A former union president and a retired Houston ISD employee have filed to run against two incumbents on the San Jacinto College Board of Regents.

C.D. “Chuck” Hooper of Pasadena and the Rev. C. H. Brooks Jr. of Deer Park are seeking Positions 2 and 1 respectively, which are currently held by Dr. Ruede Wheeler of La Porte and J. D. Bruce of Pasadena. Ben Meador of Pasadena is running unopposed for Position 5.

Hooper, a 1962 graduate of Pasadena High School, was a member of the Pipefitters Local Union 211 for more than 40 years. He served as the union’s president at one time, successfully negotiating health insurance and pension contracts for 35 South Central Texas counties.  He is also a Master Mason 32 Degree Shriner.

Hooper was one of the first to teach welding classes at San Jac Central in the 1960s.  
Hooper was a Navy Seabee during the Vietnam War. He has been married to his wife, Sherry Lee, for 27 years and has one daughter and two grandchildren.

Brooks, a graduate of Wheatley High School, resides in Deer Park and retired last year from Houston ISD after 31 years.  He was the coordinator of Harper Alternative School, where he was responsible for $4 million in school fixed assets.

He served in the U.S. Navy for seven years during the Vietnam War, receiving many citations including the Meritorious Commendation, one in 1968 and another one for Republic of Philippines in 1970; a Presidential Citation; a Silver Star; five Bronze Stars for the Vietnam campaign; a Vietnam Service Medal; and a Good Conduct Award.

Brooks is a minister at Mt. Hebron Baptist Church in Houston and has been married to his wife, Linda, for 37 years. They have five children and two grandchildren.

Wheeler has served on the San Jac Board of Regents since 1986 and has been named chairman twice. He served as chairman on the college’s Budget and Audit Committee and was a nine-year member of the La Porte ISD Board of Trustees. He has practiced dentistry in La Porte for 40 years and is a member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association and the Houston District Dental Society.

Wheeler is also a member and past president of the La Porte Rotary Club.  

Bruce has been a board member since 1981, previously serving 15 years on the Pasadena ISD Board of Trustees.  He has also held numerous leadership positions on the San Jac board, including chairman and vice-chairman.

Before retirement, he owned and operated for many years J.D. Bruce Insurance in Pasadena. Success in the insurance industry earned Bruce many awards, including being a member of the Millionaire Club.

He has been an active member of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce since 1965, chairing committees on government affairs and state government.

Meador was appointed to Position 5 after the death of Dr. Parker Williams in August 2004. He founded Meador Staffing Services, Inc. in 1968.  The company was ranked number two on the list of the top-25 Staffing Firms in Houston by the “Houston Business Journal” for the year 2003. He currently serves as president and CEO.

He was a founding member of the San Jacinto College Foundation and was vice chairman of the board of directors in 2002.

He is actively involved in Pasadena civic activities, chairing and co-chairing many committees and boards.

Local residents will cast ballots during a Saturday, May 7 election and early voting.
The college is holding elections in the following school districts: Pasadena, Channelview, Deer Park, La Porte, Sheldon and Galena Park. A polling site will be established for certain residents of Clear Creek, Humble and Pearland ISD who reside within the college district.

Early voting is from Wednesday, April 20 through Tuesday, May 3 at San Jacinto College’s South and North campuses. The South Campus is located at 13735 Beamer Road in Houston and the North Campus is located at 5800 Uvalde in Houston. Other early voting polling places include Pasadena High School; Pasadena Memorial High School; J. Frank Dobie High School; Sam Rayburn High School; South Houston High School; La Porte City Hall; Channelview ISD School Tax Office; Deer Park ISD, Galena Park ISD and Sheldon ISD administration buildings. Also, Galena Park Middle School is a polling site. 

The seven members on the San Jacinto College District Board of Regents are elected to six-year terms. Elections are held every two years and coincide with May municipal and school district elections.