Lake Houston - Humble - Kingwood Edition | March 2026

Government

BY HANNAH BROL & WESLEY GARDNER

Humble PD reports drop in auto theft cases The city of Humble saw a roughly 49% drop in auto theft cases from 2024 to 2025 after o–cials implemented the use of Flock cameras throughout the city, interim Police Chief Kris Batten‘eld said during a March 12 City Council meeting. What they’re saying Batten‘eld said he believes the installation of Flock cameras, which scan license plates to help identify vehicles, directly contributed to the trend. “We recognize that there’s a lot of new technology there that’s making a dierence,” Mayor Norman Funderburk said during the meeting. The city also saw a roughly 15% drop in property crimes, decreasing from 574 cases in 2024 to 490 cases in 2025, according to HPD data. “I think that’s a huge credit to our city and the investment that we’ve made into that technology,” Batten‘eld said.

March primaries result in runo elections Several federal, state and local races are headed to runos May 26, after no candidate received the majority vote in March. How it works State law requires primary candidates to receive more than 50% of the vote to advance to a general election. In races where no candidate received the majority vote, the top two vote-getters head to a runo election. The Republican primary runo includes U.S. Senator; Texas attorney general; Texas railroad commissioner; Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 3; and Harris County judge. The Democratic primary runo includes Texas attorney general, Texas lieutenant governor, Harris County district clerk and Harris County judge. Early voting will run May 18-22.

City of Humble crime statistics

2024

2025

Aggravated assault 58 69 +19%

Auto theft 187 95

-49%

Burglary of a motor vehicle 317 307

-3%

Burglary 70 88 Robbery 29

+26%

-45%

16

Sexual assault

23

34

+48%

SOURCE: HUMBLE POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT

Humble City Council cancels local May 2 election

seats after no candidates ‘led to run against them. Some context The city of Humble holds a general election on the ‘rst Saturday in May each year. All positions are at-large with a two-year term and no term limits, according to the city’s election website. Humble City Council is comprised of the mayor and ‘ve council members who all vote on issues.

Humble City Council members voted Feb. 26 to cancel their upcoming May 2 election after no candi- dates ‘led to run against the three incumbents. The details Three seats were up for grabs in the upcoming election, including places 3, 4 and 5 currently held by Bruce Davidson, Paula Settle and Rick Swanson, respectively. The incumbents will now retain their

BruceDavidson Paula Settle

Rick Swanson

Davidson was initially appointed in 2021 and was reelected in 2022 and 2024. Settle was initially elected in 2020 and was re-elected in 2022 and 2024. Swanson was ‘rst elected in 2024.

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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION

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