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4655 Techniplex Dr. Suite 300, Stafford, Texas 77477 E-Mail: starnews@fortbendstar.com • Website: www.fortbendstar.com Office: 281-690-4200 • Fax: 281-690-4250 • TOLL FREE 1-888-430-7478 Volume XXXII • No. 37
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Early Voting Ends Tuesday, May 4
Local city, school elections scheduled for Saturday, May 8 Stafford City Election – 4 candidates running for 3 positions By Elsa Maxey Early voting continues through Friday in Stafford at two locations, the SMSD Administration Building and Stafford City Hall. The voting location on Election Day, May 8, will be Stafford City Hall. Four for three .. this statement is about the number of candidates relative to the positions up for election on the Stafford City Council. Below are the platform highlights of three incumbents and a candidate. Not unlike that of the SMSD election, the three with the top votes will be elected. All of the positions are at large. Ken Mathew City Council incumbent Ken Mathew, 62, is a finance manager, with a passion for public service he says he got from his father. He seeks a third term on the city council, currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem, and is the treasurer of the Stafford Economic Development Corporation among many other social and civic associations. “I did not just walk into this contest,” he says about re-election. Before entering public service, he says he came with corporate management and community service experience backed by a formal education. Beautification of the city is the challenge facing it, he says, and that most everybody wants it, especially for the Island area. Currently working with
a citizen adhoc INCUMBENTS committee, he says will help impact changes. He sees the city in better financial shape than many others and says he Ken Mathew Cecil Willis subscribes to the wishes of the Stafford founding fathers - no property tax to put money back into people’s pockets, being a debt free city; following the needs of Stafford, progressive management can make it a safer place to live and go beyond accolades in a continuing path of progress. Cecil Willis City Council incumbent Cecil Willis, 67 is an executive director, who says he enjoys serving his community noting that he has worked in the public service sector most of his career. He wants to finish major ongoing projects, he says, and this includes continuing to contact every lead to get Stafford a grocery store. “I have the experience, the commitment and dedication it takes to do the job and represent the people,” he says, and identifies rough financial times
as a challenge facing the city. He said he intends to further contribute to a strong, sound fiscal policy and only support spending what the Robert Sorbet Mike Guerra city needs to get the job done, like the majority of families do daily when they budget. He said he supports what is unique about Stafford – we don’t want to tax and spend. The city is reviewing building standards, landscape ordinances and revising codes, he said, and mentions the city’s fire department ISO rating of one affecting home insurance costs, a proud accomplishment he believes he has contributed towards in his elected capacity. Bottom line, he says this election is about experience, commitment and dedication, and his record speaks for itself. Robert Sorbet City Council incumbent Robert Sorbet, 47, whose occupation is in electrical sales, says he running a third term after having received a vote of CHALLENGER
confidence from residents his initial year leading to his current term. He says he feels he brings a different perspective and viewpoint, and his experience and common sense make him the best candidate. “I try to look at all sides of an issue and make decisions based upon the common good.” For two years, zoning changes have been under development, which is an unfinished issue he sees facing the city as a challenge. He says he knows zoning for new construction is difficult, but zoning changes for existing properties is also something currently underway. See SORBET, page 6 Mike Guerra Candidate Mike Guerra, 52, a purchasing agent, wants to help the city be more eye-appealing. He says it’s time to take a look at the city relative to other area cities and create a better community. The Island is the “staple” of Stafford, he says, and although the city is debt free, he said it is not there yet. He says the city needs to change and look at new leadership. Beautification is not just about the Island, it’s about improving areas that flood, those that are without sidewalks, those that will help increase the value of homes; those are the areas he said the city needs to devote more time and energy. See GUERRA, page 6
Stafford MSD Election – 4 candidates, 3 with top votes win By Elsa Maxey The Stafford Municipal School District (SMSD), the only municipal school district in the State, has three school board positions up for election on May 8, four candidates are running, and two of them are incumbents. The three that receive the most votes will be elected. Below is information about the four candidates seeking board positions and highlights of their platforms: Ed Castillo Candidate Ed Castillo, 55, an IT consultant, who is retired “from the corporate world” after 28 years, wants to be on the school board because he says he is passionate about students having access to a quality education. “SMSD needs dedicated volunteers like me working diligently,” he said, to come up with solutions to improve the educational quality of the schools. Because he is retired, he says he can direct his energy and leadership to the school board and brings attributes such as experience and commitment to help steer the direction of education in SMSD. He supports the district’s open enrollment policy and identifies student disciplinary problems as a challenge facing SMSD, especially in middle school. As
a starting point, INCUMBENTS he proposes a zero-tolerance discipline contract among parents, administrators, teachers, and students. He said that although ShaMekka Pratt-Simmons Greg Holsapple the district’s primary and elementary schools have achieved recognized status, without long-term solutions, families may be drawn to other schools outside of the district. Castillo is co-leader of a district strategic planning group that solicits community input for handling district matters. Kim Gibson Candidate Kim Gibson, 38, is an administrative assistant and said she is running because she wants to be active within the school and community to empower students to be successful. “I believe that SMSD is headed the right direction with the dual language implementation,” she said, and also that she sees growth in the school system and can help the district achieve exemplary status.
