Attorney Orjanel Lewis announces candidacy for Position 7 seat on FBISD board of trustees

A new candidate has put their name into the running for a seat on Fort Bend ISD’s board of trustees.

Orjanel Lewis—a mom, attorney, policy advisor, educator and longtime community advocate and volunteer—has announced her candidacy for Position 7 on the board, according to a Feb. 15 announcement.

Lewis is a lifelong resident of Fort Bend County who has served on district committees, including the School Boundary Oversight Committee; the Academy Design Task Force; the District Planning and Advisory Committee; the District Bond Oversight Committee; and the Gifted and Talented Task Force, among others, according to the announcement.

“Over the last few years, I have watched this district closely,” Lewis said in the announcement. “I’ve been disappointed as this board of trustees has, at times, been derelict in their duties to fully protect students and treat all students with equal respect, dignity, and educational opportunities. I knew that I could no longer sit on the sidelines. It’s time for me to step in and step up.”

Lewis is running for Position 7 with a number of priorities in mind, including safety and security; bridging the education gap; forward planning; supporting teachers and staff; and mental health assistance, according to the announcement.

In the race for Position 7, Lewis will run against David Hamilton, who formally announced his intention to run on Jan. 25 and LaShell McClue, according to an FBISD spokesperson. The incumbent, Dave Rosenthal, is not seeking re-election.

Meanwhile, in the race for Position 3, incumbent Jim Rice will run against Rick Garcia. Those two incumbents announced their intent to run for Position 3 on Jan. 10

The filing period for any candidates interested in running for the FBISD board of trustees ends on Feb. 18. The election for the board will be decided on May 7.