VOL 5 No. 44
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Bizarre campaign tactics in local races Cirque du Chambre on Nov.10
The Presidential election in Fort Bend County is likely to be decided largely by straight party voters. Also, there is a perceivable enthusiasm among Republican voters as evidenced by more early voting in Republican areas of the county. For example, noted Republican strongholds, Cinco Ranch and Pecan Grove areas, have shown very high turnout, partly because of the mailers sent by the local Republican Party urging people to vote early to avoid likely misuse of the large chunk of missing voter registration cards in two zip codes. Turning to the local races, three state representative races, the county sheriff race and the Precinct 1 County Commissioner race are significant, though no upset victory is expected in any of the races. The Pct. 1 commissioner race, in particular, has acquired some notoriety, with the incumbent Democrat, Richard Morrison, on the driver’s seat even as his Republican opponent, Bruce Fleming, has been formally dumped by his own party. That is Fleming’s own undoing as he allegedly voted in two states simultaneously. In the absence of Fleming’s denial of the charge, the evidence gathered by his opposition is sufficient to doubt his integrity, though that may not be sufficient to convict him in a court of law. Despite three or four alleged election law violations, only one that allegedly occurred in 2010 is eligible for prosecution, if the district attorney is able to gather additional, incontrovertible evidence to indict Fleming. The executive committee of the Fort Bend County Republican Party took the extraordinary step of withdrawing support to Fleming, as a matter of abundant caution. That does not deter Democrats from accusing Republicans of voter fraud, thanks to one new entrant to the Republican Party, who was unknown until a few months ago. Even in the absence of the voting scandal, Fleming’s chance of victory over Morrison was slim to none. Morrison has assiduously courted his constituents and he probably voted more times with a Conservative Republican commissioner than with his Democratic counterpart. Also, Fleming was such a novice that he did not know who County Clerk Dianne Wilson was. He dug his own grave by bad-mouthing to Wilson her own favorite Jacquie Baly Chaumette, who ran unsuccessfully for State Rep. Dist. 26 against Rick Miller in the Republican primary. This election cycle also witnessed the spectacle of Republicans endorsing Democrats in certain races. Wilson, along with Pct. 1 Constable A. J. Dorr endorsed Morrison publicly. Morrison sent out a mailer, urging Republicans to split their vote between Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and himself. Morrison went a step forward and put Fort Bend GOP chair Mike Gibson’s picture as if he is endorsing the Democrat. Morrison exploited the
Opinion: Inside Track By Seshadri Kumar GOP’s withdrawal of support to Fleming to his advantage, as if the wide publicity it received was not enough. One would have thought that Republicans would have stopped with dumping their tainted candidate, but some Republicans were too eager to get their pictures in Morrison’s mailer. While Democrats were making hay of the disgraced Republican candidate in Fleming, their own candidate Ron Reynolds, seeking re-election for State Rep. Dist. 27 is basking under the glory of campaign finance law violations, censure by the bar and even a charge of barratry. (See Page 5) Reynolds is opposed by Kris Allfrey, Republican, and he could not get his own party to highlight Reynolds’ ethical problems. The local GOP could have done what Morrison did and asked Democrats in Dist. 27 to split their votes between President Barack Obama and Allfrey. Allfrey did not get much financial support either because conventional wisdom is that Reynolds cannot be defeated by a Republican in that district. Two years ago, despite similar ethical issues, Reynolds won over the veteran Democrat Dora Olivo, and got the party’s nomination. He is set to repeat the same victory as his base believes Reynolds when he says he has taken care of the problems. Period. Now, Olivo is running against Phil Stevenson in the newly created State Rep Dist. 85. Fleming’s case also provided fodder to another group which hates white, Republican, Christian, conservative
men or Rick Miller. They beat the dead horse (Fleming) again and again and give credit to Miller, where it does not belong. That Fleming was “found” by Miller is the charge. Miller and Fleming are in the same picture, and so, Miller is as tainted as Fleming. Miller and Fleming once shook hands, so Miller is tainted as well. Thus, detractors of Miller keep repeating Fleming and Miller a la the German propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. It does not matter if Miller had not “recruited” Fleming or “appointed” him as precinct chair. The best precinct chair award was not instituted to reward Fleming. It was established in 2009 and in 2010 Fleming shared the award with Bill Rickert. Obviously, neither Miller nor the committee which approved the award at that time knew of no wrong doing by Fleming. After hurling all kinds of allegations against Miller during the Primary election, his opponents are now playing the Fleming card. Miller’s opponent, Vy Nguyen, could garner votes, especially the straight party votes. Whether that number in Dist. 26 would be sufficient to win is doubtful. Nguyen is a newcomer to the Fort Bend political scene and she emerged as a Democrat early this year. One of her supporters, who hates Miller, says one should vote for Vy Nguyen because her name sounds “We win.” If you want more reason to vote for, she is a minority, and a female, says her supporter. In the sheriff’s race, some Republicans, are clandestinely supporting Democrat Mike Ellison because they did not like Constable Troy Nehls. Nehls had a good showing in the Republican primary after a bloody battle with Craig Brady, and the same allegations won’t make a difference in the general election, especially when the Democrat is under funded. Why underestimate the voters to such an extent?
