The Woodlands Township has approved a plan to condense the village associations’ election in 2010 to a single week of early voting and a single voting location.

Residents will go to the polls in February to elect members of village association boards and residential design review committees, which are architectural review groups which oversee property renovation at the village level.

With the dissolution of the three property associations on Jan. 1 and the reduction in the township board from 11 to seven members in May, village associations are expected to play a larger role in advocating local issues in the community.

“Village associations have become more important and they need to be more visible,” said Nelda Luce Blair, chairwoman of The Woodlands Township.

More than 100 positions will be available at the village boards in the upcoming elections, which will be held on Feb. 20 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Community Association of The Woodlands, 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive.

Early voting will be available at the same location from Feb. 15-19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In the past, when the village association elections were held in conjunction with The Woodlands Community Association and The Woodlands Association races, two weeks of early voting were available, and there was a polling site in each village.

The township rejected an early proposal to move the election to on-line voting in an effort to save time and money and to expand voting opportunities for residents.

Filing for all village positions will begin on Dec. 31 and continue through Jan. 21.

Voter turnout has been historically low for community association elections, unless there was a significant issue to address.

“I think it makes sense,” said Steve Leakey, who served as a liaison between the village associations and the township. “My main thing is we need to use the chance and approach it as an opportunity to remind people of their responsible to vote in the election. I hope the village associations will increase in their participation and responsible. With the transition and the disappearance of the WCA and TWA, I hope there will be in increased level of interest in people running. In addition to the historical things they have done, like spring fests and chili cookoffs, we hope to add more substantive roles, like serving on advisory committee and hoc committees."

There will be two major changes in the upcoming village election in February. For the first time, Creekside Park will be able to elect a board of directors, and Windsor Hills resident can run for and vote in the College Park Village Association election. Windsor Hills petitioned to become part of College Park after the active senior community was included in the township boundaries and was subject to property taxes.

WOODLANDS VILLAGE ELECTIONS
Elections for village association and residential design committee members will be held on Feb. 20th. With the dissolution of The Woodland Community Association and The Woodlands Association and the consolidation of the township board from 11 to seven members in 2010, the village associations are expected to take on a greater role in advocating local issues.

Following are key dates in the election process:

Grogan’s Mill, Panther Creek, Cochran’s Crossing, Alden Bridge, Indian Springs, College Park, Sterling Ridge and Creekside Park
Dec. 31, 2009 to Jan. 21, 2010 – Candidate filing
Feb. 15-19, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Early voting, Community Associations of The Woodlands, 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive.
Feb. 20, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Election Day, Community Associations of The Woodlands, 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive.