Page 18 - The Indian EYE 092526

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | The Indian Eye 18

Three Counties, Common Challenges:

Republican County Judge Nominees Discuss

Growth, Taxes and Public Safety

Republican nominees from Harris, Brazoria and Fort Bend counties discuss fiscal

management, infrastructure, public safety and government accountability

OUR BUREAU
HOUSTON, TX

epublican nominees for coun-
ty judge in Harris, Brazoria
Rand Fort Bend counties ad-
dressed some of Greater Houston’s
most pressing challenges — from
taxes and public safety to infrastruc-
ture and rapid population growth
— during a community meet-and-
greet at the Eternal Gandhi Museum
Houston.

The forum, organized by the In-
dian American Political Action
Committee of Greater Houston
(IAPAC-PAC), brought together

Orlando Sanchez, Republican
nominee for Harris County judge;
Rob Giesecke, Republican nomi- Republican County Judge candidates Orlando Sanchez, Rob Giesecke, and Daniel Wong with members of
the IAPAC Board of Directors following the community meet-and-greet.
nee for Brazoria County judge;

and Daniel Wong, Republican also cited experience in banking,
nominee for Fort Bend County health care, higher education and
judge. emergency response as preparation
for managing the state’s most popu-
lous county.
Randhir Sahni, founder of “Our problems are not just Har-
IAPAC-PAC, welcomed attendees and ris County problems anymore,” San-
introduced the candidates. The con- chez said, calling for cooperation
versation was moderated by Dr. Roo- among Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria,
pa Gir, past president of the PAC, who Montgomery and other neighboring
guided the candidates through a dis- counties.
cussion of their experience, priorities Giesecke, a Brazoria County na-
and approaches to county government. tive and chairman of the Port Free-
Although the candidates spoke port Commission, described a career
to the circumstances of their individ- IAPAC-PAC hosts a conversation with Republican candidates for County Judge. From left: spanning state government, commer-
ual counties, the discussion revealed cial real estate and port governance.
considerable overlap in the chal- Orlando Sanchez, Rob Giesecke, Daniel Wong, and moderator Dr. Roopa Gir. He said his early work as a legislative
lenges they face. Population growth chief of staff taught him how to build
is placing increasing demands on Sanchez drew on decades of said taught him the importance of re- coalitions among people with differ-
roads, drainage, emergency services public service, including six years on maining engaged and continuing to ent backgrounds and political views.
and public safety, while county gov- Houston City Council and 12 years as earn the community’s support. At Port Freeport, Giesecke said
ernments face pressure to manage Harris County treasurer. He recalled He later won a citywide Houston he campaigned on three commit-
spending and demonstrate greater first running for the Texas Legislature City Council seat and subsequently ments: eliminating the port’s prop-
efficiency and accountability. in 1992 and losing, an experience he served as county treasurer. Sanchez Continued on next page... >>

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