Profiles of Progress Government/Election

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018, THE ALVIN ADVERTISER

Government d Election

Mayor Pro Tem: Good things are happening in Alvin

By David Rupkalvis Publisher Good things are happening in Alvin.

That was the message Mayor Pro Tem Keith Thompson shared with the Alvin-Manvel Chamber of Commerce during his state of the city address earlier this month.

Thompson said the city has been able to accomplish some impressive things, all while lowering the property tax rate.

“The city has lowered its

Alvin by the numbers n Population – 26,164 in 2016 (Up from 25,734 in 2015) n Median Age – 33.2 n Median Household Income - $47,731 n Median House Value $126,622 n City Property tax rate – 78.8 cents per $100 of assessed value n Sales tax rate – 8.25 percent n City Budget - $45.3 million property tax rate in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017,” he said.

While Thompson talked a lot about new developments, homes and businesses coming to the city, the one thing that got the biggest response from the audience was when he said city has had pre-development meeting with Chik-Fil-A. While the idea of a ChikFil-A has many residents excited, there are some places

Mayor Pro Tem Keith Thompson addresses the Alvin-Manvel Chamber of Commerce while giving the State of the City address. Thompson said good things are happening as the city continues to grow.

(Photo by David Rupkalvis) coming that are a certainty.

“There’s quite the buzz about the new retail next to Kelley’s on 35,” Thompson said. “The restaurants are in the building out phase.”

Over the last year, Alvin has

seen steady growth with $54.4 million in new commercial permits issued and another $11.2 million in permits for commercial remodels or additions. On the residential side, the city has issued $15.7

million in permits for new construction and $1.5 million in permits for remodels or additions.

In all, the city saw a 78 percent increase in permit valuations in 2018.

On the residential side, growth is coming and coming quick.

Thomson said there are six subdivisions under construction in the city with more than 1,000 lots planned. In addition, a master planned community,

Walton, is expected within five years.

“New builders are meeting with staff and more projects are coming,” Thompson said.

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THE ALVIN ADVERTISER, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

Manvel Police Chief Keith Traylor talks to the City Council during a budget hearing earlier this year.

(Photo by Joshua Truksa)

Manvel, a city on the rise

By Joshua Truksa Staff Reporter Manvel has had its motto of “City on the Rise” for decades, but it is only in recent years that it has started to live up to its name. Since the most recent census in 2010, Manvel’s population has doubled from 5,000 to 10,000 people, and more are coming. New home construction is a constant fact of life in the city, and the city council’s agendas are full with items relating to new housing developments and MUD districts at every meeting.

Less than 20 years ago, Manvel was a sleepy little town of 3,000 people, but when the population explosion in Pearland finally reached its climax, Manvel was next.

Kyle Jung moved to Manvel

to become city manager in 2012.

When he moved in, he said the Lakeland subdivision was still undeveloped.

“When I got here, it was all just grass. They were growing hay and they had cows out there,” Jung said.

Rodeo Palms was the first subdivision, beginning in 2001.

Today, there are nine subdivisions under construction and two more in earlier development stages, including remaining parts of Rodeo Palms.

People from all walks of life are moving to Manvel, from young people starting a family, to retirees. Mayor Debra Davison said that the diversity of the incoming population “pleases [her] greatly.”

“I think that we’re attracting all types and all ages and all generations,” Davison said.

Manvel by the numbers n Population – 8,939 in 2016 (Up from 8,062 in 2015) n Median Age – 34.9 n Median Household Income - $85,357 n Median Household Value $186,260 n City Property Tax rate – 57 cents per $100 of assessed value n Sales Tax rate – 8.25 percent n City Budget - $15.2 million Davison said Manvel wants to create a community where people in different stages of life live together side-by-side, similar to the close-knit neighborhoods and communities of the past.

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(Photos by Joshua Truksa)

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PROFILES: Government / Election

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018, THE ALVIN ADVERTISER

Rapid growth leads to need for new schools in Alvin ISD Bond and TRE election would give district funding for schools without raising taxes

By David Rupkalvis Publisher When voters head to the polls later this month, there will be a lot of important races on the ballot.

Most voters will be thinking about races like Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke for the open U.S. Senate seat or Greg Abbott against Lupe Valdez for governor.

