Lakewood Civic

The runoff election for Baytown City Council District 3 (Lakewood is in District 3) is scheduled for Saturday, December 10th with early voting from November 30 through Dec 2, Dec 5th & 6th. Voting at the Mockingbird Room at the Community Center on Market street.

The Candidates are Spencer Carnes (Lakewood resident) and Charles Johnson. Statements from the candidates can be found in an earlier post on this website via this link:  https://lakewoodcivic.org/?p=1133  (Note that Teclesha Blanchard is no longer in the running)

Please take time to vote!

This case actually happened just outside the city limits in Harris County and the police were not notified. We only found out through a family member.

Please pass this along to your neighborhood watch groups and let them know there is a con man in the area.

Male subject in a blue truck approaching elderly residents outside their home and striking up a conversation about how he did roof work for them 3-4 years ago when no such work was ever done. Male builds a rapport with elderly victim and offers to do “more work” for victim, quoting a very low price for something that would normally cost much more. (Example: $48 to black top driveway) if elderly victim agrees to the deal, male does shoddy; bogus work in about an hour or less and tells victim the price is now $500. If victim refuses to pay he threatens to call police on them.

If anyone has had this type of encounter or should anyone be solicited for something like this, please contact the police.

Stewart Beasley

Crime Prevention Officer

Baytown Police Department

Baytown City Council District 3 Candidates for November 2016 Election

(in alphabetical order)

Important note: If you vote by “pulling” the straight Republican or Democrat “lever”, you will also need to go to the section of the ballot for Baytown City Council and cast your vote specifically for this election or you will not be voting for this local election.

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Teclesha Blanchard

Baytown is in the heart of America. Geographically and economically.  We should serve as an example to the rest of our country that you can run a city government with a balanced budget, low taxes, and freedoms that promote businesses and community. I want to thank the Lakewood Civic Association for giving me the opportunity to share my message with Lakewood voters. This upcoming election is not about Clinton, Trump, Democrats, or Republicans.  It’s about Baytown.  It’s about District 3.  It’s about having someone who thinks outside of the partisan lines of our national parties, and focuses on what truly matters to the people of our city.  My qualifications go beyond my degree in Political Science from University of Houston, it goes beyond my experience working with Houston City Council, it goes beyond my experience working in a State Senator’s office.  My qualifications are largely manifested in my ambition and my goals to work together with our community to fix the issues that effect water contamination in and around our area. Not tomorrow but today. My ambition to enhance and grow business, by doing everything we can to make it easier for anyone to start a business. My ambition to hold our leadership accountable, by speaking up against matters that infringe on our rights as residents; and refusing to endorse issues that may burden our seniors in which case could limit their freedoms.

Lakewood is a community of champions. Champions like Dr. Dean Hutto, who much of our city counts on for Clean Teeth.  Champions like Mayor Don Carlos, who serves as a beacon of proper leadership.  Champions like our teachers and our elders that craft the young minds that make leaders of tomorrow.

It is the energy of our youth that can be enhanced by the wisdom of our elders.  There is no telling what we can achieve together.  Alone it is difficult to make changes, but TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  Vote Blanchard this election, because Baytown is on the ballot.  Let me be a servant to our city of champions.

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Spencer Carnes

September 2016

D. Spencer Carnes, P.E. has filed his paperwork to run for election to Baytown City Council District 3   which is to be vacated in November 2016 by current District 3 Councilman Brando Capetillo.   District 3 includes Lakewood, Craigmont, Ponderosa, Decker Terrace, Lantern Park, Quail Hollow, Ginger Creek, Country Club Cove, Country Club Manor, Kenwood Estates, and Eastpoint subdivisions along with San Jacinto Mall, and the north Baker Rd, and west Garth rd. commercial corridors’.

Spencer has been a resident of Baytown since 1970 when he joined the United States Steel Corporation Texas Works start up team as a management trainee. Progressing through numerous management positions he entered private practice as a Licensed Professional Engineer in 1980.

