CANDIDATE Q&A
Get to know candidates running in November’s midterm elections
2022 VOTER GUIDE
Republican D Candidates were asked to keep responses under 75 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. Democrat R
Incumbent
COMPILED BY RACHEL CARLTON & HUNTER MARROW
Fort Bend County judge
Why are you running/rerunning for this o ce, speci cally?
Do you have any kind of plan in place on how to meet the diverse needs of the county?
The county government is not doing enough to limit the tax burden on Fort Bend resi- dents who are having to deal with sky-high ination and runaway property valuations. We desperately need a county judge that understands the crime this county faces now and into the future if we don’t make a drastic change fast. Right now, the Fort Bend Sheri ’s O ce has over 145 vacancies. Our strong growth brings challenges that we are tackling head on. Since coming into o ce, we have invested millions into e ective transportation projects like addi- tional roads and increased public transit. As residents of the Gulf Coast, we have also upgraded our emergency management op- erations by investing in resilient infrastruc- ture, better technology, recruiting highly skilled sta and developed relationships to leverage in emergencies. Additionally, we have invested more resources than ever before in the Sheri ’s O ce. What do you feel are some of the county’s greatest needs, and how would you tackle those needs?
Occupation: president, Texas Biotechnology Relevant experience: law enforcement; military experience; two-term elected constable, Fort Bend County Precinct 4 713-557-1243 www.trevernehls.com TREVER NEHLS
Harris County judge
Why are you running for the role of county judge?
What is the biggest issue facing Harris County?
Our priority on Commissioners Court will be public safety, and as long as we are in agree- ment that that is the top priority, we will be able to nd ways to work together. My obligation as judge will be to our residents above partisan politics. [Previously], Harris County worked in a bipartisan fashion and didn’t get bogged down in left vs. right. That’s what I believe we need to be moving toward. How will you work with your colleagues to get things done? Opposing perspectives can push us to nd more equitable solutions, and I am dedi- cated to keeping Harris County moving for- ward. Since taking o ce, I led a bipartisan Commissioners Court to invest in reducing the criminal court backlog and cut home- lessness by 20%. My priority is providing access to brighter opportunities. While my colleagues and I sometimes disagree, we share the goal of providing the best services and outcomes for all residents.
ALEXANDRA DEL MORAL MEALER
Fort Bend County is desperately lacking leadership and a vision that will address the unique needs of Fort Bend. I will foster a Fort Bend future that brings unique solutions to the unique problems Fort Bend faces.
I plan to build broad coalitions around the various issues we face, whether it be development, transportation, or ooding, like I did as a colonel for 33 years. Currently, there is little to no coordination on the most serious issues facing our county. I will bring them together, get their input and implement a vision that puts Fort Bend County in the best strategic position. We are so proud of Fort Bend’s diversity. When I was elected, I launched a series of listening tours throughout every corner of our county to hear your voices, opinions, and community input. Since then, we have increased our commitment to transparency and engagement by, for the rst time ever, livestreaming all of our meetings, using community surveys for major decisions, and, much more. We will continue empow- ering the voices of our residents.
Occupation: energy investment banker Relevant experience: West Point graduate; Captain, U.S. Army
I watched as petty crime in my neighbor- hood turned into violent crime and our local o cials refused to even acknowledge the problem, let alone try to nd solutions to immediately address the issue. When I launched my campaign in November of 2021, public safety was my top priority. ... My family and I love living in Harris County, and the rst and foremost responsibility of government is to protect the most vulnerable. Before I was elected, county government ew under the radar, dodged tough decisions and operated reactively, not proactively. I’ve steered Harris County through a winter storm, chemical res, oods, hurricanes and COVID[-19]. I did it while making bold changes to how our government operates— from record law enforcement funding to early childhood education [and] smarter ood control. I’m running to protect our progress and keep Harris County moving forward.
The biggest issue facing Harris County is the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester. ... To tackle this unprecedented rise in crime there is a funding element and a legal element. [The county] stripped the constables and the district attorney of their saving accounts during an unprece- dented crime epidemic, … and denied the overwhelming majority of their budget requests. [The county] signed the ODonnell Consent Decree that created a cashless bail system for misdemeanors. 1. Keeping Harris County safe: from natural disasters, from crime, and from any other threat to our health and well-being 2. Building an early childhood education system that gives every child in our county a fair start in life 3. Continuing to strengthen our ood resil- ience and our disaster preparedness
R
bomb squad; Harvard JD/MBA; wife, mother of two young children www.alexandramealer.com
R
Since taking o ce, we have worked tirelessly to make our county government more engaging, e ective and e cient for all. We have made Fort Bend the No. 1 per-capita COVID 19 tested and vaccinated county, upgraded our emergency management response, started livestreaming all Commis- sioners Court meetings, invested in our infra- structure to ght congestion and ooding, nally invested in our law enforcement, and supported our residents and small businesses in every way.
KP GEORGE
Occupation: county judge and director of emergency manage- ment
Occupation: Harris County judge LINA HIDALGO Relevant experience: Medical interpreter, Texas Civil Rights Proj- ect, advocacy through-
Relevant experience: former two-term Fort Bend ISD school board member, longtime nancial planner 979-217-2818 www.kpgeorge.com
D
D
out Southeast Asia, Harris County judge 281-624-6225 • www.linahidalgo.com
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