But further down the ballot will be a question — actually two questions — that will probably impact local voters more than anything on the ballot.

Those questions, or propositions, will be asking voters to allow Alvin ISD to borrow money to build new schools and a tax ratification election that will have the state pay for the bonds over time.

Alvin ISD Superintendent Buck Gilcrease said the bond money is needed to keep up with rapid growth in the district.

When Gilcrease was hired as superintendent nearly four years ago, the district had just over 20,000 students. Today, that number is slightly less than 26,000, an increase of close to 6,000 students in four years.

Gilcrease said the district is growing by a rate of 1,200 students a year, making new schools necessary.

“To put that into perspective, we’ve grown Angleton ISD in five school years,” Gilcrease said recently. “We’ve grown Friendswood ISD in five school years.”

With the district growing rapidly and new schools needed, Gilcrease asked a group of local residents — parents, business owners and more — to look into the issue and make a recommendation to the district board on what to do.

Gilcrease said he asked the public to join the Citizen’s Advisory Committee because he wanted to let the people have a say.

“It’s their money,” Gilcrease said. “It’s their kids. They need to have a say in how the money is expended.”

While the district staff was available to provide information and answer questions, no staff member was on the committee.

After meeting for six months and looking at all the issues facing Alvin ISD, the committee recommended the two elections — one for a $480.5 million bond and a second for the TRE

election.

While bond elections are not new in the district — this will be the second since Gilcrease was hired — the TRE vote will be something different for Alvin ISD. If approved, the TRE will allow the district to basically get the bond funding without raising taxes.

Gilcrease said the idea for the TRE, also called a penny swap, came from the committee, not the district.

“We had a member ask about it,” Gilcrease said. “It was someone who lived in another district and heard about one there. We answered the questions of a member of the board.”

The $480.5 million bond would pay for basically seven new schools, the rebuild of another, upgrades to security across the campus and would allow the district to find land for future schools.

The construction plans include: • Two new elementary schools. Gilcrease said both would be in the Manvel area and construction on the first would begin quickly if the bond passes.

• Two new junior high schools.

One would be located in the Meridiana subdivision near

Alvin ISD opened the Dr. Ronald E. MacNair Junior High this school year only to see it at capacity on the first day. With the district adding 1,200 new students every year, the need for new schools in continuing.

(Photos by David Rupkalvis)

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Manvel with the second in the area of highways 288 and 6.

• A fourth high school for the district. The new high school would also be located near highways 288 and 6.

“When this bond passes, in January of 2019, you’ll see the construction of elementary school No. 21, junior high No. 8 and high school No. 4,” Gilcrease said. “Ideally, you would shoot for the opening of high school No. 4 in the fall of 2021.”

In addition to the new schools, two existing schools will be replaced with new facilities.

Next year, Alvin Elementary School will close, and Alvin Primary School will become Alvin Elementary.

What is now Alvin Primary will be replaced with a new school in the bond. E.C. Mason Elementary in Manvel will also

be replaced with the bond money.

Harby Junior High will be renovated, but not completely replaced, if the bond passes.

With new schools planned in Alvin and Manvel, one clear question is what do voters in Pearland get if the bond passes.

“What they’re going to get is relief,” Gilcrease said. “They may not get a new building, but they’ll get relief for their schools.”

Gilcrease said the fourth high school would pull students from Shadow Creek, Manvel and Alvin, while the new junior highs would mostly ease crowding at Manvel and Pearland schools.

In addition to construction, money in the bond would be used to upgrade security at all Alvin ISD campuses. A Safety and Security Committee has

been meeting for months to make recommendations. Some of the recommendations have already been implemented, while others will take additional funds. Gilcrease explained the district is looking at high-tech solutions which are often very expensive.

As an example, he said one possibility is a high-tech camera system that would recognize fights or even arguments on campus and immediately notify Alvin ISD officers or others on campus.

The final use of the money will be for purchasing land for future schools. Gilcrease said it is important for the district to get ahead of the curve when buying land, explaining that by purchasing land early near subdivisions, the land is often much cheaper than when construction is completed.

