J. Steven Smelley

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

J. Steven Smelley

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 3, 2025

Education

High school

Westchester High School

Bachelor's

University of Houston, 1983

Personal

Religion

Christian: Protestant

Profession

Sales consultant

Contact

Campaign website

J. Steven Smelley ran for election to the Spring Branch Independent School District school board to represent Position 6 in Texas. He lost in the general election on May 3, 2025.

Smelley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

J. Steven Smelley earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston in 1983. His career experience includes working as a sales consultant. He has been affiliated with Rotary International.

Elections

2025

See also: Spring Branch Independent School District, Texas, elections (2025)

General election

General election for Spring Branch Independent School District school board Position 6

Walker Agnew Jr. defeated David E. Lopez and J. Steven Smelley in the general election for Spring Branch Independent School District school board Position 6 on May 3, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Walker Agnew Jr. (Nonpartisan)	56.1	5,044
		David E. Lopez (Nonpartisan)	36.5	3,281
		J. Steven Smelley (Nonpartisan)	7.5	674

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,999
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Smelley in this election.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

J. Steven Smelley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Smelley's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

10 year veteran Former School Board Member for Fort Bend ISD

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Need balance in the classroom with Analog learning and Digital Learning
• Board of Trustees needs senior leadership in times of financial crisis and work for the taxpayers
• Huge need for students to have the curriculum focused on fundamental teaching of reading, writing and arithmetic.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Save taxpayers money!

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My father

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Bible

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Previous service. Lifetime volunteer

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Answer to the taxpayers first.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Positive impact on student learning

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

JFK being shot! 5

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Family Medical supply business 15 years

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

None

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Amarillo By Morning

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Being too honest

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

Oversight

Who are your constituents?

Taxpayers

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

Specialized teaching for every student

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

Whatever is necessary

What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?

The ability of students to learn and perform life skills.

In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?

More fundamental teaching of life skills

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

Depends on state and federal funding.

What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?

Number one priority always

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

This is budget driven

Tell us your favorite joke.

No

What existing district policies would you like to change, or what new policies would you like to implement?

More emphasis on fundamentals

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

County Commissioner

Describe your ideal learning environment for students.

Small student to teacher ratio for better instruction in the classroom.

How do you feel like your school district handled the coronavirus pandemic? What, if anything, would you do differently in the future?

Not well, schools should have never been shut down.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district?

Work for them

What are your preferred strategies for faculty, staff, and administration recruitment?

Collaboration

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Mandatory

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2025 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

Spring Branch Independent School District school board Position 6

Website