Remaining Bellaire candidates readying for Dec. 12 showdown

Four Candidates Ready To Race Towards Runoff

Parks leader, ‘Buzz Lady’ latest to file for Bellaire council

By CHARLOTTE AGUILAR
Updated: 08.15.09
A veteran community leader and television’s “Buzz Lady” are the latest to file to run for Bellaire City Council seats.

Mandy Nathan, who was instrumental in shaping plans and fundraising for the Bellaire Town Square and Aquatics Center as chair of the city’s parks board and president of the Patrons for Bellaire Parks, is running for the unexpired two years of Position 6. She filed Thursday, the first day the city could legally accept applications to replace incumbent John Jeffery. He reportedly stepped down because he is leaving Bellaire.

Nathan is a graduate of Rice University and Harvard Law School. She is an 11 -year resident of Bellaire.

Roseann Rogers filed for Position 3, now held by the term-limited Peggy Faulk. Rogers, a four-year resident of Bellaire, is a longtime chronicler of Houston’s social scene on television and in local magazines and lists her profession as a regional sales and marketing manager. A source said Rogers’ husband, Dr. Aashish Shah, a member of Bellaire’s Board of Adjustment, is also considering a run for council.

Rogers’ entry has created the only contested race so far. She is opposing Corbett Parker, an attorney active in community affairs since his days as a Bellaire High School student.

Candidates have until 5 p.m. Sept. 2 to file papers with City Secretary Tracy Dutton. The election will be held Nov. 3.

Because of Jeffery’s resignation, the city’s carefully crafted plan of having the mayor’s job and half the council positions up for election every two years has been upended. Now five of the seven seats at the council table are on the ballot.

Two-term Mayor Cindy Siegel and incumbent Councilman Will Hickman have filed for re-election. In addition to the Parker-Rogers race and Nathan’s candidacy, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Andrew Friedberg is running for the position now held by veteran Councilman Pat McLaughlan, who is also prevented by term limits from seeking re-election.

Persuasive, perky newcomer says no experience is needed

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By STEVE MARK
Updated: 10.21.09
Her personality is infectious. She is smart and has used her power of friendly persuasion to aid countless civic fund-raising causes to complement her career in Houston television, on camera and in sales and marketing.

A Bellaire resident for four years, she has adopted her new home as if she has lived here forever. Roseann Rogers thinks all that is enough to compensate for limited exposure to city government and qualifications for a City Council position.

“It’s tedious, time consuming, and can be overwhelming,” Rogers observes of the hoped-for commitment. “With my business background, I’d like to think I can help in terms of the council being run as a business and to help make things run more efficient.”

Rogers’ husband, Dr. Aashis Shah, serves on the city’s Board of Adjustment, and with that spousal involvement, Roseann has made it her business to study local politics.

Despite that, Rogers is a newcomer to the local scene. Opponents in the Position No. 3 race point to Roseann’s touts on her own campaign website that she is a member of the Bellaire Library and Bellaire Recreation Center as an example that her local governmental pedigree might not be worthy of consideration for a council seat.

Rogers counters that with her lengthy list of affiliations with the likes of The Heart Center at Texas Childrens’ Hospital, to the American Cancer Society, to Make-A-Wish, and Dress For Success, among other causes.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in the community and a lot of time raising money for non-profits,” says Rogers. “They’ve needed people like me to keep their organizations running. Now I’m focusing my attention on where I live and where I chose to live.”

At a recent block party, Rogers bounced from neighbor to neighbor, weaving chatter about each other’s kids with thoughts on municipal issues. The woman known as “The Buzz Lady,” at least in this setting was far from simple surface discussion and much about things that mattered.

“The council should be a reflection of your community,” Rogers says. “I’m a wife, I’m a mother, and I’m a businesswoman. I know the importance of building a better Bellaire, and I want to reach out to folks about that.”

Introducing Candidates For Place 3 Council Member Roseann Rogers

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Roseann Rogers is running for Place 3 on the Bellaire City Council because as a resident and mother here, she says she values the importance of the community.

