Updated 5:15 p.m. May 5
Several Sugar Land candidates have shared their thoughts following the outcome of the May 3 election, which yielded three races heading to the June 7 runoffs, including the mayor's seat.
Zooming in
The mayor seat will be determined by a runoff between William Ferguson and Carol McCutcheon, who both serve as current council members.
In an interview, Ferguson said he is “humbled and thrilled” by the support by voters as he heads into the runoff prioritizing public safety, economic development and city unity.
“Our campaign is all about the positive, current Sugar Land and the positive, future Sugar Land,” he said. “I want every reader to know this city belongs to all of us, not one of us. We are a city, a neighborhood, of different people with different backgrounds, and everyone has a place at the table in Sugar Land. As the mayor, I will continue to unify this city.”
Additionally, he said it’s important for residents to vote in the runoff election to ensure they have a say in the city’s next leader.
In a statement emailed to Community Impact, McCutcheon said she is “deeply grateful” to the voters for their continued support and confidence as she continues into the runoff election.
“I’m proud to have built citywide support that spans communities and backgrounds—united by a shared belief in forward-thinking leadership,” she said. “I’ve always been committed to listening first, valuing different perspectives and working collaboratively to craft solutions that serve all of Sugar Land. That approach has shaped my vision, and it’s what I will continue to bring as your next mayor.”
McCutcheon said she also wanted to thank all the candidates who stepped forward to campaign to be the city’s next mayor.
Diving in deeper
Meanwhile, candidates Jim Vonderhaar and Maggy Horgan will face off in the runoff to claim the City Council At-Large Position 1 spot.
Vonderhaar said he is "ecstatic" to be in the runoff for the At-Large Position 1 seat. He said he will continue his grassroots campaign, which prioritizes redeveloping key areas—including Lake Pointe and the Imperial Sugar site—and funding public safety departments.
“We’ve completed step one, and now we just need to keep fighting and complete step two to get to the finish line,” he said. “To everyone who came out to vote, thank you so much for doing that, but please remember we’re not finished yet and every single vote counts.”
In a statement shared with Community Impact, Horgan said she is “honored and grateful” to the resident’s trust in her as she heads into the runoff. Additionally, she highlighted her campaign—run without major donations or private interest groups—where she spent less than $8,000.
“As we move into the runoff, my commitment remains the same: to listen, to serve and to fight for a Sugar Land that works for everyone,” she said in the statement. “To every resident—whether you supported me in the first round or not—I invite you to learn more about my vision. This is not about politics, it’s about people. Together, we can continue building a city that’s inclusive, thriving and united.”
Meanwhile, Sanjay Singhal and Nasir Hussain will appear on District 2 voters ballots in June as they face off to represent the district on City Council.
In a statement emailed to Community Impact, Singhal said he was “humbled, grateful and energized” by his support from District 2 voters. He also thanked other candidates for running positive and issue-driven campaigns.
“The race isn’t over, and I’m more committed than ever to continue working hard and serving our community with integrity and focus,” he said in an emailed statement. “I will always fight for a transparent and efficiently-run Sugar Land that prioritizes residents.”
In an interview, Hussain said he is "thankful" for all voters who helped weigh in on the city's next leaders and emphasized the importance of democracy. His campaign focuses on supporting small businesses, engaging in new technology and bringing large employers to the city.
"The next five years are coming up with technology evolution; the way humans are living will be totally changed," he said. "The city needs a person who understands technology. The city needs a person who can vet the correct technology to what would be useful for them to invest in the future."
What else?
Meanwhile Rob Boettcher and Rick Miller will take their spots as City Council At-Large Position 2 and District 4, respectively, following a special City Council meeting May 13.
Boettcher will replace Jennifer Lane, who did not seek re-election, while Miller will take on the unexpired term of McCutcheon, who is running for mayor.
In a statement, Boettcher said he focused his campaign on representing all communities in the city and said he is "incredibly thankful" for the voter's broad support in electing him as the next At-Large Position 2 council member.
"This victory belongs to all of us, and I'm honored to represent such a vibrant, diverse and engaged community," he said. "I look forward to working hard every day to keep Sugar Land a great place to live, work and raise a family."
Community Impact reached out to Miller for a comment, but it was not returned by press time. This article will be updated with comments when received.
Updated May 5 1:45 p.m.
Three Sugar Land races—including the mayor’s seat—are heading to a June 7 runoff after no candidates received the majority vote in the May 3 election.
A closer look
According to unofficial final election results from Fort Bend County, the following candidates are heading to a runoff election:
- William Ferguson and Carol McCutcheon for mayor with 5,831 and 4,637 votes
- Jim Vonderhaar and Maggy Horgan for City Council, At-Large Position 1 with 5,358 and 2,988 votes
- Sanjay Singhal and Nasir Hussain for City Council, District 2 with 1,681 and 971 votes
Meanwhile, Rob Boettcher secured the City Council, At-Large Position 2 seat over Ameer Malik with 9,608 and 4,807 votes, respectively.
Additionally, residents opposed the city’s charter amendment to extend the terms of municipal court and associate judges from two to four years with 6,267 votes for and 8,295 against, according to unofficial results from Fort Bend County.
Community Impact has reached out to all winning and runoff candidates; this article will be updated as statements are received. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide/election-results to see results from all local elections in your community.
Posted at 7:50 p.m. May 3
Fort Bend County has released early voting results in the May 3 election for five Sugar Land local races, including the mayor’s seat.
Twenty-one candidates filed to run for the five positions, and all races—except City Council At-Large District 2—have at least three candidates. This means if a candidate in each race fails to receive more than 50.1% of the vote, the two candidates with the most votes will head to a June 7 runoff, city officials said in an email.
What you need to know
Six contestants are vying to be the next mayor of Sugar Land, as Mayor Joe Zimmerman finishes his last term allowed by limits. He was first elected in June 2016.
Fort Bend County early voting results show William Ferguson leads the Sugar Land mayor race with 3,912 votes.
Meanwhile, Jim Vonderhaar leads the City Council At-Large Position 1 race with 3,743 votes, early voting data shows. The position was previously held by Ferguson, who is running for mayor.
Additionally, early voting results show Rob Boettcher leads the City Council, At-Large Position 2 race with 6,574 votes followed by Ameer Malik with 3,306 votes. The position was previously held by Jennifer Lane, who didn’t seek re-election.
What else?
The city is also hosting a special election for District 2 and District 4, which are two unexpired seats vacated as Naushad Kermally and Carol McCutcheon, current City Council members, run for mayor. The winners will hold the seats until term expiration in May 2027.
Early voting results show Sanjay Singhal is leading the District 2 race with 1,246 votes, while Rick Miller is leading the District 4 ballot with 1,470 votes.
Also of note
Early voting data showed voters also oppose the city’s single charter amendment to extend the terms of municipal court and associate judges from two to four years.
At the polls
According to early voting data from Fort Bend County, Sugar Land saw 10,943 in-person voters during the early voting period from April 22-29. Additional ballots were also cast by mail.
Looking ahead
Community Impact will update this article as more election day vote totals are released. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide/election-results to see results from all local elections in your community.
