4141 yearsyears ofof coveringcovering SSouthouth BBeltelt Voice of Community-Minded People since 1976 Thursday, April 27, 2017 Email:
[email protected] www.southbeltleader.com Vol. 42, No. 13 Missing girl found safe Missing Dobie student Nikkole Ballard, 15, was found safe the afternoon of Thursday, Election numbers shatter previous record April 20. She had been reported missing the previous day after she failed to return home The number of mail-in ballot requests for the While no offi cial number of requests was avail- the previous record of around 150 mail-in votes. able positions being sought. Should all challengers from school on Tuesday, April 18. May 6 Pasadena Independent School District able at press time, the spike was confi rmed by sev- The option of mailing in ballots is available for win in the PISD election, it would mark the fi rst board election has shattered all previous records, eral PISD staff members. those 65 and older, as well as for those who are dis- time in at least 40 years that newcomers made up San Jac questionnaire inside according to district offi cials. “It’s substantially higher than ever,” said a sec- abled. the majority of the board. A questionnaire for candidates seeking a “As long as I’ve been working here, I’ve never ond district offi cial. District offi cials attribute the increase in requests Also contributing to the increase in requests is position on the San Jacinto College Board of seen anything like it,” said one PISD offi cial who According to one PISD board member, more to a high-profi le mayoral race in the City of Pas- the somewhat contentious nature of the elections, Trustees appears on Page 5A of this issue.