Woodlands Online co-moderates the 2025 Candidate Forum for Township candidates

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Woodlands Online, in partnership with Community Impact and The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce Business Advocacy Council, recently held the 2025 Candida Forum at the Chamber offices and livestreamed on Woodlands Online. The forum was for the candidates for The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Position 6.

Sean K. Thompson, news editor for Woodlands Online, and Nicole Preston, general manager for Community Impact The Woodlands, posed questions to candidates Allan Bounds, Maria Holmes, Philip Ikharebhore, and Adam Lamb. All four are vying for the seat that has been held for years by Dr. Ann Snyder, who earlier this year announced she was not seeking reelection.

Approximately six dozen people attended the forum in person, while many hundreds more tuned in to the livestream and subsequent posted video of the event. Chris Wehe introduced Aaron Cox, president and CEO of the Chamber, who took a few minutes to have an informal and impromptu discussion with Cindy Heiser, who is the incumbent for Position 5 of the board and is running unopposed. Position 7’s Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, who is also running unopposed, was unable to attend due to a prior commitment.

Each candidate was in turn asked a series of questions posed by Thompson and Preston. Topics included crime and public safety, traffic and law enforcement, budgeting, growth and growing pains of The Woodlands, and even the lingering question of incorporation of the Township into a city. Candidates were given two minutes to answer each question, as well as similarly timed opportunities to provide introductions and summaries to the assembly.

Bounds is a former member of the US Navy and spent decades in the energy industry before retiring and serving a stint as a Woodlands Ranger. Dr. Holmes is a former dean of Sam Houston State University and former president of The Woodlands Arts Council. Ikharebhore is an accounting manager for an energy supply company. Lamb is an entrepreneur and business consultant. All four candidates stressed how their careers have shaped them to be considerable candidates for Township boardship.

Aaron Cox after the event noted that civility ruled in the event; not a single ‘rebuttal rule’ was used in the debate, and each candidate spoke without interruption and stuck to the topics asked about.

The election for this position – along with propositions and other issues and races on the ballot – will take place Tuesday, November 4; early voting begins October 20 and runs through Halloween.

You can catch the video of the event at www.woodlandsonline.com/vmps/videolisting.cfm?vdoid=6998.