Shelley Sekula-Gibbs: The Woodlands Township Candidate – Position 5
Please note that Hello Woodlands is an unbiased, nonpartisan news source that does not endorse or support only one party or candidate. We do not accept or receive advertising or funding from any candidate, party or group.
Hello Woodlands gave the opportunity to candidates running for The Woodlands Township Board of Directors to complete a written interview including the same four (4) questions. View candidate’s responses to our questions, if provided.
Each position has a two-year term, is an unpaid volunteer position, and is elected at-large by voters in The Woodlands Township in both Montgomery County and Harris County. The election is scheduled for November 4, 2025. Voters must be registered to vote for The Woodlands election.
THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS – 2025 CANDIDATE
Shelley Sekula-Gibbs is running for The Woodlands Township Board Position 5.
1. Why do you enjoy living (and working, if applicable) in The Woodlands?
George Mitchell designed The Woodlands to be a place where families can live, work, worship, learn and play, a hometown within a natural forest. Fifty years later, The Woodlands Township still lives up to these aspirations. The Woodlands repeatedly ranks as the best place in America to live and raise a family. My husband and I are blessed to live in The Woodlands near our grandchildren, where we can enjoy their lives and continue to. work to keep The Woodlands wonderful.
2. What motivates you to run for The Woodlands Township Board of Directors?
It has been an honor to serve the residents of The Woodlands and am asking for their vote for a 4th term. During my time on the Board, the population in both Montgomery and Harris Counties has grown tremendously. With growth comes opportunities and challenges. The Township is at an inflection point. Residential property is almost “built out.” Prime commercial land is yet to be developed. Traffic snarls thicken. Public services strain to keep up with demand. As a board director, I pledge to focus on solving today’s problems while planning for the next 50 years.
3. If elected, what would your top 3 priorities as a Township Board Director be? How would you work to impact/shape the future of The Woodlands?
My top priority is public safety. Providing The Woodlands residents with outstanding law enforcement requires financial commitment. This September, the Board voted to increase funding for supplemental law enforcement by $2.9 million, an almost 18% jump. It brings total supplemental law enforcement funding to $18.1 million annually.
During the budget workshop, I motioned to transfer $1.5 million that currently pays Alpha and Omega mounted patrol to the Sheriff and Constables budgets. A&O provide private security at The Woodlands Mall (since 1994), Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Market Street, Hughes Landing, and other select businesses in The Woodlands. A&O aren’t licensed peace officers. They don’t carry weapons. They can’t arrest bad actors. They are little more than a “cellphone on a pony.” If riders see something untoward, they call 911 same as everyone else. It is time to transfer this legacy program to the private property owners and pay for real law enforcement not photo opportunities. Ideally, Sheriff Doolittle will one day post mounted deputies in The Woodlands.
I am also working to keep the trees up, the traffic out, and the taxes low. This requires planning, collaboration, and a willingness to “doge” the Township budget to eliminate waste.
4. Would you like to share any other words or a message to The Woodlands Community?
Unlike many cities and counties in Texas, The Woodlands Township has low debt, strong reserves, and a high credit rating. This bodes well to keep The Woodlands a prime destination for businesses, homeowners, and visitors. Sales and use taxes, hotel, ticket and mixed beverage taxes help keep the Township’s property tax rate low.
This enviable financial position gives the Township Board the opportunity to dream big. Imagine expanding the convention center, which is connected to The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel, to attract larger, more lucrative meetings; building underground parking and tunnels in Town Center to allow visitors to safely and comfortably reach first class venues; constructing an indoor performing arts center that competes with the Hobby, the Alley, and the Dallas AT&T Performing Arts Centers, etc.; collaborating with Montgomery and Harris Counties and TXDOT to build a loop around The Woodlands. The loop could run along or above existing FM 2978 and FM 1488. It would have nonstop intersections and provide commuters a faster way to reach the Grand Parkway and I-45 without cutting through The Woodlands.
There is a saying in Texas, “Go big or go home!” Mr. Mitchell believed this and created an unsurpassed masterplanned community, which is now home to 120,000 people, over 2000 businesses, and many national headquarters. I believe great people do great things. Working together, The Woodlands’ next 50 years will be even better than the first.
God bless The Woodlands and the USA!
Learn more about Shelley Sekula-Gibbs at:
- Campaign Website: www.drshelley4township.com
- Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/DrShelley4Township
Visit the Hello Woodlands 2025 Election Guide for The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Candidates to view all candidates, interviews, and voting information here.
Please visit The Woodlands Township’s website for additional information about the November 4, 2025 election here.
Please note that Hello Woodlands is an unbiased, nonpartisan news source that does not support only one party or candidate. We do not accept or receive advertising or funding from any candidate, party or group. We believe in providing the community with educational information, and credible facts, thoroughly researched topics and articles.
