VOL 3 No. 10
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2010
Western and Indian choral and orchestral musical show
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Chamber building on the Yellow Pages cover
singer and resident of the Lake Olympia community in Missouri City, says: “Shanti is an amazing arrangement of musical instruments and artistry. It’s choral, it’s dance, it’s colorful, it’s unique. It’s a blending of mass harmonious voices from the eastern and western world. It’s a tongue tying, jaw dropping, foot stumping, joyous experience.” Visit www.shantichoir.org
The Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance building is featured on the cover of the Fort Bend 2010 AT&T Real Yellow Pages directory. The building symbolizes the Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance’s 100 years of service to the Fort Bend community. A total of 387,000 copies of the Fort Bend AT&T Real Yellow Pages directory have been produced for distribution in the area this year. “We are very proud of the building that houses the Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance, and we’re proud of what it represents,” said Gail Parker, president and CEO of the Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance. “For the next year, whenever anyone reaches for the AT&T Real Yellow Pages they’ll be reminded of this outstanding group of men and women who are working hard everyday to improve the business community and further strengthen our economy.” Releasing the AT&T Yellow Pages directory are from left: Edwin P. Graves, AT&T Advertising Solutions area marketing manager-Southeast Texas region; State Representative John Zerwas, Dist. 28; Gail Parker, President/CEO Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance; Dan McDonald, Chairman Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance Board of Directors; and Frank Gracely, AT&T External Affairs.
District Attorney race results in runoff, incumbent state rep loses seat
Local elections draw flurry of candidates
Several Fort Bend County residents are performing in “Shanti: A Journey of Peace,” a grand Broadway style, theatrical choir performance that explores the message of peace, joy and the interconnectedness of all through the dance, music and culture of India. Shanti is a scintillating 90-minute performance featuring Western choral and orchestral music combined with Indian classical music and
By SESHADRI KUMAR Two incumbents have been ousted in the March 2 Democratic Primary, while two incumbents in the Republican Primary are facing a runoff election on April 13. Other incumbents in the contested races in both the parties have won the nomination of their respective parties. Incumbent State Rep. Dora Olivo, a Democrat, was defeated by Attorney Ron Reynolds of Missouri City and Reynolds has no Republican opponent in the November general election. Reynolds got 58 percent of votes, while Olivo got 42 percent. Similarly, Democratic Party Chair Elaine Bishop was defeated by Steve Brown.. Brown got 50.42 percent of the votes, while Bishop got 49.58 percent. Rodrigo Carreon is the
dances. This first-of-its-kind Indian-American community choir and the United Nations Association International Choir are collaborating to present the two back-to-back shows on Saturday, March 13 at Cullen Performance Hall, University of Houston Main Campus. To buy tickets for the 5 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. shows, visit www.Tickets2Events.com. Pat Dyer, vivacious choir
Democratic Party’s nominee in the County Judge race. He will oppose incumbent Republican County Judge Bob Hebert. Incumbent Pct.2 JP Joel Clouser defeated his challenger Tony Sherman. In the Republican Primary, the most watched race for District Attorney resulted in a runoff between incumbent John Healey, who got 47 percent of the votes, followed by Attorney Nina Schaefer, with 33 percent. The third candidate, Richard Raymond got 20 percent of the votes. In the Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 1, race incumbent Gary Geick will face Robert “Bob” Thomas in the runoff. The third candidate was Mary Ward. In other notable Republican races, incumbent Pct. 4 Commissioner James Patterson retained his seat defeating former FBISD board president
Steve Smelley. Patterson got 69 percent of the votes polled against Smelley’s 31 percent. In the County Court-atLaw #2 race Jeff McMeans, son of incumbent judge Walter McMeans, won the party’s nomination defeating Rick Forlano. McMeans has a Democratic opponent in the November general election. The 268th District Judge Brady Elliott retained his seat with 72 percent of the votes, while his challenger Roxie Roll got 28 percent. Elliott will face Democrat Albert Hollan in the November election. Fort Bend GOP Chair Rick Miller was re-elected with 53 percent of the votes. His opponent Mike Gibson received 47 percent. A total of 32,094 voted in the Republican governor race in Fort Bend and 14,650 voted in the Democratic governor race.
