🗳️ Lisa Gilmore Wins Township Position 3 in Unofficial Results

🏫 Conroe ISD Voters Unseat One Trustee and Re-Elect Another

🏛️ Keough Wins Third Term as County Judge, Bailey Takes HD 15

🤺 Alliance Fencing Academy Fencers Win 11 Medals in Two Weeks

💼 Woodlands Area Business Summit Centers on 'Thrive' Theme

🌤️ Mostly Sunny · 81°F / 53°F

Dry all day with a cool low of 53, so a light layer helps early.

Source: Vaisala Xweather

Lisa Gilmore won the Position 3 seat on The Woodlands Township board of directors in the Nov. 3 election, according to unofficial results. She received 16,006 votes, or 43.7%, ahead of Nick Tran with 14,829 votes (40.5%) and Priscila Young with 5,800 votes (15.8%). Incumbent Richard Franks did not run for re-election, and the winner serves a two-year term.

The other three board seats were uncontested. Lee Wilson, a newcomer, won Position 1, incumbent Linda Nelson kept Position 2, and incumbent Craig Eissler kept Position 4. Gilmore told Community Impact she was “truly honored to have been elected to represent my hometown of The Woodlands.”

The results stay unofficial until the Township board canvasses the election at its meeting, currently scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Town Hall.

Why it matters: Position 3 was the only contested Township seat on the ballot, and more than 36,000 votes were cast in the race.

Source/Credits: Community Impact, The Woodlands Township

Challenger Ryan Tsamouris unseated incumbent Aggie Gambino in the Conroe ISD Board of Trustees Position 1 race, 50.47% to 49.53%, according to unofficial results with all 121 Montgomery County voting precincts reporting. Incumbent Misty Odenweller won another term in Position 3 with 52.21% of the vote to challenger Philip Martin’s 47.79%.

In Position 2, Rod Hammer narrowly won a three-way race with 40.79% of the vote, ahead of Destinee Milton at 36.33% and Robin Deferrari at 22.88%. No candidate topped 50%.

Tsamouris said his priority is to begin onboarding so he can start work on the board as soon as possible. Odenweller said she looks forward to continuing to serve “over 70,000 students and families.” Three of the board’s seven seats were on the ballot, and all results stay unofficial until canvassed.

Why it matters: Position 1 was decided by less than one percentage point.

Source/Credits: Community Impact (Positions 1 and 3), Community Impact (Position 2)

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, a Republican, won a third term with 166,182 votes, or 65.47%, to Democrat James Graf’s 87,657 votes, or 34.53%, with all 121 precincts reporting. Graf conceded after Election Day results were released. The judge sits on the five-member commissioners court, overseeing county operations and finances, for a four-year term.

In Texas House District 15, Republican Brad Bailey, who previously chaired The Woodlands Township board of directors, won with 56.9% of the vote, or 45,484 votes. Democrat Moniqua’ S. Scott received 40% (31,979 votes) and Libertarian Jessi Cowart 3% (2,516 votes). Bailey takes the seat held by Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, who did not seek re-election because he ran for District 2 in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Before the election, Keough told Community Impact the county’s top issue was managing rapid growth “without sacrificing the safety, mobility, affordability and quality of life that brought families here.” All results are unofficial until canvassed.

Why it matters: Both county judge candidates framed the job around growth, with Graf pointing to a county racing toward a million residents.

Source/Credits: Community Impact (County Judge), Community Impact (House District 15)

Fencers from Alliance Fencing Academy won 11 medals across two international events in two weeks, Woodlands Online reported. At the Trofeo Maestro Dario Codarin Tournament in Klagenfurt, Austria, held Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, they took a gold and a silver in team events and three bronzes in individual events the day before.

Miron Lioznyansky, 16, of The Woodlands helped Team USA win silver in Men’s Team Epee. Vivian Liscum helped Team USA to gold in Women’s Team Epee, and Kyle Elhusseini, 16, placed third in Men’s Individual Epee among 271 competitors. Liscum, 16, and Helena Holden, 14, earned bronze in Women’s Individual Epee among 258 competitors.

A week earlier, academy fencers won six medals at the Junior World Cup in San Jose, Costa Rica, Oct. 22 to 25, including gold in both the men’s and women’s team events. According to the announcement, Alliance was founded in 2004 by Andrey Geva and is the largest epee fencing club in the United States, with more than 550 students at locations in Houston, The Woodlands and Katy.

Why it matters: One of the medalists is from The Woodlands, and the Austria event is a pathway toward qualifying for the Cadet/Junior World Championships in April 2027.

Source/Credits: Woodlands Online

The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2026 Woodlands Area Business Summit & Expo, presented by Fidium, at Hyatt Regency Conroe on Friday, Oct. 30. The theme, Thrive, reflected the mindset businesses need to grow, adapt and succeed in a changing environment.

The day brought together business owners, professionals, emerging leaders and established executives for keynote presentations, a panel discussion and breakout sessions across five education tracks: AI & Business Technology, Business Operations, Leadership & Management, Legal/Policy, and Sales & Marketing. Presenters were Chamber members who are recognized business leaders and subject matter experts.

At the end of the program, the Chamber honored Cyndi Alvarado as she celebrated her retirement after 16 years as the Chamber’s Vice President of Member Engagement.

Why it matters: The track list, from AI and business technology to legal and policy, is a quick look at the topics the Chamber chose to put in front of local businesses.

Source/Credits: Hello Woodlands

🗓️ Pavilion Palooza (also Sunday, Nov. 8) | The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion | $10 ticket, all activities included | More info

🗓️ Backyard Composting Class | The Woodlands Township Town Hall | 10 to 11:30 a.m. | No registration needed | More info

🗓️ Grand Trolley Reveal | The Woodlands Township | Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Southside Trolley Stop | 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. | More info

🗓️ Township Veterans Day Tribute | The Woodlands Central Fire Station | 4 to 5 p.m. | More info

🗓️ Sunset Cinema: WALL-E | Rob Fleming Recreation Center Amphitheater | 6 p.m. | Free | More info

🗓️ Hats Off to Heroes Pickleball Tournament | Falconwing Pickleball Courts | 9 a.m. | $20 residents, $25 nonresidents | More info

🗓️ Cars in the Park | The Lake House, Grand Central Park, Conroe | 2 to 5 p.m. | Free | More info

Note: Dates and times are as announced online. Organizers may make changes. Always confirm before heading out.

Rise of the Midgard Serpent, the 35-foot-long green sculpture in Lake Woodlands, is built around recycled oilfield pipeline and scrap metal. Artist Marc Rosenthal finished it in 1983, and it was unveiled at the 1985 Bottom of the Lake festival.

“More twists than a pretzel factory.” Translation: nothing about that story runs straight.

Somewhere there is a conversation about you happening right now that you will never hear.

What do you call a man who can't stand? Neil.

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