In last week’s issue, I told readers I’d had enough of various politicians. Since this is the last issue before the vote next Tuesday, I want to make sure I cover most of the contested races in Fort Bend.

In the state representative race in District 27 which includes parts of Fort Bend, Democratic Dora Olivo has served her constituency well since 1997 and has on several occasions carried bills that benefited Fort Bend specifically, most particularly involving the establishment of local judicial positions when other Fort Bend representatives were no help.

Her Republican challenger is currently a member of Fort Bend ISD board of trustees and was one of the trustees who was not only unable to get along with the popular superintendent, but several other board members as well. His ability to govern has been seriously questioned. Olivo is a hard-working member who has kept in touch with her district and maintained excellent district services. I encourage her District to reelect Olivo as their state representative.

I’ve been mad at all the Fort Bend County Commissioners and the County Judge since they voted themselves a $17,000 raise this year. But Democrat Grady Prestage, who has served as commissioner since 1990, has proved himself a very adroit politician who, even though a political and racial minority on the court, has been able to effectively help many disadvantaged and heretofore under served citizens of Fort Bend. His Republican opponent, who has run against him before as a Democrat, has no credentials for leadership except as a school teacher. I encourage Pct. 2 voters to reelect Grady Prestage as commissioner.

I encouraged you last week to support Democrat Nick Lampson for District 22 as our next Congressman. Lampson served four terms as a U.S. Congressman, representing the Beaumont, Port Arthur area. When the Tom DeLay-led redistricting changed Lampson’s district, he moved to Stafford to run against DeLay. He has no Republican opponent on the ballot, but Shelley Sukula-Gibbs is running as a write-in.

Since last week, my resolve to support Lampson has increased. He has received the endorsement of several conservative groups such as the NRA, VFW, Realtors, and several law enforcement groups. His write-in opponent lives in Clear Lake, is on the Houston City Council, and distinguished herself this week by visiting inside two voting sites. She said she only went in to use the bathroom and while there, asked how the early voting was going. She has run several city council races and should certainly know that is illegal.

After our years of Tom DeLay skirting the law and operating right on the edge, we don’t need to elect someone else who disregards the law as it applies to them.

I want to remind you that Democrat Rudy Valesquez is running against Republican Bud Childers for County-Court-At-Law Judge. Valesquez, a native of Fort Bend, has a good reputation not only as an attorney, but as a good individual and family man. Childers, the former County Attorney, defeated Nina Schaefer in the Republican primary, something several of us females have not forgiven him for. I can’t understand why Childers wanted to give up his job as County Attorney. It was difficult to catch him in his office, and as judge, he will have to work hard and keep his docket going. I’m voting for Valesquez, whom I trust.

I’m also supporting Democrat Albert Holan for District Judge against Republican Brady Elliott. Holan ran before, and has excellent judicial credentials. Elliott has done several quirky things in the past, and many local attorneys have complained that he is unpredictable.

I think it’s time we had a little political diversity in the local judicial branch and Elliott has been there too long.

There have been some questions about Republican Annie Elliot and her candidacy, particularly as concerns her assistant DA husband and his involvement with one of her campaign contributors. But I don’t know her Democratic opponent Vickie Torres so I will pass on that race.