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INSIDE.
Hidalgo holds narrow lead over Mealer for county judge seat By Matt deGrood news@theleadernews.com
Incumbent Harris County Judge Line Hidalgo looks set to retain her seat as the head of county government, holding off challenger and Heights resident Alexandra Mealer in a tight contest that lasted through election night into the early morning. More than 546,745 voters, or about 50.74 per-
cent of the vote, opted for Hidalgo, with about 530,788 selecting Mealer, good for about 49.25 percent of the vote, according to unofficial Harris County numbers as of Wednesday morning. Wednesday morning’s numbers included results from all 782 of county’s voting centers, according to election results. The unexpectedly tight race came after Republican donors poured almost
Hidalgo
$9 million into Mealer’s efforts to challenge Hidalgo, a large amount for a county race like that, according to a Texas Tribune article. Mealer ran her campaign criticizing Hidalgo for the county’s number of homicides, according to the article. “While we did not accomplish our goal of changing leadership in Harris County, we were successful in elevating the
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profile of critical issues like the need to appropriately resource our law enforcement and criminal justice system, as well as the desire to eliminate corruption and increase transparency in local government,” Mealer wrote. Beyond the county judge race, democrats looked set for a clean sweep of county government. See Hidalgo P. 7
Voters approve seven city ballot propositions for $478 million By Matt deGrood news@theleadernews.com
Second season Several local teams are headed to the playoffs. Check out our recap for this week’s playoff schedule
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Man arrested Police have arrested a man accused of shooting and killing a man in the Northside/Northline area
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Plans to improve the city’s parks, facilities and more got resounding approval from Houston voters this week and residents approved all seven ballot propositions totaling $478 million, according to complete but unofficial election results. None of the seven city bond propositions on the November ballot got less than 53.7 percent of the vote, and one got almost 74 percent approval in a season where some other elections were quite contested. The ballot propositions would fund capital projects in seven different areas, including parks, public health facilities, waste, libraries, animal care and more, according to city documents. Among those items included in the bond are at least a few geared toward the local area, such as $8.8 million tabbed for renovated health centers around the city, including Houston Health DepartContributed photo ment’s West End Health Center, Oak Forest resident Dana Tritico, left, takes in the Astros World Series parade on Monday with friends Ariel Gon- 190 Heights Blvd. zalez and Rosalinda Gonzalez. About 67.75 percent of voters, or 303,044 people, voted in favor of the largest bond proposition, Proposition A, which will provide about $277 million for public safeBy Landan Kuhlmann ty projects, according to complete landan@theleadernews.com but unofficial Harris County numbers. When the Houston Astros won the World Series More than 312,200 people voted for the first time in 2017, Garden Oaks resident Jaiin favor of Proposition B, comme Zamora was covering the victory parade for one pared to about 134,280 against it, of Houston’s local television stations. which will allocate about $50 milThis year, however, the 58-year-old Zamora got lion for park projects, according to to experience the parade from a different perspeccomplete but unofficial numbers. tive – that of a fan, as he took in Monday’s victory About 66.6 percent of voters apparade in downtown Houston with his two daughproved Proposition C, which will ters. add $47 million to fund animal care Zamora and his daughters were three of more projects, according to complete than a million estimated Houstonians who made but unofficial county numbers. their way into downtown Monday afternoon as the More than 305,270 voters, or Astros’ victory parade wound through downtown about 68.8 percent, supportHouston, with players waving from floats and holded Proposition D, compared to ing the trophy high. Over the weekend, the Astros Contributed photo 137,900 that opposed it, accordGarden Oaks resident Jaime Zamora got to take in the See Astros P. 7 parade with his daughters Monday afternoon. See Bonds P. 7
Residents celebrating Astros World Series title
Chowing down A new Korean Steakhouse is coming to the Heights Friday, and more in this week’s Nibbles and Sips
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Heights residents wins national Hispanic business honor Eye on it The EyeOnArt program features several local artist teams. Check out this week’s Art Valet for more info
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THE INDEX. Sports............................................................. 2 Church........................................................... 6 Coupons....................................................... 8 Classifieds.................................................. 8 Food/Drink...............................9
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A local resident with a desire to create better educational opportunities for students in Houston and around the country was recently recognized by a national Hispanic business organization for his efforts. Earlier this month, Heights residents Candelario Cervantez was the recipient of a Prospanica Brillante Member Excellence Award. Prospanica is an association of Hispanic MBAs and busi-
ness professionals, which works to enable Hispanic professionals to achieve full educational, economic, and social potential, according to the organization. The Brillante award “exemplifies Hispanic leadership through drive and success,” according to its website. Cervantez currently serves as head of the National Latinx Alliances on the National Public Partnership and Government Affairs Team at Teach For America, and as President Emeritus of Prospanica.
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Cervantez
“I was like ‘Oh my gosh, what?’ These awards are so prestigious and really selective,” Cervantez said of finding out he had won. “The people who win these are like our next leaders that have been doing tremendous work and removing barriers. To be in that company, it was just so humbling.” Cervantez’s drive to create opportunities for students, he said, stems from the beginning of his own journey growing up in Houston. Despite graduating with
honors and at the top of his class, he said he discovered he was radically unprepared for college – both academically and socially – before attending the University of St. Thomas. Part of that, he said, was that he simply did not know what organizations were out there to help students like himself overcome barriers that were present for some students. But a few years after graduating from St. Thomas with his MBA See Cervantez P. 7