Here is a roundup of who pulled ahead in what race. Results are unofficial until canvassed and certified by the county clerk.
Fort Bend ISD board of trustees
In the race for Position 3, challenger Rick Garcia defeated incumbent Jim Rice, according to unofficial voting results from Fort Bend County.
Garcia received 9,102 votes, or 51.7%, while Rice received 8,503 votes, or 48.3%.
"It's been overwhelming for sure against such a heavyweight," Garcia said in an interview with Community Impact Newspaper. "I'm very grateful to the voters and will work hard as the teachers, parents and district need me."
Rice was elected to Position 3 in May of 2010 and has served continuously in that position since, according to the district's website. Garcia, meanwhile, a 25-year resident of Fort Bend County, was hired in the past by Fort Bend ISD, where he taught seventh grade Texas History at Garcia Middle School, according to Garcia's January announcement to run for the school board. He now works as a project manager and Office 365 team lead. He also operates an event planning company, where he plans and hosts events for homeowners associations and small- to medium-sized events and conferences.
Meanwhile, David Hamilton won the race for Position 7 with 8,365 votes, or 47.95% of the vote, followed by Orjanel Kianna Lewis, who had 7,821 votes, or 44.83%. Candidate Shell McClue received 1,261 votes, or 7.23%. The Position 7 incumbent, Dave Rosenthal, decided not to run for re-election.
Hamilton, who has called Fort Bend home for over a decade with his wife, Katie, ran for the school board position coming from a family of educators, with two parents who are retired teachers, Hamilton said in a Jan. 25 news release. Hamilton has recommended a more collaborative approach with the community, businesses and parents to best ensure the future success of FBISD students. Hamilton has two children enrolled in FBISD. He has previous experience in banking, and oil and gas, and now he works in commercial insurance.
Trustees are elected to three-year terms on a rotating basis. Two are elected each year, one from each side of the district—positions 1, 2 and 3 on the west side of the district and positions 5, 6 and 7 on east side. Every third year, the board’s at-large Position 4 is elected.
There are no runoff elections for FBISD seats, so candidates only needed a plurality to win, which means the candidate with the most votes wins.
Sugar Land City Council
In the race for Sugar Land City Council At-large Position 1, incumbent William Ferguson won with 82.57% of the vote, or 5,785 votes, and 1,221 votes, or 17.43%, went to challenger Larry Lobue.
"I am certainly proud of my community and thankful for the opportunity to serve them again," Ferguson wrote in an email to Community Impact Newspaper. "There are three things that everyone wants in life and those are a safe place to live, to be respected and to have opportunities. We have made that community in Sugar Land, and we will continue to build on what is best for We the People of Sugar Land. It is certainly a great privilege to represent over 111,000 people in this beautiful city. Sugar Land is sweet, but it is sweeter when we learn to live together, work together, play together and especially vote together."
Meanwhile, in the race for Sugar Land City Council At-large Position 2, incumbent Jennifer Lane won with 50.27% of the vote, or 3,966 votes, followed by Farha Ahmed with 2,696 votes, or 34.17%. Candidate Scott Schultz received 1,227 votes, or 15.55% of the vote.
“As I continue to serve the residents of Sugar Land, I am truly honored to have the support of the community and dedicated to keep the city a place to raise your family, conduct business and live a good life,” Lane wrote in an email to Community Impact Newspaper. “Thank you to all who turned out to vote. My commitment to be part of the community remains and still is unwavering.”
Because the city of Sugar Land operates under the council-manager form of government, City Council members have the power to appoint the city manager, who acts as the chief executive officer of the government, according to the city’s website. In addition, City Council has the power to approve the annual budget, establish city policy and serve as a legislative body.
