Humble ISD board appoints Ken Kirchhoffer to vacant trustee seat with pledge condition

The Humble Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to appoint Ken Kirchhoffer to fill the vacant Position No. 4 on the board, subject to a public pledge that he will not seek reelection in February.

The motion to appoint Kirchhoffer included the caveat that the appointee publicly pledge not to run in the next election cycle; the presiding officer announced the motion carried with six votes in favor and one abstention. Board minutes and the meeting transcript record the appointment as an action taken following closed‑session deliberations.

Public comment before the appointment criticized the board’s process. Larissa Powell urged the trustees to respect recent election results and argued that reappointing a candidate who had lost a public election undermined voters’ will, telling the board, “You can't hold over a seat, you lost,” and calling for transparency in any appointment process. Powell suggested alternatives, naming several local candidates she said should be considered publicly.

Board members who moved and seconded the motion discussed the appointment in open session after closed‑session consideration, and the presiding officer announced the final tally. The board recorded one abstention; no votes against were recorded in open session.

Notes on process and next steps: the board made the appointment in open session after a closed‑session vetting process; the appointee is expected to take office immediately and the pledge condition was recorded as part of the motion. The transcript shows public callers urging a public appointment process or special election, and several speakers called for greater transparency around the vacancy process.

Action recorded: motion to appoint Ken Kirchhoffer to fill trustee Position No. 4 with the caveat that he publicly pledge not to seek reelection in February; motion passed (tally announced by presiding officer as 6–0 with 1 abstention).