In Fort Bend, early voting in some races garnering attention

With only a few days left in early voting, some low-profile Fort Bend elections have seen a spike in ballots, which one official attributes to unusually competitive races and overall community growth.

From Rosenberg to Katy, voters have until Election Day Saturday to select mayors, council members and school district trustees. The winners will lead the agencies through continuing residential growth and on issues ranging from redevelopment and staple public services to bus driver shortages and concerns that minority students are disproportionately disciplined.

By far, Stafford leads Fort Bend County in voter turnout growth.

In the first seven days of early voting, 664 ballots have been cast, compared with 467 ballots in the full early voting period in 2014 and 371 in 2013, according to statistics provided by Fort Bend Election Administrator John Oldham.

"I think that's because it's the first time Mayor Leonard Scarcella has had opposition in 20 years," Oldham said.

Scarcella, first elected in 1969, is the longest serving mayor in the United States. Before this election, he last faced an opponent in the 1990s.

In this race, his opponent, Robert Sorbet, has served on city council since 2008. Although both have expressed respect for each other, they have sparred over issues related to zoning, the redevelopment of the 192-acre property vacated by Texas Instruments, and enrollment policies at Stafford schools, the only Texas district that is part of a city government.

The only other Fort Bend city with an active mayor's race is Rosenberg after no one filed to oppose incumbents in Katy, Beasley and Needville.

Oldham also noted turnout growth in Fulshear, where 235 people so far have cast their ballot in elections, compared with 251 during all of last year's early voting period. While the crowded field of eight candidates for two council seats likely played a role, he attributed most of the turnout growth to something simpler.

"The first election I did for Fulshear seven years ago had about 900 registered voters," Oldham said. "Now, they have over 3,000 registered voters."

Voters could elect new council members in several cities, including Missouri City, Rosenberg, Richmond and Stafford. Incumbents drew no opposition and were effectively re-elected in Sugar Land and several small towns.

Some school districts - including Fort Bend, Lamar, Stafford and Katy - also have trustee elections.

Oldham said turnout in those races often is influenced by whether cities that fall within district boundaries also have elections. He noted that the number of ballots cast in Fort Bend, for instance, appears to have declined, likely because Sugar Land has no city elections.

The slowed early voting belies two competitive trustee races stoked by the district's recent changes to feeder patterns, an ongoing federal investigation into disproportionate discipline against minority students and concerns - or cheers - for aggressive reforms pushed by the district's new superintendent.

The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, which hosted several candidate forums this year, urged people to make it to the polls this week.

"The quality of life we enjoy in Fort Bend County is not by accident," Kerri Schmidt said. "It is important to ensure our future by casting an educated vote."