Three candidates—Mark Harpool, Amy McEvoy and Kirsten Peoples— are running for Pilot Point ISD school board Place 2 for the May 2 election.
Harpool has lived in Pilot Point for 20 years, and he has served two years on the PPYSA board and as president of the Pilot Point Family and Friends of the FFA & 4-H from May 2020 to May 2022.
Harpool also enjoys getting involved through benefit auctions and with the school district.
“I would like to see the city and the ISD working more closely together,” Harpool said.
He added that he believes his background in construction and project management will help achieve that goal.
“I get to see lots of different communities that are growing as fast or faster than Pilot Point,” Harpool said. “I see a lot of things that they're doing that maybe we could implement here in Pilot Point. … I see that because I'm in that field and would like to be a bridge to help guide some of the growth.”
If elected, Harpool’s other priorities are to improve the relationship between the district and staff.
“I really want to make Pilot Point ISD shine above all others around,” Harpool said.
McEvoy has lived in Pilot Point for 13 years and has served on the Pilot Point ISD board for six consecutive years since being elected in 2020. If elected, this would be McEvoy’s third term.
She’s been a registered nurse for 30 years, and she emphasized the importance of advocating for the health and wellness of staff and students.
McEvoy shared that she was involved early in the process of the bond for the new high school and hopes to remain on the board to advocate for the design and implementation of safety and mental health features to serve current and future residents.
“They want their children to go to school in happy environments—clean, safe, welcoming,” McEvoy said. “That's what I want to see as a district, and I'd like to be a part of that to help make that vision happen.”
Some of her other priorities include continuing to support the district’s current work, reporting and monitoring data and trends, and supporting Superintendent Dr. Shannon Fuller’s vision to build on culture.
Peoples has been a Pilot Point resident for three and a half years and is involved in the Pilot Point Family and Friends of the FFA & 4-H, the Pilot Point Booster Club, the Pilot Point Band Boosters and the PTO.
She was attracted to the area for the affordable housing and the growing communities.
Peoples shared how she would handle the city’s growth if elected.
“I do anticipate there to be plenty of challenges for us to get through,” Peoples said. “However, I feel as long as we can just keep communication going and making sure the citizens and the staff feel heard, I feel like that's really going to help us in the mix.”
She added that if elected, her top priorities are to maintain transparency between the board and residents, make information easily accessible to residents so they can feel more involved and help where needed.
“My main goal is to get out there, listen and try to help make the best decisions that we can make for the community,” Peoples said.
Early voting for the May 2 election opens April 20 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
On April 21, polls are closed in observance of San Jacinto Day.
They will reopen from April 22-25, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; April 26, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; and April 27-28, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
During early voting, registered voters can go to any polling location within their county of residence.
On Election Day, residents must go to their specific precinct polling location. All the polling locations will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on May 2.
