Beginning on November 4, voters in Conroe will have the opportunity to vote on fifteen different charter amendments, one of which proposes transferring power from elected officials to an appointed city manager.
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On November 4, voters in Conroe will have the opportunity to determine the future of City Hall’s leadership structure. This includes potential salary reductions for the mayor and city council members, along with the delegation of daily operations to an appointed city manager, as part of 15 proposed amendments to the city charter.
The alterations may represent the most notable transformation in Conroe’s leadership since its establishment in 1904, when J.F. Collier took office as the city’s inaugural mayor. A hundred years later, a split city council is seeking input from voters on the potential shift from a mayor-council system to a council-manager form of governance.
“It’s clear that there’s a division among the council,” Councilmember Marsha Porter remarked during a meeting on August 14. “This is precisely why it should be presented to the voters for their decision.”
The suggested changes also involve reducing the quorum requirement for public meetings, which would allow for fewer council members to be present for official actions. City officials indicated that specific measures are in place to ensure the charter aligns with state law.
“I urge everyone to take a moment to grasp the significance of this,” Councilmember Harry Hardman stated during the meeting.
Due to legal restrictions preventing the city from campaigning for or against the measures, discussions have shifted to the online space. A Facebook page named Moving Conroe Forward advocates for the transition to a city manager system, claiming it would enhance accountability and efficiency. Resident Kim Attaya expressed that the adjustments would realign the city's priorities. “We’re making every effort to steer the city towards a more positive financial path,” she told ABC13. “Our attention is directed towards our police, our fire services, our roads, and our essential infrastructure.”
Supporter Doug Frankhouser emphasized that “a city manager would significantly contribute to achieving that consistency.”
Opponents have initiated a campaign through a Facebook page and a political action committee, disseminating signs and flyers that encourage voters to reject all 15 measures.
John Sellars, a third-generation resident of Conroe and an initiative participant, expressed concerns that the proposals would diminish public oversight. “We’re all seeking greater representation on our Conroe council,” he stated, “and what we received was a series of options that would centralize authority among a group of unelected administrators.”
Resident Kristin Hoisington expressed her agreement with that viewpoint, stating her opposition to all the proposed amendments.
The upcoming vote in November will decide if Conroe will continue with its traditional mayor-council system or shift to a manager-led model for the first time in its 120-year history.
Beginning on November 4, voters in Conroe will have the opportunity to vote on fifteen different charter amendments, one of which proposes transferring power from elected officials to an appointed city manager.
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