Mr. Carnes receives endorsements from District 128 State Representative R. Wayne Smith and former Baytown Mayor Calvin Mundinger.

Mr. Carnes has a long and distinguished record as a community volunteer.

He has chaired the Baytown Planning and Zoning Commission and the citizen steering committee for the Baytown Unified Land Development Code.  He is a member of the Baytown and West Chambers County Chambers of Commerce.  He also serves as State Director of the Bay Area Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.  Considering his experience as a professional engineer and his involvement in Baytown’s growth over the past 35 years as an entrepreneur, he believes he can make a productive contribution to the city’s path forward.  His vision is to continue participation in shaping the transportation and infrastructure systems as well as continued expansion of citizen quality of life efforts.  If elected he plans to  direct special attention toward the Baytown’s  Strategic Action Plan, the 2020 Comprehensive Plan, and the Future Land Use Plan.

While serving as a planning and zoning Commissioner Spencer was involved in modifying the City’s Oil and Gas and Recreational Vehicle ordinances and would move forward to see the Subdivision and Apartment ordinances up graded.

Personal goals include promoting pro-development policies in the city that create proactive permitting policies for development and small businesses and increasing the Baytown revitalization Incentive Zone to include parts of District 3.   With his experience in working with city staff he will have the ability to get more cooperation on district issues and get them included on a City Council agenda.

Mr. Carnes and his wife Joy own and operate Carnes Engineering, Inc., Dan’s Commercial Plumbing, LLC, Carnes Design Build, LLC, and Texas Hydrant Services, all local businesses.  Carnes and his wife Joy live in Lakewood and have two children and six grandchildren.

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Charles Johnson

My name is Charles Johnson, a lifelong resident of Baytown and proud graduate of Ross S. Sterling High School.  I have three post graduate degrees, which include an Associate of Child Development degree, an Associate degree in Substance Abuse Counseling  from Lee College and Bachelors degree in Leadership from the College of Biblical Studies.  I’ve worked with a coalition that focused on lowering alcohol and drug use in Baytown and surrounding areas.  I am currently working at Targa as a Process Operator Technician.

While knocking on over 500 neighborhood doors, which include the Lakewood Community, I’ve heard from many individuals who expressed concerns about quality of life issues and ways to

 improve conditions for the residents of Council District 3 and others citywide. In addition, I also utilized information received from the “Imagine Baytown” survey and focus groups found on the city’s website, to focus on specific needs and objectives for the community along with recommendations designed to improve the entire city.

Four primary areas of my platform are as follows:

1. Continue to attract economic development to the district. The overall objective is to enhance future business growth and development throughout the greater Baytown area. Specifically, Lakewood residents voiced concerns for a major grocery store and pharmacy being located nearby, not only for convenience, but also having to avoid traffic congestion on Garth Road.

2. City of Baytown should invest more in individual and family recreation. We have to focus and develop strategies to expand neighborhood parks; in addition to attracting cost effective entertainment to the area that will support and help to foster stronger family values. Local business should be encouraged to form partnerships where possible, with volunteers being encouraged to put on activities that will demonstrate appreciation to the citizens of Baytown for their commitment and support.

3. Work to improve traffic congestion on city streets. Develop a capital improvements program that will address the city’s growing needs by continuing to expand major thoroughfares and improving overall traffic flow. The city should also look for innovative ways to improve hazardous traffic conditions on roadway for the safety of our children by preventing excessive speeding on neighborhood streets.

4. Public safety and crime control are another major priority. Citizens of Lakewood, like others throughout the city, deserve to feel safe in public and at home, without fear of being victimized. Fire, ambulance, and police protection are essential to maintaining safety while helping to ensure the city’s continued development. Financial support for these city departments are essential to meet the required hiring and staffing levels needed to ensure the proper response times for the safety and protection of all our citizens.

Finally, I’m not asking to be the face of District 3, but I do want to be your voice on city council. We are “IT” Improving Together!

Sincerely Yours,

Charles Johnson,

Candidate, Baytown City Council District 3