Doing what is best for all students of Stafford is what she pledges and wants Stafford to have that pride and prestige as a school Kim Gibson Ed Castillo and community. As for being the best candidate, she said she is willing and open to learning, listening and implementing positive programs. Regarding challenges for the district, she would like to see it continue to improve its ability to provide quality education by offering more specialized programs to include dual college credit and technology, in addition to dual language. She said she will also help implement a plan to reduce the teacher turnover and student drop out ratio with research on her part for suggestions to the board to help bring back Stafford school residents to SMSD. Greg Holsapple Incumbent Candidate Greg Holsapple, 58, a systems administrator who has served on the board CHALLENGERS
for close to 14 years in every board officer position, wants to see SMSD become an exemplary school district. His numerous hours of school board training, preparation for and attendance of board meetings, committees and volunteer activities, he says, makes him the most experienced and well rounded. See HOLSAPPLE, page 6 ShaMekka Pratt-Simmons Incumbent Candidate ShaMekka Pratt-Simmons, 38, is employed in accounts receivable. She said she wants to make sure that all of the district’s students get the same education and are college- ready and beyond, recognizing that not all of them may opt to go to college. She believes in zero tolerance as a disciplinary policy for the district to adopt and implement. Regarding other issues facing the district, “We need to challenge our teachers to use technology as a new tool to impact drop out rates, test scores,” she said and “students will change.” For budgetary school district cuts, should they become necessary, she says the shift should be away from teachers and rather take place in administration or in paraprofessional positions. See PRATT-SIMMONS, page 6
Meadows Place – Alderman race and proposition pied by Charles Kulhanek, who preserve all this as an elected offihas decided not to run. cial and look for new and better Scott Holland, 45, a security ways to improve and safeguard it. supervisor, says he is committed “I believe most people are to the community and that’s why good, hard working and responhe is running for office. A resisible citizens that want from their dent since 1997, he says the small local government the re-assurtown feel that brought him to the ance that it is looking after their Shirley Isbell community— where children can Scott Holland best interest.” He said also, that walk to school, use the local playground, families he maintains an active status in the community, share time with neighbors during evening hours, and which includes serving as President of the city’s where the atmosphere of a safe and secure environ- baseball program. ment is a high priority for him. He says he will help He says he is concerned about the city’s growth
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and future. He has heard residents say that at times they feel the city is not responsive to their needs and their voice is not heard. He considers this a challenge facing the city and his goal is to change it so citizens may be able to contribute to major city projects, despite what could differ from his own views. Commitment to community first and always, he said, and making Meadows Place a shining star of Fort Bend County. Shirley Isbell, 51, administrator of an energy sector hedge fund and a city resident of 24 years, says she loves Meadows Place because of its location, See MEADOWS PLACE, page 6
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By Elsa Maxey On Saturday, May 8, Meadows Place voters will be selecting a new city alderman and they will also vote on a proposition that could give the city’s economic development corporation the ability to undertake projects that it is unable to do with the way it is currently set up. As for the city leaders race, Alderman David Wilkens, Position 3, is running unopposed as are Heidi Case for Position 1 and incumbent mayor, Charlie Jessup. Two candidates, Scott Holland and Shirley Isbell are vying for Alderman Position 2, currently occu-