“We wanted to set up roots in Bellaire,” Rogers said. She said she wants to protect the traditions, services and quality of life in the city.

Rogers works in the broadcasting industry, currently as a sales and marketing manager at Houston’s Channel 55. Previously she covered the local entertainment scene on the show “The Daily Buzz.” She serves on the Community Advisory Board of the Junior League of Houston and she volunteers for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Rogers founded Dress for Success Houston, a group that provides job interview clothes for low-income women.

Ensuring that residents’ quality of life remains high is the most important priority in Bellaire, Rogers said. Specific issues that feed into the quality of life, she said, include street improvements, properly redeveloping downtown, and ensuring the city continues growing in the next 10 to 15 years.

“The comprehensive plan is very key in keeping that forward movement,” Rogers said.

According to an Oct. 5 campaign finance report, Rogers has raised $170 from Bellaire residents’ contributions. The report said she has spent about $2,200 on yard signs, her web site, fees for renting an ice cream truck, and a payment to Buzz Magazine of Bellaire.

BELLAIRE
Candidates talk budget, city planning

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By ROBIN FOSTER CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
Oct. 20, 2009, 1:27PM
Position 3

In the contest for Position 3, Richard Franke, a CPA, is concerned largely with the condition of city streets and how long it will take to replace them using a “piecemeal” approach.

“What type of merchants will we attract when the streets look like mine, which was built in 1942 and is falling apart,” he asked.

His opponents, Corbett Parker, Roseann Rogers and Marie Anstead, all have a strong record of service to the community.

Anstead, who directs environmental health and safety programs for an international company, has been on the sidelines since she wrote the grant to begin Bellaire's popular curbside recycling program.

“I'm back,” she said, pledging to extend the program to businesses while finding other opportunities for the city to become environmentally conscious.

Parker, an attorney who grew up in Bellaire, has done considerable homework to prepare for the post. “The main question is who is the best-qualified and willing to work hard to keep Bellaire a premium place to live? I am the only candidate with this level of preparation,” he said.

Rogers, a sales and marketing manager for KTBU-TV, manages a large budget as well as personnel and wants to put those skills to work for the community she loves.

Place 3 Candidates Discuss Improving City Services

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Roseann Rogers

I believe maintaining a safe environment for all of our citizens is top priority. Whether it is with our fire, police or medical services, we have to ensure our services are accessible as well as maintain high standards. Good roads, sidewalks and sewage systems are important to keep all who live and work in our city safe. We also need to maintain an effective and regionally integrated emergency preparedness plan, well in advance of our next crisis. Bellaire faces challenges with respect to growth that affect its residents.  I pledge to study the issues transparently and seek input not only of the “experts”, but also my fellow citizens.

From Buzz Lady, to Council Lady?

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Roseann-buzzme We don't usually pay enough attention to many of the smaller community politics that surround Houston, but this one is interesting.  Roseann Rogers, aka the Buzz Lady, has filed to run for the Bellaire City Council,  Position 3.  She'll be running against Corbett Parker, a young attorney.

On her Facebook page, Rogers declared:
August 20, 2009
    "As a working mom, I’m aware of how important our neighborhood is to everyone. I am reaching out to all of you for your support in my election and hope you’ll tell others about my efforts to... serve the community. In the coming weeks, you can show your support by putting up a yard sign, joining me at an event, or simply voting for me on Election Day!"

The development is interesting on several fronts.  First of all, as a longtime fixture on Houston's TV screens and social scenes, Rogers has a very high built in name ID.  I'm sure some Houston City Council candidates would love that sort of recognition.  In addition, the City of Bellaire has received their own share of attention this past year, and it hasn't been pretty.  The shooting of Robbie Tolan in his own front yard by Bellaire Police has garnered national attention.  It brought in the Justice Department, lawyers, and an unflattering light to a city government that's been fairly quiet about the accusations tossed their way.

Perhaps the Bellaire City Council could use some fresh faces, and fresh ideas.  With several council seats open, there will definitely be turnover.  It would also give Bellaire a chance for some positive publicity.  Rogers may be the first well known local to file for City Council, but she may not be the last. Stay tuned!