Editing Bellaire, Texas (section)

==== Local politics ====
Zoning and land use controversies, common throughout Bellaire's history, resulted in the 1977 recall of the mayor and three council members.<ref name="Handbook"/> The City of Bellaire voted against banning smoking in bars and restaurants on Monday January 15, 2007. Mayor Cindy Siegel and Pat McLaughlan, one council member, voted for the ban, while the other five members, including Peggy Faulk, voted against the ban. The National Restaurant Association asked Bellaire to consider adopting a smoking ban to put it in sync with the [[City of Houston]], which adopted a similar ordinance in 2005.<ref>White, Tara. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110522043559/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4267230 Bellaire council votes against smoking ban / Restaurant group sought to unify no-smoking law with Houston's]. ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Thursday January 18, 2007. ThisWeek 1. Retrieved on August 4, 2009.</ref> In December 2009 the city voted to ban [[texting while driving]].<ref>Mark, Steve. "[https://archive.today/20120904062720/http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/12/15/bellaire_examiner/news/be_texting_ban.txt Bellaire and West U both ban texting while driving]." ''[[Bellaire Examiner]]''. December 9, 2009. Retrieved on January 25, 2010.</ref> Bans of texting while driving were passed in Bellaire and [[West University Place, Texas]] within hours of one another.<ref>Connelly, Richard. "[http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/12/texting_driving_bellaire.php OMG 4 Rlz, No Texting While Driving In Bellaire Or West U] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319231958/http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/12/texting_driving_bellaire.php |date=March 19, 2012 }}." ''[[Houston Press]]''. Tuesday December 15, 2009. Retrieved on January 25, 2010.</ref> In 2010 the city voted 5–2 to ban the feeding of cats on public property and establish a rule requiring the permission of the owner of a piece of private property in order to feed cats on private property. The city received negative e-mail feedback from various locations, including [[Switzerland]].<ref>Foster, Robin. "[http://www.ultimatebellaire.com/stories/221375-bellaire-ok-s-restrictions-on-feeding-feral-cats Battle over Bellaire's feral cats may not be over] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123012454/http://www.ultimatebellaire.com/stories/221375-bellaire-ok-s-restrictions-on-feeding-feral-cats |date=November 23, 2010 }}." Ultimate Bellaire. November 18, 2010. Retrieved on November 19, 2010.</ref>

In 2011, Phil Nauert was elected as the new mayor of Bellaire.<ref>"[http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Pasadena-Lamar-OK-bond-issues-2259485.php Pasadena, Lamar OK bond issues]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Tuesday November 8, 2011. Retrieved on November 11, 2011.</ref>  In 2014, long-time City Manager Bernie Satterwhite retired and was replaced by Paul Hofmann.<ref>{{cite web|author=Quick, Mark A.|url=http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/news/article/Bellaire-city-manager-pick-to-start-in-February-5162881.php|title=Bellaire city manager pick to start in February|publisher=[[Bellaire Examiner]] at the [[Houston Chronicle]]|date=January 21, 2014|access-date=May 1, 2014}}</ref>

In 2011, [[Bellaire High School (Texas)|Bellaire High School]] principal Tim Salem attempted to remove the Bellaire city government's operating license of a food cart vendor who was popular with students.<ref>{{cite news|author=Evans, Caroline|url=http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/bellaire/news/location-location-bellaire-hs-students-love-food-cart-but-principal/article_954fca82-95cf-5ff2-a0c0-df0f9bc3e05a.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923110641/http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/bellaire/news/location-location-bellaire-hs-students-love-food-cart-but-principal/article_954fca82-95cf-5ff2-a0c0-df0f9bc3e05a.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2016|title=Location, location: Bellaire HS students love food cart, but principal wants it banned|newspaper=[[Bellaire Examiner]]|date=December 6, 2011<!--Tuesday-->|access-date=September 23, 2016}}</ref>