Early voting begins Dec. 1 in city runoff
Boykins faces Salinas in contest for at-large council position
Early voting for the Houston At-Large Position 4 runoff election will begin Monday, Dec. 1, and continue through Tuesday, Dec. 9.
Vying for the position formerly held by Letitia Plummer – who stepped down this past July to campaign for Harris County judge – are former Council Member Dwight Boykins and attorney Alejandra Salinas.
From 2014 to 2020, Boykins served Houston’s District D, where much of the South Belt is located, and worked closely with the Leader on many issues. He was elected to serve two terms but left halfway through his second one to run an unsuccessful campaign for mayor. He was replaced on Council with Carolyn Evans-Shabazz.
During November’s election, Salinas narrowly defeated Boykins in the crowded field of 15 candidates, receiving 21.9 percent of the vote to Boykins’ 21 percent. A runoff was still necessary, however, as no candidate received a 50-percent majority of the vote.
Nearby early polling sites include the following locations:
– Harris County Scarsdale Annex, 10851 Scarsdale Blvd. at Beamer.
– Harris County Freeman Branch Library, 16616 Diana Lane.
– Tom Bass Park Community Center, 15108 Cullen Blvd.
Voting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For additional information or to see a complete list of early voting locations, visit harrisvotes.org.
Election Day voting will take place Saturday, Dec. 13.
18th Congressional District
A similar runoff election will take place Saturday, Jan. 31, to determine who will fill the unexpired term of the state’s 18th Congressional District seat that was vacated by former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who died this past March shortly after taking his congressional office.
Vying for that position are Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards. In November’s general election, Menefee defeated Edwards, receiving 29 percent of the vote to his opponent’s 26 percent in the crowded field of 16 candidates.
Early voting in that runoff election will begin Wednesday, Jan. 21, and continue through Tuesday, Jan. 27. Polling locations had not been made public at press time.
Leader Christmas program underway
Annual drive collects/distributes toys, food to local families
The Leader’s annual Christmas program is currently underway, with dozens of local businesses, individuals and organizations actively collecting and donating items to the drive.
Now in its 42nd year, the program distributes toys and food to needy families in the immediate South Belt community.
The yearly drive began in 1982 when an unknown man entered the Leader office and asked for the newspaper’s assistance in distributing a turkey dinner to an area family in need. Later dubbed the “Good Samaritan” by the Leader staff, the man said his own needy family had been helped in such a way when he was a child, and he wanted to return the favor as an adult.
Desired donations include toys for children of all ages, nonperishable food items, paper products and cash. There is a particular need for gifts appropriate for older children and teens, such as clothing, sporting goods, makeup kits and gift cards. All gifts should be new and unwrapped.
Toy donations are currently being accepted at the Leader office, 11555 Beamer, but food donations will not be accepted until Monday, Dec. 8. Applications for assistance will be accepted only Wednesday, Dec. 3, through Tuesday, Dec. 9. Late applications will not be accepted this year. All seeking assistance must apply in person at the Leader office and be verified members of the immediate South Belt community.
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