08/27/2026
Fort Bend Residents your up…
This isn't just local politics, it's a full-blown legal drama with a cast of characters that could rival a cable TV series. Here's the timeline of how we got here.
THE FORT BEND COUNTY SAGA: A TIMELINE
September 2025 – The Lawsuit That Started It All
A Fort Bend resident, Sarah Roberts, files a civil lawsuit against County Judge KP George, alleging he violated her First Amendment rights during a Commissioners Court meeting. She asks the court to remove him. Little does anyone know, this lawsuit will become the key that unlocks a political firestorm.
March 2026 – The Conviction
A jury finds George guilty of two counts of felony money laundering. Prosecutors prove he stole more than $46,000 in campaign donations, using the money for personal expenses like a house down payment and property taxes. The verdict sends shockwaves through the county.
April 10, 2026 – The Suspension & Appointment
Visiting Republican Judge Jeth Jones from Galveston County suspends George from office. In the same order, he appoints Daniel Wong, who just happens to be the Republican nominee for county judge. Critics immediately cry foul, calling it a partisan power grab that gives Wong an unfair "incumbent" advantage heading into the November election. Supposedly, Wong was appointed because they were replacing George that had switched parties from democrat to republican because he thought that was help with his legal problems.
April 13, 2026 – Wong Is Sworn In
Daniel Wong takes his oath as interim county judge. The political battle lines are drawn.
June 16, 2026 – George Is Sentenced
KP George is sentenced to 180 days in county jail, five years of probation, and a $5,000 fine. But the drama is just beginning.
June 17, 2026 – The Lawsuit Dismissed, Chaos Ensues
Sarah Roberts dismisses her civil lawsuit against George. County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson, an elected Democrat, immediately declares that Wong's appointment is now void, the legal basis for it is gone. She says Wong's authority ended at 11:58 AM that day. Wong refuses to leave.
June 25, 2026 – The Walkout
Two Democratic commissioners, Grady Prestage and Dexter McCoy, walk out of a Commissioners Court meeting, refusing to participate while Wong presides. The boycott begins, and it will last for two months.
July 2026 – The Lawsuits Fly
Wong sues Smith-Lawson, asking a court to confirm he is still legally county judge. Smith-Lawson fires back, filing her own legal action to remove him. The battle moves from the courtroom to the courthouse.
August 5, 2026 – Judge Says Wong Can Stay
District Judge Edward Krenek declines to remove Wong while litigation continues. Another judge, Jeth Jones, denies a request to vacate Wong's April appointment, solidifying his position through the November election. *Remember that Wong was not voted in my fort bend residents.
August 24, 2026 – The Boycott Ends (For Now)
The two Democratic commissioners return for their first meeting in two months. But their truce is conditional, and short-lived. They're back because Wong recused himself from one vote.
NOTE: The Republican commissioners want Daniel Wong to stay because they need his vote to pass the tax rate.
The Tax Rate Problem: Why 4 Votes Are Required
· Texas law requires at least four of the five commissioners to adopt the tax rate. Three are not enough.
· Two Democratic commissioners have boycotted meetings since June, leaving only Wong and the two Republicans. That's just three people, one short of what's needed.
· They can propose a rate with three votes (which they did on August 13), but they cannot finalize it without four.
The September 10 Deadline
· The final tax rate and budget vote is scheduled for September 10.
· If they can't get four members by September 30, the county automatically reverts to a lower "no-new-revenue" tax rate.
What Happens If They Can't Pass the Rate
If the boycott continues and Wong is removed, the county loses $21.3 million in projected revenue:
· No pay raises for thousands of county employees, sheriff's deputies, dispatchers, road crews, librarians, public health workers. A $10.4 million cost-of-living adjustment would disappear.
· Major infrastructure projects delayed, roads, parks, and flood control.
· Bond sales paused, $70 million in mobility projects already advanced from the general fund could stall.
Bottom line: The commissioners want Wong to stay because they believe he is legally entitled to serve and because his presence is the only way to get the four votes needed to pass the tax rate, protecting employee paychecks and keeping infrastructure projects moving.
WHAT'S HAPPENING TOMORROW (AUGUST 27)
Now comes the climax. The Republican majority is pushing two explosive agenda items:
Item 30(A) – Removing 5 Associate Judges
Every Fort Bend district judge opposes this. Cutting these judges would create massive court backlogs and delay justice for months in our fast-growing county.
Item 30(B) – Defunding the County Attorney
This would create a new "Legal Department — Civil Division" that answers to the Commissioners, not the public. It would strip staff and funding from the twice-elected County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson. Democratic Commissioner Dexter McCoy calls it "political retribution" for Smith-Lawson daring to challenge Wong's authority. Commissioner Andy Meyers says the court has simply "lost confidence" in her.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS
Tomorrow's vote will decide whether Fort Bend County gets more judges or fewer, and whether an elected official can be stripped of her authority for political reasons.
Sign up to speak here: https://publicspeakers.fortbendcountytx.gov
This isn't just about politics—it's about whether the people of Fort Bend County still have a say in how their government runs.