By BARBARA FULENWIDER In east Fort Bend County only Sugar Land escaped having an election. Three towns and two public school districts will hold elections in May. Fort Bend ISD has five candidates vying for two trustee positions and Stafford Municipal School District has four candidates who want to fill three trustee chairs. Stafford and Meadows Place have four people running for three city council seats each. Fort Bend ISD trustee candidates Jim Rice and Clay Alumbaugh both of Sugar Land are seeking Bob Broxson’s Position 3 seat. The one-term incumbent announced he would not seek re-election at the board’s second meeting in February. Rice, 55, lists his occupation as program construction
A 75th birthday bash presented by the Fort Bend County Women’s Center and title sponsor, PCCA, commemorating Elvis Presley’s legacy will take place at the Stafford Center on March 27, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Boogie is the Fort Bend Women’s Center’s annual fundraiser “Thankyouverymuch!” from Graceland. Ready to celebrate Elvis’ 75th Birthday are Women’s Center’s supporters: (back row) Liz Welch, Chevron; “Elvis” cutout, Alina Gonzalez, Lowery Bank and event chair; Heather Gould, Telfair by Newland Communities; David Sparks, CEO, PCCA; Michael Garfield, the High-Tech Texan radio and TV personality and event’s master of ceremonies; Carl Favre, Roberts Markel PC, “Elvis” cutout, Judy Turpie, decorations chair; (front row) Gary Owens, Oyo Geospace; Jim Smith, President, PCCA; Joe Mandola, Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, Not pictured is Cynthia von Tesmar, Fluor; Steve Ewbank, Planned Community Developers and Paul Silverman, ZK Homes.
manager and has lived in the district for almost 29 years. Alumbaugh, 62, is retired and has lived in the district nearly 28 years. Three candidates are running for FBISD’s District 7 (east) seat. They are Jim Babb, 46, who lives in Missouri City and is a police sergeant. He has lived in the district for 10 years. Gerald Hawkins, 43, lives in Sugar Land, is a physician/ medical educator and has lived in the district for 11 years. The incumbent, David Reitz, of Missouri City, is seeking his second three-year term on the board. Reitz, 45, is a manager and has lived in the district for almost nine years. Stafford MSD has hopefuls Jane K. Verkerk, Ed Castillo and Kim Gibson and incumbents Greg Holsapple and Shamekka S. Pratt-Simmons running for three openings on the board. Castillo, 54, works at an IT consultant and has lived in the school district for 22 years. Verkerk, 49, is a loan services manager for Houston Federal Credit Union and has also lived in the district for 22
years. Gibson, 39, is an administrative assistant. Holsapple, 58, is a systems administrator who has lived in the school district for 31 years and Pratt-Simmons, 39, is in accounting, and has lived in the municipal school district for 6 years. Incumbent Mike Cropper did not file for re-election. Missouri City voters will elect a mayor and Positions 1 and 2 city council candidates on May 8. Incumbent Mayor Allen Owen, 65 and a bank executive, has filed to continue as mayor, and will run against Councilwoman Cynthia Lenton-Gary, 51 and a professor. Councilman At Large Position 1 Jerry Wyatt, 62, is a director of occupational health and safety who has also filed to retain his seat on council. He will be opposed by Anthony Maroulis, 42 and a service manager. Four candidates have filed to run for the At Large Position 2 being vacated by Buddy Jimerson.
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10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Stafford, TX 77477 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487 Seshadri Kumar www.fbindependent.com Publisher & Editor 281-980-6745 Fort Bend Independent is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas 77477. Periodical postage application pending. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.
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