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PROFILES: Government / Election

THE ALVIN ADVERTISER, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

Continued from page 1

Roland honored to be Alvin's new city manager

While new construction, especially on the commercial side, has the public excited, Thompson said the most important work ongoing in the city is mostly underground.

“The city is the midst of one of the largest infrastructure projects in history,” he said. “We’ve started a $42 million project. Some of our water lines have reached the end of their life span.”

That project will replace miles of underground water and sewer lines as Alvin prepares to handle the growth. Another area the city has concentrated on in recent years is water detention with several detention ponds built and donated to the Brazoria County Conservation and Reclamation District to control flooding.

But Alvin is not just about work, Thompson said, pointing out Alvin is also working to make life more fun.

“Our community is all about having fun,” he said. “In our first year of taking over the Tour de Braz, great participation led to a nice donation to the Alvin Volunteer Fire Department. A new disc golf course is also coming soon.”

Speaking of the fire department, Thompson also said the new building for the fire department and EMS is in the final design phase with groundbreaking expected next summer.

Finally, he said, all the good that is going on in Alvin can be traced to one group of people, the city employees.

“It requires a lot of hard work to make the city function,” Thompson said. “We as citizens often take for granted what it takes. We all thank the employees for what they do.”

Just a few months ago, the city council chose someone new to lead the city employees, promoting Junru Roland to the post of city manager. Roland said he is confident the city is moving in the right direction.

“Good things are happening in Alvin, and I truly, truly believe that,” Roland said. “Good things will continue to happen.”

When Junru Roland made the decision to come to Alvin six years ago, he never dreamed one day he would be city manager.

But by working hard, continuing to learn and making himself available when the city council needed him, he did just that two weeks ago.

“My only goal was to be a finance director somewhere,” Roland said.

“I never dreamed of being a city manager.”

But now that he is the top employee in city government, Roland said he hopes to continue the work started in recent years by the council and former City Manager Sereniah Breland.

“I was fortunate to be involved in all the planning,” he said. “One of my goals is to keep the ball rolling.

We have a park master plan. Council recently adopted a five-year capitalimprovement plan.”

In hiring Roland, the council picked a man who is dedicated to public service and plans to be dedicated to Alvin for the longhaul. He is in the process of building a home in Alvin and hopes to move in sometime in the next few months.

While he loves city government, he also loves numbers. As a finance man, he has spent his career creating and balancing budgets.

Roland started his career with the Harris County tax-collector’s office, getting hired before he even graduated from high school.

“Originally out of high school, I knew I needed a job,” he said.

“Once I got into it, the service of the public is what I enjoy. What we do as a city, we touch people’s lives every day.”

After graduating from college, Roland went to work for the city of Lake Jackson, working his way up from an accountant. He moved to Alvin in 2012 to become finance director.

In that role, he was named interim city manager in June 2014 and served in that role as a year. When the city manager’s position became open again in July, Roland began to

ALVIN

By David Rupkalvis Publisher

suspect he might be considered for the permanent job.

“I had several council members ask me what my plans were,” Roland said. “That’s when I knew they were considering me.”

Earlier this year, he went into the council meeting knowing there would be a discussion about a new city manager.

What he did not know is he would be offered the job.

“I was blown away,” he said. “It’s such a great honor, especially unanimously. It was an amazing nit.

It was so much support.”

While he is still working in his old office, Roland admits he doesn’t spend a lot of time on numbers anymore.

“I’m having withdrawals,” he said with a laugh. “I’m enjoying the broadened capacity to serve the community more.”

Roland said some of his personal goals are to cross train more employees, but more than anything he wants to build trust with the citizens of Alvin.

“That starts with excellent customer service,” he said. “I need to be the main servant to be an example.”

Roland said he is fortunate because the city staff is professional and talented and he has good department heads to help as he expands his responsibilities. He will eventually hire a new finance director, but he’s comfortable with the staff in place until the right person is found.

While he won’t be the main number’s man anymore, Roland said the city’s financial picture will always be a top focus.

“We will sustain the financial ability of the city,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate to have a substantial fund balance. During Harvey, we were able to meet all of our financial obligations.”

As city manager, he now answers directly to the council, but Roland said he is comfortable working with the elected officials.

