Jeffrey Boney Challenges Mayor Elackatt in Missouri City Election

Jeffrey Boney, a prominent city council member in Missouri City, is set to challenge Mayor Robin Elackatt in the upcoming municipal election on November 4, 2024. After eight years representing District B, Boney aims to transition from council member to mayor in a bid to reshape the city’s future. Early voting begins on October 21, 2024.

Boney’s campaign is motivated by his vision of transforming Missouri City into a vibrant urban center. He emphasizes the need for redevelopment, particularly focusing on supporting women- and minority-owned businesses. “We’re no longer a rural community,” Boney stated. “We’re a thriving community, becoming more of an urban community.” His commitment to enhancing local business infrastructure is central to his platform, as he seeks to increase sales tax revenue and reduce reliance on property taxes.

As Boney vacates his council position to run for mayor, a special election will be held to fill his unexpired term. Additionally, the at-large 1 and at-large 2 council seats are contested in this election, presenting voters with several choices.

Meanwhile, Mayor Elackatt, who has served for nearly five years, aims to continue his administration’s focus on infrastructure and public safety. He has directed resources towards revitalizing the Parkway/Cartwright road corridor and enhancing public safety through the establishment of a public safety annex. These initiatives gained urgency following Hurricane Beryl, which caused significant damage in July 2024, leading to over $2 million in repair costs. “Trying to manage something you don’t have control over, but it affects your city, it’s probably one of the toughest things I’ve dealt with,” Elackatt remarked.

If re-elected, Elackatt plans to prioritize addressing the city’s drainage challenges and upgrading older roads to ensure safer neighborhoods. “My biggest focus, public safety, is an ongoing focus, but it’d be the infrastructure piece of what we needed to do,” he said.

Boney shares a similar commitment to improving infrastructure, believing that enhancing the city’s appeal will attract visitors and boost economic growth. “I want to reduce our overall dependence on property taxes, and the only way we can do that is by driving up our sales tax revenue,” he emphasized.

In the special election to fill Boney’s council seat, James Davidson and Sharita L. Thompson are competing for the position. Additionally, Sonya Brown-Marshall, the incumbent in the at-large 1 position, faces a challenge from Shad Bogany, while Lynn Clouser seeks re-election for the at-large 2 seat against challengers Dinishi Abayarathna and Bruce Zaborowski.

As the election approaches, the decisions made by Missouri City voters will significantly impact the governance and direction of their community for years to come.