Richard Morrison[/caption]Richard Morrison (Democrat, incumbent)
Hometown: Richmond
832-473-0343
www.facebook.com/richardmorrison
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the Richmond area, and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing the Richmond area is the unprecedented growth. We must continue to partner with TxDOT, the Cities and developers to meet the needs of this growth by widening our roads. Additionally, we need to expand Fort Bend County Public Transportation’s Park & Ride and bus system so that our citizens have alternatives to driving.
What qualifications do you bring to the position?
I’ve been Commissioner for 8 years, I know how to get things done. Some of my accomplishments include cutting the tax rate by 6%, helping bring almost $1billion dollars of transportation infrastructure to Precinct 1, and 200 town hall meetings.
How would you approach mobility solutions to meet the needs of this growing area?
Partnering with TxDOT, the Cities and developers has been very successful in the past and we must continue to do so in the future. Fort Bend’s growth is so fast we will never be in front of it, but we must do our best to keep up. Partnerships help stretch our local tax dollars and provide good results.
Vincent Morales[/caption]Vincent Morales (Republican)
Hometown: Rosenberg
832-595-3340
www.vincentmorales.com
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the Richmond area, and how would you address it?
This area needs an advocate and fighter on Commissioner's Court that knows how to get things done. Rhetoric and empty promises might win elections, but after the election is over, the hard part begins! Our area needs that strong advocate on Commissioner's Court that can fight for our area, that can secure the resources we need for our unique issues. We have issues in Precinct 1 that other parts of the county don't have -- traffic congestion, lack of infrastructure, flooding issues, water supply, a need for job creation, and more. I will be that strong advocate for our precinct.
What qualifications do you bring to the position?
I was honored to serve as Mayor of Rosenberg from 2011 to 2015. During that time, I focused on encouraging economic development to spur job growth, sustaining a viable tax base to keep taxes stable, and strengthening the city’s infrastructure for a better future. In two terms in office, I served on Rosenberg’s Employee Benefits Committee, the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council and as an alternate representative to the Houston-Galveston Area Council. With the help of many, we successfully created over 500 jobs, oversaw the expansion of multiple rights of way, and led the way for the expansion of the Texas State Technical College – Fort Bend campus, ensuring the region will have a technically trained workforce for years to come. In the private sector, I serve as Senior Vice President and co-owner of GreenScape Associates, LLC a landscape management, design and build firm located right here in Fort Bend County. For the past 35 years we have worked with hundreds of clients in Southeast Texas, building one of the most successful landscape companies in the region. In public service, I bring the same resolve and work ethic that has brought me success in business.
How would you approach mobility solutions to meet the needs of this growing area?
I believe I am the only candidate in this race with a proven track record of successfully identifying and building practical mobility solutions. Solutions that bring together diverse interests and entities, all striving for the common goal of improved mobility. During my time as Mayor, I partnered with TXDOT to create transportation solutions that reduced the impact on local businesses and ensured the residents of Rosenberg / Fort Bend County had the roads they needed. Through dialogue, innovative funding mechanisms, and consensus building, we can work use a unified effort to improve the much needed traffic congestion that precinct 1 residents suffer from every day as we go to work, to school, and to church.
