DeanForJudge.com Early to Nov.2,2,2018 2018 Earlyvoting: voting: Oct. Feb. 22 20–March Primary Day: Tuesday, 6 ElectionElection Day : Tuesday, Nov. March 6, 2018 Political Ad Paid for by Dean Hrbacek for Judge Campaign, Kathy Luckenbach, Treasurer, in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.
VOL 11 No. 41
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2018
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City
County Judge race: Experience versus enthusiasm By SESHADRI KUMAR Robert E. Hebert assumed the office of Fort Bend Constitutional County Judge on January 1, 2003. As County Judge, he presides over Commissioners Court, which oversees the county’s 2,653 employees and its $365 million budget for the county’s 770,000 residents. Having a wide range of accomplishments under his belt in the last 16 years, Hebert is seeking re-election as county judge for four more years. Republican Hebert is opposed by Democrat KP George, who is currently a trustee on the Fort Bend ISD board. George had previously contested in races for county treasurer and for U.S. Rep. Dist. 22. Among his major accomplishments, Hebert considers the 13 percent reduction in the county property tax rate while simultaneously and successfully managing the expansion of county infrastructure to serve
Hebert the exponential growth. “That 13 percent reduction may not look like a huge number, but it represents $40 million that Fort Bend residents do not have to pay each year,” he says. The county has been able to leverage $430 million in mobility bonds to complete over $1 billion in new roads and that
KP George leveraging enabled the county to more than double the value of the bonds at no additional expense to taxpayers. The construction of the Justice Center has been another big accomplishment for the county. “Before 2011, we had antiquated courts scattered See JUDGE, Page 3
By BARBARA FULENWIDER Missouri City’s At-Large No. 1 Councilman Jerry Wyatt is seeking re-election, campaigning on “honesty, integrity and experience.” Newcomer Vashaundra Edwards, who has served her community by mentoring and assisting youths, is seeking to oust Wyatt. Wyatt has served Missouri City for more than 30 years. He can tell one and all what happened when, where and why because he knows the history of Missouri City very well. He is claiming to be a leader who is knowledgeable and has the experience to govern. Wyatt says he works for what is in the best interests of the citizens and one of his many accomplishments is the work he has done to improve Texas
Parkway. Over the past two years, he has worked to get the U.S. postal service to clean up their facility and maintain their grounds. He has also worked to bring senior apartments to Texas Parkway. They are scheduled to be built soon. Wyatt points out that he also worked to bring Discount Tire to Texas Parkway and with property owners brought in Liberty Ridge Subdivision, which is now being built. Wyatt also worked to find investors to buy a down-onits-heels shopping center near the Missouri City Mini Station. The center is to be completely renovated in the near future. Wyatt says that in the past two years he has concentrated on making things happen on Texas Parkway. “More than
words and promises, visible accomplishments have been made. While there is still more to be done, it is more than just talk.” He said, “For 6 years, candidates running for city council complained about Texas Parkway and did nothing about it – only talked. My efforts have brought more than $25 million in improvements to the Texas Parkway Corridor.” Wyatt was born in Galveston in 1947 and has lived in Missouri City with his wife since 1976. Several years ago he retired from the Memorial Herman Healthcare System. He was first elected to city council at large position No. 1 in 1998 and has continued to win re-election to that council seat since that time. See COUNCIL, Page 5
V. Edwards seeks to oust long time Councilman Wyatt in Missouri City
As You Like It Join the Clements High School thespians as they perform and produce their version of William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” under the talented direction of Lucas Howland. While this classic comedy has been performed for hundreds of years, the Clements Theatre troupe and tech crew have ensured that their take will be fresh and current. As You Like It tells the story of an evil Duke who banishes many townsfolk from his Court, including his own brother. When he seeks to persecute his own niece, Rosalind, she flees with her loyal cousin Celia to the Forest. Rosalind and Celia meet many colorful characters in the Forest and Rosalind is immediately smitten by one in particular, Orlando. Unfortunately, Rosalind meets the love of her life while disguised as a man. “I’m incredibly impressed with my troupe and their ability to dig in to a Shakespearean work,” Howland says. “These
Will Rosalind, left, (Sanjana Puthigai, Senior) and Orlando (Ethan Mock, Senior) discover love and find each other in the Forest in the Clements High School Theatre production, Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” Oct. 25-27. young actors I have the privi- ing to highlight the oppressive lege to work with are making a severity of the court and the classic fresh with their new per- playful freedom and levity of spectives on the characters. And the Forest. All performances are in the our tech crew has done brilliant work with our sets and cos- Clements High School Auditumes, which will really bring torium. Tickets are $10 each at the door for all four shows. the play to life.” The Clements production Oct. 25 @ 7 p.m; Octr 26 @ 7 uses creative sets and costum- p.m; Oct. 27 @ 2 p.m & 7 p.m
Festival of Lights at Constellation Field Oct. 20 Diwali and Dussehra are the two largest festivals of India celebrated by over a billion people worldwide in OctoberNovember. Diwali described as the ‘Festival of Lights’ and celebrating the victory of good over evil, falls in the first week of November this year. Shri Sita Ram Foundation is organizing this festival at the Skeeters Stadium in Sugar Land on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is expected to be the Chief Guest, and U.S. Rep. Pete Olson will be the Parade Marshal. This is the 7th year that the festival is being hosted by the non-profit Sita Ram Foundation. The stadium will be brilliantly decorated in dazzling multicolored lights for the ‘Festival of Lights’. This festival showcases the rich and ancient culture of India through various activities and presentations like Folk Dance Ensemble, historical plays, bridal fusion show, cuisines
Abbott from different parts of India, and the Dussehra Parade which is an embellishment of about 50 floats showcasing historical representations. The festival shall also have beautifully decorated booths selling traditional jewelry, clothing and a host of other items. There will be freebies from 4 p.m to 6 p.m from various vendors. The event also showcases people dressed up in unique outfits and accessories
representing ancient Indian epics & scriptures. During the ritual of worshipping with the lamp, the entire stadium will be lit up with thousands of lamps to offer prayers. The festival has several activities to engage children such as the Costume contest, moonwalks, petting zoo, fireworks, clowns, free face painting, free balloons, free piñatas, shooting the demon with bow and arrow etc. The climax of the festival is the burning of the effigies of demons amidst spectacular fireworks to celebrate the ‘Victory of Good over Evil.’ Past events have seen a capacity crowd at the Stadium with nearly 10,000 people in attendance. Apart from the greater Houston area, residents of other states and cities also attend this festival from as far away as Florida, New York and California. Tickets to the event are $6 and may be obtained from www.ShriSitaRam.org or from Eventbrite.com