Okay, a post without mentioning Trump or national politics.



Pearland is the fastest growing city in the Houston region. Pearland's population exploded nearly six fold from approximately 19,000 two decades ago to nearly over 120000, in 2016.



Elections in Pearland have been boring affairs for a number of years. The usual suspects - predominantly from East Pearland with long standing political power and clout- have defeated nominal opponents handily and easily for decades. By that measure, the long time Mayor Mr. Tom Reid, should have won handily in the recent local election. But, when a young challenger, Mr. Quentin Wiltz, came a close second to force a run off, Pearland's local elections got interesting. What changed in Pearland?



Pearland's close proximity to prominent economic hubs of medical center, space center, and oil refineries has brought in medical professionals - doctors, nurses, and allied health staff, engineers from aerospace and chemical industries, to Pearland. A bulk of this growth is concentrated on the Westside - close to 288. However, the seats of local political power - school board, city council, and the Mayor's office - have all been dominated by established players from East of 35.

In the recent local elections held last month, for the first time, many positions were contested by some solid candidates from West Pearland. In fact, a local Dawson High School senior, Mr. Mike Floyd, unseated a two term incumbent member from the school board, and his race attracted national attention.



Mr. Quentin Wiltz, a young professional working in the energy industry challenged the 10+ term Mayor Mr. Tom Reid and has forced a run off. Similarly, a young woman, Ms. Dalia Kasseb - a pharmacist who hails from the lcoal Shadow Creek neighborhood ran for the city council position 7, and is now in a run-off election against a political veteran Mr. Woody Owens.

The very fact that there are run off elections suggest that the growing Westside comprised of professionals from diverse backgrounds are starting to flex their muscles to demand that they be part of the deliberations regarding the future of this fast-growing city. It is also an indication that changes are afoot — even in deep red Texas.

Early voting for the run off elections are on:

May 30 (Tue) - Jun 2 (Fri) from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Jun 3 (Sat), Jun 5-6 (Mon/Tue) from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Early voting is at three locations, Tom Reid Library at Liberty Drive, West side Library at Shadow Creek, and at the Public Safety Building at Cullen.

The run-off elections will be held on June 10th - 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM, and you can vote at three more locations Pearland Recreation Center at Bailey, Drainage District 4 Building at W. Broadway, and Shadycrest Baptist Church at Yost.

If Mr. Wiltz and Ms. Kasseb, should prevail on the June 10th, this will harbinger an era where the West Pearland starts to play a active role in the local governance of the fast growing Pearland.

Go vote! If you have friends and relatives in Pearland, encourage them to go and vote. Because the turnout in these elections is so low, your vote truly has more weight than in other elections.