For Vincent Morales, Jr., Fort Bend County is not only the place he serves; it is usually the place he resides.
Since 2011, the previous Mayor of Rosenberg and now Precinct One commissioner has constructed a profession on the straightforward motto of leaving the county in a greater place than he discovered it.
Enterprise proprietor to public workplace
Morales’ path into public service started removed from the Commissioners Court docket. After graduating from Spring Department Excessive Faculty and attending the College of Houston, he began a panorama design firm in 1978. The corporate remains to be working as we speak, he stated proudly, noting that his son, Justin, manages the enterprise, whereas his spouse, Regina, handles operations.
He had not deliberate to enter politics.
“I didn’t go searching for this. It discovered me,” he stated.
In 2010, Rosenberg’s then-mayor approached him about working for mayor. Morales received, serving two phrases as mayor.
His proudest accomplishment stays the town’s cost-effective, long-term sustainable water plan, which he attributes to the partnership with the Brazosport Water Authority. He additionally labored with TxDOT to increase what was then U.S. 59 into as we speak’s I-69.
“My ardour and background are infrastructure,” Morales stated. “To me, you must have that for financial growth, and it additionally improves high quality of life.”
Managing explosive progress
Fort Bend is now one of many nation’s fastest-growing counties. Morales acknowledges each the chance and the pressure. Projections as soon as pegged Fort Bend’s inhabitants at 1 million by 2027, however Morales says it’ll occur sooner.
“We’ve bought to have the ability to handle that progress,” he defined. “You’ve bought to have the infrastructure to remain forward of that as a lot as potential so that individuals can get from A to B in an inexpensive period of time and safely. What comes together with improved infrastructure can also be public security.”
He factors to pedestrian security as one space the place his precinct has led.
“We’re the primary precinct to convey on HAWK indicators (Excessive-Depth Activated Crosswalk),” he stated. “We’re all the time trying and dealing with engineering, the visitors engineer and others within the engineering division.”
A budgeting philosophy
Fort Bend’s speedy progress additionally places stress on its price range. This yr, the Commissioners Court docket opted to carry the tax charge at $0.412 per $100 valuation, which is under each the no-new-revenue charge ($0.418) and the voter-approval charge ($0.429). Morales stated that required warning.
“We’re truly not having any cuts in Precinct One,” Morales stated. “We have now been very cautious to make it possible for we keep inside our means.”
In terms of legislation enforcement raises, Morales stated {that a} latest compensation examine already introduced deputies to aggressive ranges.
“If anybody checks my document, you’ll see that I’m very supportive of legislation enforcement,” he stated. “We gave raises final yr to convey folks right into a aggressive atmosphere. The sheriff did come to the rostrum through the price range hearings this yr and stated that he was in a position to fill the positions he had. We can’t proceed to maintain elevating the salaries.”
Infrastructure and flooding
Morales usually returns to infrastructure. Voters accredited an $865 million mobility and parks bond in 2023, and whereas highway tasks are nonetheless in design, parks are advancing.
“A few of these are a little bit bit over price range, simply due to inflationary prices,” he stated. “That’s been our greatest battle…making an attempt to maintain up with the inflationary prices. However as I stated, we search for different sources that, as an alternative of getting to return to the taxpayer for added funds.”
He has additionally fought to safe exterior funding, coordinating with TxDOT and the Houston-Galveston Space Council to safe $59 million for constructing Grand Parkway frontage roads, from FM 1093 to I-10 in Katy.
“We have now a program supervisor staying on the right track, working with TDOT to make it possible for we meet all standards by August of subsequent yr in order that we get that $59 million,” Morales stated. “We had been very lucky to be awarded these {dollars} for the development. This saved the taxpayers of Fort Bend County an incredible sum of money.”
On flooding, Morales factors to classes since Harvey.
“Since Harvey, not solely Precinct One, however the county as an entire, has improved as a result of our drainage division and flood mitigation,” Morales stated. “If we had a Harvey, it might not be the identical because it was again in ‘17.”
He warns, nonetheless, that erosion alongside the Brazos River stays a severe problem, including that 13 websites require erosion management to stop the county from shedding future property worth.
Past roads and drainage, Morales has carved out a legacy in animal welfare. In 2018, he helped discovered Fort Bend Paws, a nonprofit group that helps the county’s animal shelter.
His ardour is deeply private.
“The canine that we’ve adopted, they’re rescues,” Morales stated, who has grown up round canine and has adopted a rescue. “There’s one thing particular a few rescue that I simply really feel like they know that you simply’ve truly saved their life.”
A gentle hand
In a polarized political local weather, Morales retains a gradual demeanor.
“I don’t really feel that it’s a excellent illustration to publicly argue,” he stated. “Once I communicate, it’s for a motive.”
Now in his third time period, Morales insists his objectives stay rooted in service. Wanting forward, Morales hopes his years in workplace can be measured not by partisan fights however by progress.
