Humble ISD School Board Seats Remain Uncertain
Nearly three weeks after the May 3 election, two of the four Humble ISD school board seats that were on the ballot remain in limbo. The district northeast of Houston announced this week that trustee-elect Brittnai Brown is ineligible to serve on the school board because her voter registration did not contain an address within the Houston-area district before the required deadline.
Ineligible to Serve
The position 4 seat is technically vacant as a result, Humble ISD said in a news release posted to its website, although incumbent Ken Kirchhofer continues to serve as trustee under a state law regarding vacancies. The district stated that under Texas law, the Board may either hold a special election or appoint a replacement to fill the position. The School Board has not yet met to determine the method for filling the vacancy.
Another Seat Headed for Recount
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 10, when the other recently elected trustees are set to be sworn in. However, one of the other races, for the position 1 seat, is headed to a recount. Natalie Carter, who lost to incumbent board president Chris Parker by 40 votes in a race in which nearly 10,500 ballots were cast, petitioned for a recount and paid the required deposit. The recount is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
Lawsuit Filed
The confirmation of Brown’s ineligibility came a week after another candidate in the race, Tracy Shannon, filed a lawsuit against Brown and Humble ISD election administrator Karen Martin. In her lawsuit, Shannon argued she should be declared the winner due to Brown’s ineligibility and because she secured the second-most votes in the three-candidate race. Shannon’s attorney, Martin Etwop, stated that they are hoping the district will do the right thing and have another election or appoint somebody that would represent the district’s values.
Texas Law Requirements
Humble ISD said in its news release about Brown’s ineligibility that Texas law requires a candidate to be registered to vote within the district where they are seeking office before the filing deadline. Brown’s voter registration as of Feb. 14 — candidates’ filing deadline for the May 3 election — did not have a Humble ISD address in effect, the district said. Brown’s voter registration listed her residency in Houston ISD until she changed her address on her voter registration to Humble ISD, which became effective on March 16, 2025.
Candidate’s Response
Brown received the most votes with 4,066, while Shannon placed second with 3,237 votes and Kirchhofer received 3,197. Brown could not be reached for comment, but in a letter filed in court, she said her primary address has been within the district since August 2024. She stated that she frequently travels between her Humble ISD residence and her parents’ residence to provide support to her sister and to avail herself of childcare provisions for her son.
Conclusion
The situation with the Humble ISD school board seats remains uncertain, with one seat vacant due to a candidate’s ineligibility and another seat headed for a recount. The district must now decide how to fill the vacant seat, either through a special election or by appointing a replacement. The outcome of the recount and the decision on how to fill the vacant seat will be closely watched by the community, as it will have a significant impact on the direction of the school district.
