The Woodlands edition | June 2022

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PEOPLE John Escoto Shenandoah mayor

BY ANDREW CHRISTMAN

Shenandoah’s new mayor, John Escoto, was elected May 7. Escoto took the seat of Ritch Wheeler, who previously served for six years and chose not to seek re-election. Escoto was elected to the Shenandoah City Council in 2021 and brings experience from a background in law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough (left) ociated swearing in John Escoto (right) as Shenandoah’s mayor May 25.

ANDREW CHRISTMANCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES AS MAYOR? I think the major construction eorts that were planned during the previous administration by former Mayor [Ritch] Wheeler, which includes the extension from David Memorial [Drive] to Hwy. 242, … [I want to] make sure that is followed through and completed, hopefully within my tenure as mayor. Second- ary to that is the intersection of I-45 and Research Forest [Drive]. Those two projects are para- mount right now. That is what I would like to get going as quickly as we can do it. … We have to rely on the budgeting process, [and] a portion of it includes [Montgomery] County and the city of Conroe. WHAT BENEFITS DO YOU THINK THESE WILL BRING? Mobility is a big issue, especially for us because we straddle I-45. Sometimes trac becomes a bottleneck at those intersections, and in our community, especially at Research Forest specically [and] the feeder road going north toward Hwy. 242. I think it would benet not only Shenandoah, but the whole area. People who live west of Shenandoah, … they exit I-45 and take that left turn to go west on Research Forest, and trac congestion is very big there, both north and south. I think it benets the whole region. WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO RUN FOR MAYOR? I have been living in Shenandoah for more than 11 years now. I did not grow up in Shenandoah; I actually grew up in New York City but spent most of my adult life in the South. Once I retired from my last job, which was with the Department of Homeland Security, … my wife and I decided to move down here where my wife’s relatives were in The

Woodlands. I got involved because I love the city, and my entire life has been in public service. After I retired, I felt the need to continue that. I could not become a law enforcement ocer again; I had already retired, and age had snuck up on me, so I decided to serve in dierent ways. I ran for City Council back in 2013, but I was defeated, and I decided to give it another shot [in 2021], ... then the mayor position became open, and I ran for it. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GO INTO PUBLIC SERVICE? I am an immigrant; I was born in Honduras, and my family moved to the United States in 1960. We set- tled in New York City, specically the Bronx. My family left Honduras because we were looking for an opportunity. … We were a single-parent family, and my mother was a very strong woman with strong convictions and very patriotic. She never let us forget we owed something to this country for opening its doors for us and giving us the opportunity. I always remembered that. She encouraged me specically because I was the youngest to nd a way to pay it back. I joined the Army when I was 17, and that started my devotion to serve and knowing that you have to give back. I remained with that mindset—I served, got out of the Army; I became a letter carrier with the post oce. … I decided to go back into the Army and become a military police ocer … and even- tually becoming a federal agent, always keeping in mind that my goal was to serve my community, my state and my country. WHAT ELSE WOULD LIKE RESI DENTS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I am a man of my word, and I have very strong convictions about

ROAD TO SHENANDOAH John Escoto has had a variety of experiences in service since immigrating to the U.S. in 1960.

John Escoto and family immigrate to the U.S. from Honduras

1960

Joins the U.S. Army

1968

Leaves the army for U.S. Postal Service

1970

Rejoins the Army as military police Works for U.S. Customs and Border Protection Retires from Department of Homeland Security Moves to Shenandoah Retires as contractor with U.S. Treasury as senior adviser for law enforcement in Latin America Runs for Shenandoah City Council against Jean Teague Runs for Shenandoah City Council against Jon Samuelson and is elected Runs for mayor against Esther Lum and is elected

1973

1985

2005

2011

2012

2013

Jerry Coker 713-224-3426 ¡Hablamos Español!

2021

Jerry Coker 713-224-3426 ¡Hablamos Españo

2022

SOURCE: JOHN ESCOTOCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

Jerry Coker 713-224-3426 ¡Hablamos Español! Limitations apply. See geico.com for more details. GEICO & affiliates. 20076. GEICO Gecko image © 1999-2022. © 2022 GEICO. 21_63331212 Limitations apply. See geico.com for more details. DC 20076. GEICO Gecko image © 1999-2022. Jerry Coker 713-224-3426 ¡Hablamos Español! apply. See geico.com for more details. GEICO & affiliates. Washington 20076. GEICO Gecko image © 1999-2022. © 2022 GEICO. 21_633312129 Jerry Coker 713-224-3426 ¡Hablamos Español! See geico.com for more details. GEICO & affiliates. GEICO Gecko image © 1999-2022. © 2022 GEICO. Jerry Coker 713-224-3426 ¡Hablamos Español! apply. See geico.com for more details. GEICO & GEICO Gecko image © 1999-2022. © 2022 GEICO. Limitations apply. See geico.com for more details. GEICO & affiliates. Washington, DC 20076. GEICO Gecko image 1999- 2022. 2022 GEICO. 21_633312129 more details. GEICO & affiliates. Washington, 1999-2022. © 2022 GEICO. 21_633312129 more details. GEICO & affiliates. Washington, 1999-2022. © 2022 GEICO. 21_633312129

doing the right thing. I will always do the right thing when it comes to the city of Shenandoah. Any decision or consideration of a project or issue that involves Shenandoah ... is going to be considered on how it will benet the city so as to not put [it] in a position where we are incurring avoidable commitments or debts. When I make a pledge, I keep it.

Jerry Coker 713-224-3426 ¡Hablamos Español! Coker 713-224-3426 ¡Hablamos Español!

THE WOODLANDS EDITION • JUNE 2022