PRETTY IN PINK. The community charity event, Pretty in Pink—Town Square, raised more than $103,000 to benefit local cancer patients through the Methodist Sugar Land Hospital (MSLH) Cancer fund. Above, participants Maria Socci, Karen Seliger, Sam Puglisi, Melissa Roca, Marlene Gonzalez and Melissa Montemayo. See Report on Page 8.
10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Stafford, TX 77477 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487 Seshadri Kumar Publisher & Editor
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Celebration Ball Committee members and Presenting Sponsors: Top row from left: Chuck Bucek, Blake Greer and Allison Wen. Middle row: Amber McDonald, Lisa Matthews and Shanta Kuhl. Bottom row: Ron and Juliana Ewer and Dr. Margaret and Kevin Patton. The Central Fort Bend Soleil entertainment company. the Safari Texas Ranch’s Texas Chamber Alliance has decid- There will be a fire dancer, Ballroom, 11627 FM 1464, ed to add a few twists (along a Hula Hooping stilt walker, Richmond. The Ball will comwith just about any other kind Brazilian dancers, an aerialist, mence at 6 p.m. with a cocktail of physical contortion one can a juggler and a contortionist. reception, followed by seated imagine) to its annual Celebra- Kevin Kline of the 93Q Morn- dinner, live entertainment and a live auction. ing Zoo will emcee the event. tion Ball. For more information about The Celebration Ball is an On Saturday, Nov. 10, the Chamber’s annual Celebra- annual event honoring member the 2012 Celebration Ball or tion Ball, which is presented businesses, organizations and for individual registrations, for the second straight year by individuals who are the back- contact Cristy Jennings at 281Legacy Ford and Kevin Patton bone of not only the Chamber 342-5464 or cjennings@cfbca. State Farm, will adopt a Cirque but also the business commu- org, stop by the office at 4120 Ave. H (Hwy. 90) in Rosendu Chambre theme, featuring nity. The black-tie affair is sched- berg, or visit www.CFBCA. live performances based on the world-renowned Cirque du uled for 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at org.
Classroom assignment turns into book deal for Quail Valley GT Academy Student Young author Alice Harvey (center) is shown with David Sebek, GT English Language Arts teacher (left), and Abigail Priest, GT Academy Coordinator. Twelve-year-old Quail Valley GT Academy student, Alice Harvey, is reaping the rewards of a classroom writing assignment after having her eBook, Time Star, published on Amazon Kindle. Last year, Alice and her sixth-grade English Language Arts classmates were instructed by their teacher, David Sebek, to develop stories as a writing assignment. Alice wrote a story about a teenage girl, Alora, who is pulled into the secret world of the Time Travel Agency to help stop the world from being destroyed. Sebek found Alice’s story to be so interesting and well written that he suggested her family consider getting it published as an eBook. The family agreed and decided to self-publish on Amazon. During the summer, Alice worked on the cover artwork and made a few edits to her novella. The book went live on September 4 in Amazon’s Kindle store, and within a week had sold 28 copies. “I was really excited to see how many people were buying my book,” said Alice. “I can’t believe how happy it made me feel.” Alice has received many rave reviews on her book, most of which include requests for a sequel. Time Star has also become popular overseas. In fact, a school teacher in the United Kingdom used the book as part of a homework assignment to encourage her students to practice their writing skills. At only 12, Alice is realizing one of her life’s dreams and hopes that her book will inspire many other children to pursue their creative dreams as well.
Swim mom Debbie Phelps joins local after-school supporter CASE to promote National Parent Involvement Day on Nov. 15 Parents, community leaders, & educators are invited to hear keynote speaker Debbie Phelps for luncheon, panel discussion Swim mom Debbie Phelps, mother of Olympian Michael Phelps, partners with the Cooperative for After-School Enrichment (CASE) to promote National Parent Involvement Day on Nov. 15 from 11 a.m.2 p.m. at the Hermann Park Garden, 1500 Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, Texas. Debbie Phelps Keynote speaker Phelps shares her success story as a single mother of three. Her insight as an educator provides testimony to the difference a parent can make in a child’s education. Local leaders join Phelps in a panel discussion and question-and-answer session. The event includes lunch and a parent resource fair. Tickets are $35 with discount available for students (with ID). For information or to register, go to www.afterschoolzone. org or call (713) 696-1360. About the Cooperative for After-School Enrichment, or CASE: CASE provides and supports after-school programs in 100 after-school sites in Harris County for over 12,000 students in elementary through high school in greater Harris County. The CASE mission is to strengthen, support and sustain after school for all children. Formed in 1999 by Harris County Department of Education, the CASE vision is to ensure that every child in Harris County has access to a quality after-school program. Access www.afterschoolzone.org for more information.