Incumbents Ann Snyder and Shelley Sekula-Gibbs were re-elected to The Woodlands Township Board of Directors on Tuesday and newcomer Cindy Heiser is set to serve her first term.
With all precincts reporting, Sekula-Gibbs edged Tricia Danto for Position 5, with 50.73% to 49.72% in Montgomery County and 57.92% to 42.08% in Harris County.
Snyder won decisively over Thomas A. Chumbley with 83.90% of the votes to 16.10% in Montgomery County and 82.52% to 17.48% in Harris County.
For Position 7, Heiser topped Ann Perry and Thomas Chumbley, with 54.18% to Perry’s 38.97% and Chumbley’s 6.85% in Montgomery County. In Harris County, Heiser garnered 54.18% to Perry’s 44.67% and Chumbley’s 8.80% in Harris County.
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Sekula-Gibbs has spent two consecutive terms on the board. In her four years as a board member, Sekula-Gibbs takes pride in helping to implement a no-new-revenue property tax rate, boosting law enforcement and fire department resources, and protecting the natural environment through increasing reforestation efforts and modifying the Texas Department of Transportation’s plans for the Texas 242 project.
“Serving my community as a resident advocate on the Township Board has been a privilege and a blessing,” she said.
Sekula-Gibbs lives in The Woodlands with her husband, Robert Gibbs, and has children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Snyder has served on the township board since 2015 and has always been passionate about volunteering and public service.
In 2023, Snyder took the helm of the board of directors and prioritized the passing of HB 5311, which allows The Woodlands to collect mixed beverage taxes and, in turn, potentially lower property taxes. Snyder also said passing the no-new-revenue tax rate, expanding law enforcement resources in the 2024 budget and creating a strategic vision for the future have been key points in her term as chairman.
“I have always believed in standing up for what you believe is right. It’s called integrity,” Snyder said. “My priorities have always been public safety, economic development and collaboration with all stakeholders—stakeholders who may have similar viewpoints, but also stakeholders that do not have similar viewpoints. You bring everyone to the table and ideally create a consensus, and if not, agree to disagree.”
Snyder has lived in The Woodlands for over 30 years, and her husband, two children and six grandchildren all live in the township.
Heiser is a 24-year resident of The Woodlands and small business owner. While living in the township, Heiser was active with Interfaith, The Woodlands Arts Festival and Arts Council, the Rotary Club, The Woodlands High School, and The Woodlands Republican Women. She has also been involved in Leadership Montgomery County, The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce, and the 2023 Conroe ISD Bond Committee.
“I have lots of experience of organizing with different types of people and personalities,” Heiser said. “Whatever I do, I go in and try to make things better by using the experts in that field. So that’s one of the skills that I’ve used to be successful in those groups.”
Heiser said public safety, addressing aging infrastructure and water usage concerns, and upcoming projects such as a proposed performing arts center will be priorities for herself and the next board. Heiser lives in The Woodlands with her husband, Craig, and has two adult children who graduated from The Woodlands High School.
“It’s really a great time to live in The Woodlands, and I know we’ve enjoyed all of the benefits of it over the last 24 years.” Heiser said. “I just want to kind of pick up the torch and carry it forward.”