“They’re very proactive, they’re Alvin City Manager Junru Roland addresses the crowd during a recent Alvin-Manvel pro-employees,” he said. “I have a Chamber of Commerce luncheon. After serving the city as chief financial officer and good working relationship with all assistant city manager, Roland was named city manager earlier this year.

(Photo by David Rupkalvis) of them.”

PROFILES: Government / Election

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018, THE ALVIN ADVERTISER

Sample Ballot Page 1

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Early voting continues countywide through Nov. 2 Early voting will Westside Event Center Precinct 4 Building 2 continue in Brazoria 2150 Countryplace 121 N. 10th St. County through Nov. 2. Parkway West Columbia Voters can cast ballots at Pearland the following locations Voters can also cast from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pearland ballots at from 5-7 p.m.

Westside Library Nov. 2 at Alvin High Alvin Library 2803 Business Center Dr. School.

105 S. Gordon Pearland Alvin East Annex 1425 E. Mulberry Angleton Brazoria Library 620 S. Brooks Brazoria Freeport Library 410 Brazosport Blvd.

Freeport Lake Jackson Library 250 Circle Way Lake Jackson Courthouse North Annex 7313 Corporate Dr. Manvel Pearland Tom Reid Library 3522 Liberty Dr. Pearland

Election Day polling places Alvin Library 105 S. Gordon Alvin

Manvel Drainage District #4 Building 4805 W. Broadway Pearland

Nolan Ryan Center 2925 S. Bypass 35 Alvin

Pearland Recreation Center 4141 Bailey Road Pearland

North Annex 7313 Corporate Dr. Manvel Precinct 4 North Annex 3633 County Road 58

Pearland Westside Library 2803 Business Center Dr. Pearland

First Church of Pearland 1850 Broadway Pearland Sliverlake Recreation Center 2715 Southwyck Parkway Pearland Tom Reid Library 3522 Liberty Drive Pearland Westside Event Center 2150 Countryplace Parkway

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PROFILES: Government / Election

THE ALVIN ADVERTISER, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

So, what exactly is a tax ratification election?

By David Rupkalvis Publisher When voters head to the polls in the coming weeks, they will have two questions to decide regarding Alvin ISD. The first is pretty straightforward — Can the district borrow $480.5 million to build new schools to handle a rapidly-growing number of students. Voters in the district have seen similar bonds in the past — approving bonds for the district in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2015.

Those bonds have built 12 elementary schools, five junior highs and two high schools,

along with the J.B Hensler Academy and many other district buildings.

But the second question on the ballot will be something new — a tax ratification election.

Many voters will probably ask, what exactly is a tax ratification election?

Really simply put, it’s a unique way to let the state pay for the bond rather than the local taxpayers.

School finance is a confusing beast that even the most educated have a hard time explaining. To keep it really simple, the state constitution mandates that the state is to supply public education.

Through a combination of state funding and money paid from local property taxes, districts receive funds to pay for teachers, facilities, books, buses and everything else needed to run schools.

While that seems cut and dry, it is anything but. You see, the state doesn’t want to pay very much for education, so they keep finding ways to shift the funding burden to local taxpayers.

Over the last decade or so, as growth has sped up in Alvin ISD, so have property values.

As a result, every year, local taxpayers get a bill asking for larger and larger chunks of their

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Students fill the halls between classes at Dr. Ronald E. McNair Junior High. Despite being brand new to open the 2018-19 school year, the school is already at capacity. If Alvin ISD gets approval from voters, a new junior high will be built in the coming years.

(Photo by David Rupkalvis) money. Many can attest to that.

But every time the local taxpayer sends more money to Alvin ISD, the state of Texas turns around and cuts what they pay by the same amount.

“We don’t get your extra money,” Alvin ISD Superintendent Buck Gilcrease said. “The way the state funding works, the extra money you pay doesn’t come to the school district. The state scrapes that off the top.”

In fact, Alvin ISD has not seen an increase in state funding since 2007. Since that time, local taxpayers have paid for more than 10 schools to be built.

The end result is the same amount of money per student, but the larger portion of the funding burden is shifted to the local taxpayers. Statewide, over the last decade, the state’s portion of public education costs has moved from close to 50 percent to almost 35 percent.

