Man forming group to monitor local governments
Stephen Jurovic sees many problems in local governments and public participation in politics; so he’s planning to do something about it.
After running unsuccessfully against incumbent Katy City Councilman Steve Pierson in the May 7 elections, Jurovic is forming a political action committee to critique and analyze local governments in Harris and Fort Bend counties, with a focus on the city of Katy and the Katy school district’s board.
“Politicians say they are going to get something done, and then they get in there and do what they want anyway,” said Jurovic, 78. “This (political) group is in its infancy. We have to get a plan going and have to plot a course of action first.”
Jurovic owns Replacement Windows of Katy, which is operated by his son Dan. He has lived in Katy since 2008. Before that,
he and his wife, Helen, lived in Houston since 1972 except for a few years in Iowa.
Jurovic said he has no affiliation with a political party or group. He recently worked on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commision and Board of Adjustment.
Jurovic doesn’t like that incumbents often run unopposed in city and school board elections. He noted that J. Gary Jones gained the city of Katy’s Ward A council seat first through mayoral appointment and then by running unopposed in the May 7 election. Jurovic wants to find ways to encourage people to seek elected office.
He’s also interested in making funding more equitable among schools in Texas districts. He believes low citizen participation of politics is a root of many local government issues.
Jurovic also takes issue with Katy ISD board decisions such as planning for the district’s new $62.5 million stadium to be built alongside Rhodes Stadium. Jurovic doesn’t believe the second stadium is necessary and said the board strategically slipped the stadium into the 2014 bond referendum by stuffing the bond proposal with school renovations and new buildings that residents felt forced to approve.
Trustees, he said, “are in control of millions of millions of dollars of your money and my money, but they didn’t get elected. They walked right in, most of them unopposed. I would like to see some term limits.”
Jurovic’s scope for his group is wide, but he said the main goal is to analyze the functions of local government and build support for positive change.
Jurovic expects to form a detailed plan of issues his group can advocate for. Any citizen desiring to hold local government accountable, he said, would fit into his group.
Jurovic expects the group to be volunteerbased and supported by donors who themselves desire change in politics. He is courting local activists and friends for help.
He’s received encouragement from conservative blogger George Scott, who on Tuesday defeated 27-year incumbent Joe Adams in the Katy ISD position 1 trustee election after Adams conceded the race during a recount of votes.
Jurovic’s effort is similar to Scott’s attempt to form a group last year to serve as a “shadow board” to critique the district school board.
Scott’s effort failed because he couldn’t raise enough funds, but he ran a campaign for Position 1 largely based on the same critique and challenge of the board.
“I don’t know Mr. Jurovic personally ... but I think it’s a great idea for any citizen who wants to be politically active,” Scott said. “I hope he has success in advancing his platform and beliefs, because it’s a very tough road.”
Katy Mayor Fabol Hughes said Jurovic’s planned group would be “definitely new to the area,” but he would not comment beyond that.
Jurovic hopes to have his group begin meetings by the end of this year.
“This is liable to fail. I can’t guarantee it’s not going to fail,” he said. “If it fails, it fails, but at least you put some idea out there that might help some people.”