) 203-8855
Position sought: CISD Position 2
Name: Chris Irish
Age: 34
Occupation: healthcare consultant
Residence: The Woodlands
Family: Wife Jennifer, three children ages 9, 7, 4
Contact: www.chrisirish.org
Position sought: CISD Position 2
Name: Clarence Lewis, Jr.
Age: 42
Occupation: mortician
Residence: Conroe
Family: Wife Janice, two daughters ages 14, 10
Contact: (936) 672-1565
Position sought: CISD Position 2
Name: Joe Michels
Age: 52
Occupation: attorney
Residence: Oak Ridge North
Family: Wife Gail, two daughters in college
Contact: www.jmichels.com or (281) 681-5939
Position sought: CISD Position
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