Unless the Legislature makes changes to the funding formula, that won’t change. Every year, property tax bills will likely rise,

and every year the state will reduce what it pays to school districts because of it.

The only provision in state law that allows for the funding burden to shift back slightly is a tax ratification election. If a TRE is approved by local voters, the state allows districts to shift 13 cents from what is basically debt service to the regular maintenance and operations side of the budget. The state will then pay the local district that 13 cents. As a result, if the TRE is approved in Alvin ISD, the district would receive an additional $8.5 million or more a year from the state, and the tax rate will stay the same.

While some have expressed worry, the district could still raise taxes, the Alvin ISD Board of Regents has promised not to.

The same day the board called for the two elections, it also passed a resolution where it promised to lower the debt service rate by the same amount the TRE would raise and promised not to raise the debt service tax rate in the future

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without voter approval.

“This is not a hidden tax increase,” Gilcrease said. “This is up front and honest. The board passed a resolution saying they will keep the tax rate at or below the current rate.”

While the TRE would bring in approximately $8.5 million in its first year, Gilcrease also pointed out that as property values climb, and they will, the amount the state pays will also climb. That could help local taxpayers even more in the future.

“By making that rate swap, as your values continue to grow, it will put the district in a position where you won’t have to raise taxes,” Gilcrease said.

Another thing Gilcrease pointed out is if the TRE is approved, the district will still pay its existing debt from the previous bonds. They will simply get the $480.5 million for this bond without raising taxes.

“By doing the swap, it doesn’t mean we’re paying less on the money we’ve already borrowed,” he said. “We’re going to take the additional revenue and more of the pie will be the Austin yield, and not the Alvin yield.”

Voting on the Alvin ISD questions as well as elections such as U.S. Senate, governor and county judge will begin with early voting Oct. 22.

Election Day is Nov. 6. Early voting in Alvin will be held at the Alvin Library and in Manvel at the Courthouse North Annex.

Alvin ISD is also offering the opportunity to vote at most of its schools. See the attached graphic for times and locations.

Gilcrease said he wanted the bond election during the November general election because he feels when the district asks for $480 million, it should be done when the largest numbers of voters will go to the polls.

“It’s their money, it’s their kids,” Gilcrease said. “They need to have a say in how the money is expended.”

Gilcrease did stress if voters were voting in favor of the bond, they should definitely vote in favor of the TRE as well. If only the bond were to pass, Alvin ISD could still get the money, but the cost would go to Alvin ISD taxpayers, not the state.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018, THE ALVIN ADVERTISER

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PROFILES: Government / Election

Abbott sends message to Texas voters — cast a ballot

By David Rupkalvis Publisher Just weeks before voters began to cast ballots, Gov. Greg Abbott hosted a fundraiser in Alvin where he lauded the state he runs before encouraging supporters to help get Republicans to the polls.

Abbott, who is facing off against Democrat Lupe Valdez and Libertarian Mark Tippetts in the race for governor, seemed more concerned with some other races in Texas, primarily the U.S. Senate race between Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke.

“We’re gathered together because it’s only five weeks before early voting begins,” Abbott said to a crowd of around 130 people at The Caboose BBQ. “All our economic accomplishments are being put at risk. There’s tremendous excitement from the Democrats.

The policies you’re seeing coming from the Democrats are open socialism.

“My opponent is talking about raising taxes. The same is true for Ted Cruz’s opponent. The quintessential state for entrepreneurs is Texas. The quintessential state for government regulations is California. In California, they outlawed plastic straws. In Texas, we still have plastic straws. That’s what socialism is all about. They think they know far more about running your life than you do. In Texas, we believe in freedom.”

Before he got into the election season, Abbott bragged about Texas, pointing to Doug McReaken, the owner of The Caboose BBQ, as an example of the economic growth in Texas.

“Texas is the premier entrepreneur state in the country,” Abbott said. “Texas in the last four years has reclaimed our position as No. 1 in the nation for new jobs created.”

Abbott said the state won a national award recently as the best state for doing business

before reading a governor’s proclamation honoring The Caboose BBQ. When he talked politics, Abbott said there is a lot at stake in the November election.

