In a decisive stand against external influence, Friendswood voters re-elected four incumbents in the Friendswood ISD School Board election on Tuesday, November 5, an election marred by controversy and mud-slinging. Incumbents Tony Hopkins, Rebecca Hillenburg, Niki Rhodes, and Laura Seifert successfully defended their seats, defeating challengers backed by out-of-town funding.
In Position 4, Tony Hopkins, the current School Board President, won his fifth term with 8,956 votes, defeating former Friendswood City Councilman John Scott, who received 6,441 votes. Scott’s campaign, significantly boosted by nearly $50,000 in contributions, including $37,500 from State Senator Mayes Middleton and school-choice advocate Montgomery Bennett, drew concerns from the community regarding the potential influence of these external contributors. Scott’s campaign, which included several negative tactics, may have backfired, ultimately galvanizing voters to support Hopkins and reject outside interference in local school decisions.
In the race for Position 3, incumbent Dr. Rebecca Hillenburg retained her seat, receiving 10,423 votes to challenger Debbie Spurr’s 4,498 votes. Position 2 incumbent Niki Rhodes also secured a second term, winning 8,739 votes over Dr. Donald “Doc” Stran, who received 6,654 votes. Laura Seifert, running for a third term in Position 1, won a clear victory with 11,507 votes against Bradley Clapp’s 3,889 votes.
The election results underscore Friendswood voters’ preference for candidates with deep community ties and a commitment to public education. “This election shows that our community values integrity, transparency, and a focus on Friendswood’s future,” said one supporter at an election watch party. “We want representatives who prioritize our kids’ education and resist outside agendas.”
Voter turnout was robust, reflecting the community’s high engagement with these issues. The strong support for the incumbents emphasizes Friendswood’s dedication to preserving local control over its schools, free from external influence. The message from Friendswood voters is clear: local decisions about education should remain rooted in community priorities.
