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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 43 • No. 38
SMSD rebukes unauthorized election flier By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Stafford Municipal School District administrators denounced an unauthorized campaign flier they say was posted on district property and endorsed three candidates for the election that ended last Saturday. Superintendent Robert Bostic said the flier, which endorsed A.J. Honore for Staf-
ford mayor, Auturo Jackson for city council and Alicia LacyCastille for the school board, contained school district letterhead but was not authorized by the district. The flier said it came from “ShaMekka Ludd (Pratt-Simmons),” a former school board member who resigned in 2012, and it may have been distributed to members of the community leading up to the election. It is unclear if Pratt-Simmons, who could not be
reached for comment, had anything to do with it. “It’s illegal, and we don’t do it,” Bostic said of endorsing political candidates. “We don’t do that kind of work.” Two of the endorsed candidates said they were not responsible for the flier, which encouraged recipients to take advantage of the early voting period from April 22-30. Stafford City Councilman Cecil Willis said he had several Stafford residents contact him
after receiving fliers. “Nobody from my campaign has had any communication with that person,” said Honore, who lost to longtime Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella. “When I got the call, it was as much a surprise to me as anybody.” Jackson, who is preparing for a runoff election, said much the same. “I had no knowledge of the incident, nor do I condone the misuse or inappropriate use of
materials, people, or resources,” he said. “Unfortunately, during this election cycle, we have had instances where individuals haven't used the best judgement in an effort to help candidates and campaigns. Some of those incidents are still being reviewed and addressed. It's time for the Stafford community to come together and move forward.”
SEE SMSD, PAGE 7
Mother's Day Treat
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3451 FM 1092 Rd. Missouri City, TX. 77459 832-539-6816 www.quailvalley.tlechildcare.com
Two girls show off their face paint while holding their baked treats at last year's Mother's Day cake-decorating event in Missouri City, which annually brings the community together to create personal cakes and decorate handmade cards. (Photo from City of Missouri City)
Leonard Scarcella
Scarcella re-elected as mayor of Stafford By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Saturday’s unofficial Fort Bend County election results showed several incumbents winning re-election in major local races. Highly competitive FBISD races came down to the wire in some cases, while a multitude of races have yet to be decided. In all, 25,233 voters cast ballots in the May 4 elections, or roughly 7.2 percent of the county’s registered voters. All results are unofficial until canvassed. Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella defeated primary challenger A.J. Honore in the Stafford mayoral race, garnering 62.9 percent (1,150) of the 1,828 total votes compared to Honore’s 34.9 percent (638 votes). Scarcella has served as Stafford’s mayor since 1969. Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees In FBISD, the anticipated contested races by and large lived up to their billing. For Position 7, incumbent Dave Rosenthal won about 45.8 percent (6,714) of the vote, beating out six challengers to retain his position. Monica Riley, who garnered about 18.5 percent (2,708) of ballots cast from nearly 14,700 voters was the runnerup. More than 16,000 ballots were cast for Position 3, and incumbent Jim Rice won 48.6 percent (7,837) of the votes to
SEE ELECTION, PAGE 7
Annual event helps Missouri City woman make mark on community By Theresa D. McClellan FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
On any given day, Kelly Matte can be seen in multiple Missouri City communities at meetings, fielding questions from neighbors and making life a little easier for residents. “I’m constantly hearing people say, ‘You’re everywhere,’ and that’s the way I like it,” said Matte, the liaison for Missouri City’s 63 homeowners associations. Property managers and residents look to the friendly yet laser-focused Matte to break through the bureaucratic maze that can occur in government and bring Missouri City to its people. She also helps keep the city abreast of neighborhood concerns. So it was no surprise that when the city was looking for a way to celebrate mothers three years ago, Matte came up with the perfect idea. The mother and grandmother always loved when her two children, now adults, made presents rather than buying them for Mother’s Day. So she organized what is now the third annual citywide cake-decorating celebration where daughters bring their mothers, fathers gather their children and all types of friends and families get together to create personal cakes and decorate handmade cards for their loved ones. This year’s event, which costs $15 per cake kit, is from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Missouri City Hall
Community Center, 1522 Texas Parkway. Matte said about 60 people already have registered online for the event, where participants will get six-inch cakes, icing, decorating tools and decorations provided by Missouri City’s own bakery, Million Cakes. “My mom and I attended this event (last year) as a way to celebrate our motherdaughter relationship and we had a great time,” Susan Soto said. “We took fun photos in the photo booth, decorated cakes for each other and truly felt like a part of the community as we joined other Missouri City residents who celebrated Mother’s Day that way.” Matte usually spends Mother’s Day relaxing and getting pampered by her children and 5-year-old grandson, Ian, who she calls “the twinkle of my eye.” One year they spent the day at the Brazos River Park. That family time is welcome for Matte, because it is not unusual for her to spend at least 50 hours a week in meetings, at annual neighborhood gatherings and finding information for the city and its residents. Matte said she likes the “people aspect” of her job, and there are people who like the way she approaches it. “Kelly has helped me in my role as president of the Thunderbird North Community Association as a conduit for information back and forth,” Soto said.
Kelly Matte “She brings information and opportunities to us and receives requests for assistance with an efficient, professional approach. She is a unique and helpful resource to our Board of Directors and provides our neighborhood residents with a direct hotline to City Hall.” Stacie Walker, director of communications for Missouri City, said Matte has been a “fixture on the Fort Bend SEE MOTHER'S, PAGE 3
Students voice concerns about UH Sugar Land parking fee As it came to light the UniBy Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Shown here is a nearly full parking lot at University of Houston Sugar Land. With a parking fee set to be implemented in the fall, students have voiced concerns over potential space availability. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)
versity of Houston is set to implement an annual $285 parking fee at its Sugar Land campus, where Wharton County Junior College also operates, there has been a visceral reaction. UH Parking and Transportation held town hall meetings last Thursday and Friday for students, faculty and staff at the two schools to provide input on mitigating the fee’s effect once it begins for the 2019 fall semester. For at least one student, the meetings did not happen soon enough. “This seems like something that’s been in the works for a while. A lot of people
have good ideas and could’ve pitched something then that would’ve caused a lot less negative emotion toward it,” said Alyssa J. Davis, president of the WCJC Sugar Land Student Government Association. “This feels like it’s last minute, and that’s not fair to the ones affected, especially since the decision was finalized without the knowledge of the students.” UH plans to add about 250 parking spaces at its Sugar Land campus to accommodate growth. The new parking fee is a funding mechanism for the $3 million project. There will be several changes to the current parking situation as that project takes shape, according to UH Assistant Director of Parking and Transportation Eric
Holamon. Park and Ride riders, which have been spread between lots 2 and 3 on campus, will now be consolidated to Lot 3, so that the two lots closest to campus will be reserved for students, faculty and staff who have paid the fee. Students, faculty and staff also will be able to park at Smart Financial Centre – which has 300 spots available on a first-come, first-served basis – and either walk or ride the free UH shuttle that goes to and from campus on a schedule that varies by semester. For the public library on campus, there will be 120 spots designated for free patron and 30-minute campus parking.
SEE PARKING, PAGE 3