He said MS-13, a gang that has been in the news a lot, is on the rise in Texas, and both Valdez and O’Rourke believe in policies that will speed up that growth.

“Our opponents, they’re for open border policies,” Abbott said. “There are increasing consequences going forward.”

Abbott said because Democrats are so unified in their dislike of the current presidential administration, he is expecting a massive turnout among Democrat voters. The job of Republicans is to turn out just as strong to keep the GOP in charge of Texas.

“If we don’t get the turn out and votes, there could be a wave that is cataclysmic from the other side,” Abbott said.

Abbott said in the primary

earlier this year, some counties showed Democrat voters up 350 percent while most showed Republican voters were down. If that shows up again in November, the results could be devastating for Republicans and for freedom, he said.

“If that same type of energy is not met by Republicans right here and across Texas, it could be catastrophic,” Abbott said.

With most polls showing his race is relatively safe with Abbott holding a 13- to 15-point lead over Valdez, Abbott said he is spending his campaign money on getting out the vote efforts across the state.

The goal is not just to protect his seat, but those of others like Cruz, Congressman Pete Olson and State Rep. Ed Thompson.

The latter two attended the campaign event in Alvin. In most polls, Cruz and O’Rourke are within single digits of each other.

Another close race in the polls is the race for lieutenant

governor where Dan Patrick and Mike Collier are within two points in some cases.

Abbott said four years ago he was elected governor by 20 percent over Wendy Davis.

Despite that big win, two years later, an additional 2 million people voted for Donald Trump for president than voted for Abbott.

“Our job is to identify all the Republicans who voted two years ago and get them out to

vote,” Abbott said.

The key come Nov. 6 will be turnout, Abbott emphasized. He encouraged voters to cast ballots early and to make sure everyone they know gets out and votes.

“We need to go vote early, but that’s not enough,” Abbott said.

“We need you to make sure everyone in your family, all your neighbors, everyone you work with, everyone you go to church with, they all go out to vote.”

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Gov. Greg Abbott, left, greets Sam Chamberlain during a fundraiser in Alvin. Below, Abbott adresses the crowd at The Caboose BBQ. Abbott encouraged his supporters to get out and vote in the mid-term election.

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By David Rupkalvis Publisher One of the most anticipated mid-term elections in many years is underway with voters casting ballots early and through the mail.

On Nov. 6, Texas and the nation will learn whether a blue wave will send a strong message to Pres. Donald Trump or whether the Republicans can maintain their majority in the House and Senate.

In Texas, many of the congressional seats are considered safe. Congressman Pete Olson, who represents Alvin, and Congressman Randy Weber, who represents Santa Fe and other areas nearby, are considered safe in their bids for re-election.

Statewide, the seat that has drawn the most attention is for U.S. Senate as incumbent Republican Ted Cruz is facing a stiff challenge from Democrat Congressman Beto O’Rourke.

While O’Rourke has a decided advantage in fundraising, most

Congressman Pete Olson, right, greets Gov. Greg Abbott during a visit Abbott made to Alvin.

(Photo by David Rupkalvis) polls in recent weeks show Cruz with a steady lead.

If the Democrats hope to take over control of the Senate, O’Rourke will probably need to pull off the upset in Texas.

Statewide, voters will also

choose all of the Texas leaders, ranging from governor to attorney general and ag commissioner.

Most polls show the Republicans with a lead, but the voters will ultimately decide.

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THE ALVIN ADVERTISER, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018

Growth brings joy, challenges to Alvin and Manvel In recent years, Alvin and Manvel have seen growth few could have imagined a decade ago. Manvel, once a sleepy town of 3,000 people has grown to more than 10,000, and there is no end to the growth in sight. New and expanding subdivisions like Rodeo Palms, right, are bringing in hundreds of new homes every year. Over the next few years, thousands of new homes are expected to be finished in Manvel, likely doubling the population. In Alvin, there is some residential growth, although it is much slower. Subdivisions like Kendall Lakes, bottom right, will bring in 1,000 new homes in the next few years. While Alvin has slower residential growth, it is benefitting from faster commercial growth. McCoy's Building Supply, bottom left, is one of the new businesses that have moved to Alvin over the last few years.

(Photos by David Rupkalvis)