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Business leaders: Houston region wellpositioned to weather trade disruptions By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
The international trade scene has been upended by President Donald J. Trump’s recent series of tariffs, but the greater Houston region’s trade economy is well-positioned to ride the wave of uncertainty, a group of business leaders said at a Greater Houston Partnership event last week. The event at the GHP’s offices in downtown Houston marked the release of the regional chamber of commerce’s “Global ‘25 Houston,” its annual compilation of data and insights about the regional trade picture. Speakers at the event before a roomful of business executives admitted that Trump’s trade war, which he launched in early April with a White House event he called “Liberation Day,” has been met with the roiling of the economic waters, including plunges in the bond and stock markets and reciprocal tariffs from some of the country’s largest trading partners and discussions about a possible recession. But Steve Kean, CEO of the GHP, said that as with many economic downturns, the metropolitan region is well-positioned to weather the storm. “We are last in and last out when there’s disruption,” Kean said in his opening remarks. Turning to the data from the report, Kean said the Houston region grew by nearly 200,000 residents in 2024, the largest population increase in the region’s history. “We’re still adding jobs, we added net new jobs in March. Not as much historically for the month of March, but we’re still adding net new jobs,” he said. Commenting on the prospects of international investment in the region, Kean said, “some longer-term investment decisions have been paused, no question about it, but not all of them. We’re still growing in investment.” Kean said a representative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce he talked to told him that many of its small business members have said that they are going out of business due to the uncertainty caused by the trade war. But Kean said that so far the GHP has not heard that from any of its own members, and a
SEE GHP PAGE 4 Glen Park HOA Sponsored Semi-Annual Community Garage Sale on
SATURDAY, MAY 17TH, 7:30AM TO 2:30PM. Household items, clothing, home decor, books and much more. Located off 5th street and FM2234 and Present St.
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 50 • No. 19 • $1.00 Visit www.FortBendStar.com
Wierzbicki, Charania win FBISD seats; Jones announces resignation By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
In a Saturday election that promises a significant change in governing philosophy for the Fort Bend ISD board of trustees, Angie Wierzbicki won the Position 7 seat and Afshi Charania won the Position 3 seat, defeating conservative candidates on a board which has had a decidedly conservative bent in recent years. Wierzbicki earned 8,704 votes, or 41.76 percent, of the vote in a three-person race against Cheryl Buford (7,770 votes, 37.28 percent) and former board member Allison Drew (4,369 votes, 20.96 percent). In Fort Bend ISD board elections,
there are no runoffs and the candidate with the most votes wins. Charania earned 10,421 votes, or 45.09 percent, of the vote, outpacing one-term incumbent and board vice president Rick Garcia (7,566 votes, 32.74 percent) and Angela Collins (5,125 votes, 22.17 percent). Wierzbicki and Charania, who both have long records of community service in Fort Bend County but have never held elective office, are seen as decidedly more liberal than the board members they are replacing. David Hamilton, who elected not to run for election in the Position 7 seat
SEE FBISD PAGE 4
Angie Wierzbicki won the Fort Bend ISD Position 7 trustee seat on Saturday, while Afshi Charania won the Position 3 seat, marking a shift in governing philosophy for the board. Photos via Wierzbicki, Charania campaigns
MASTER GARDENERS HOLD SUCCESSFUL
BUTTERFLY CELEBRATION
Visitors to the Butterfly Celebration crowd the walkway and the milkweed table in the Demonstration Gardens in Rosenberg. Contributed photo
Community Reports More than 400 people visited the Demonstration Gardens of Fort Bend County Master Gardeners on May 3 to participate in the Butterfly Celebration in Rosenberg. After stormy weather late in the week, Saturday temperatures were welcoming if a little chilly at first
helping to make the celebration, representing more than a year of planning, a success. One-hundred Master Gardeners shared their love of gardening with the community, said Catherine Pennington, who co-chaired the event with Mary Parkhouse. Master Gardeners talked about pollinator gardens, monarch migra-
tion and rainwater harvesting. They helped children create garden crafts, blow bubbles and get their faces and hands painted. Youths also participated in a scavenger hunt. “Master Gardeners were friendly and well-prepared to answer questions and explain in-depth facts about butterflies and other pollinators, as well as the plants that attract them,”
said Pennington. “Our 10 theme Demonstration Gardens were in pristine condition,” she added. A number of visitors were unaware that the gardens are open to the public to tour anytime and that Master
SEE BUTTERFLY PAGE 4
Ferguson, McCutcheon head for runoff in Sugar Land mayoral race By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Two outgoing city council members, William Ferguson and Carol McCutcheon, will be vying in a runoff election to fill the seat of term-limited Mayor Joe Zimmerman after neither failed to win a majority in a crowded field on Saturday. In still-unofficial results, Ferguson, the At-Large Position 1 member, took home 5,831 votes, or 35.92 percent and McCutcheon, of District 4, won 4,637 votes, or 28.56 percent in a crowded field. District 2 Council member Neshad Kermally, the other member of the current council to compete in the race, took third place with
3,361 votes, or 20.70 percent. Michelle Mikeska, a former teacher and community activist (who was among several people who challenged the current council’s public speaker policy over the Israel-Hamas war) took the fourth position in the race with 1,932 votes, or 11.90 percent. Sarwar Khan earned 248 votes, or 1.53 percent, while restauranteur Alex J. Sowell rounded out the field with 226 votes, or 1.39 percent. As members of a uniformly conservative and business-friendly Council. the three members vying for the
SEE ELECTION PAGE 4
Sugar Land At-Large Position 1 Council member William Ferguson and District 4 Council member Carol McCutcheon will face each other in a June 7 runoff for the mayor’s seat after Saturday’s election.