Fort Bend Truth & Times Editorial Board Endorsement
Commissioner Grady Prestage — Experience, Engineering, and Proven Leadership for a Growing County
Fort Bend County stands at a critical inflection point.
We are no longer a rural extension of Houston. We are a major metropolitan county approaching one million residents. Our growth brings opportunity — but it also brings strain on infrastructure, public safety, drainage systems, mobility corridors, and economic equity.
In moments like this, experience matters. Technical competence matters. Proven leadership matters.
After careful consideration, the Editorial Board of the Fort Bend Truth & Times offers its strong endorsement of Commissioner Grady Prestage for Fort Bend County Precinct 2.
A Record Built on Substance, Not Slogans
Commissioner Prestage was first elected in 1990, at a time when Fort Bend County’s population was just 225,000. Today, it is nearly four times that size. Through every phase of that transformation, Prestage has not merely observed growth — he has engineered it.
A Registered Professional Engineer, Prestage brought technical expertise to Commissioners Court at precisely the right time. As development accelerated west and south, Fort Bend required leadership that understood how roads connect to economic corridors, how drainage systems prevent disaster, and how mobility planning shapes property values and quality of life.
Under his leadership, Fort Bend expanded critical infrastructure, strengthened its toll road system, and positioned itself as a competitive regional player in transportation planning.
This was not accidental growth. It was structured growth.
Building Opportunity for Families
While infrastructure may define his professional training, Commissioner Prestage’s legacy is deeply rooted in community investment.
He championed the creation of the Fort Bend County Parks and Recreation Department in 1996 — a visionary move that today provides essential recreational and community space across the county. He helped expand library access from two locations to fifteen. He was instrumental in bringing Boys & Girls Clubs to the area, creating safe spaces for children long before youth programming became a popular talking point.
These projects were not political trophies. They were long-term investments in families.
At a time when many communities struggle with disconnection and youth vulnerability, Prestage understood early that infrastructure includes human infrastructure.
Leading Through Political Change
Commissioner Prestage made history as the first African American to serve on Commissioners Court since Reconstruction. Much of his career has been spent navigating political minority status, building consensus across ideological divides, and securing votes necessary to move projects forward.
Leadership in the majority is easy. Leadership in the minority requires discipline, relationships, and strategic patience.
As Fort Bend experiences shifting political dynamics, redistricting debates, and complex conversations around minority business participation, Prestage continues to advocate for equitable opportunity while maintaining a focus on fiscal responsibility and practical governance.
The mark of seasoned leadership is not volume — it is durability.
Institutional Knowledge in an Urban County
Fort Bend County today faces urban-level challenges:
- Public safety staffing pressures under state-imposed tax caps
- Flood mitigation and drainage demands
- Transportation congestion
- Economic inclusion in contracting
- Rapid demographic expansion
These challenges require more than ambition. They require institutional memory and a working knowledge of how county systems function.
Commissioner Prestage has served under multiple County Judges, across economic cycles, bond programs, and population booms. He understands not just what projects are needed, but how to finance, phase, and deliver them.
Continuity in governance is not about nostalgia — it is about stability during complexity.
A Vision Still in Motion
Commissioner Prestage has made clear that his work is not finished.
Key goals remain on the horizon:
- Extending the Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road across the Brazos River
- Completing recently approved Mobility and Parks Bond projects
- Advancing redevelopment in historically underserved communities such as Fresno
- Pursuing a minority business development framework that expands economic participation
These are forward-looking initiatives rooted in practical implementation.
Fort Bend’s next decade will demand steady hands and clear eyes.
The Verdict
The Fort Bend Truth & Times believes Commissioner Grady Prestage represents a rare blend of engineering discipline, community focus, and institutional knowledge:
He has demonstrated the ability to manage growth responsibly. He has invested in children and families.
He has navigated political shifts without losing focus on results.
He understands that competence and relationships are equally necessary for public service.
As Fort Bend County moves deeper into its identity as a major metropolitan hub, leadership grounded in experience and proven delivery is not optional — it is essential.
For these reasons and more, the Editorial Board proudly endorses Commissioner Grady Prestage for Fort Bend County Precinct 2. Commissioner Grady Prestage we appreciate your service and look forward to your leadership with all people and all political interest.
Fort Bend’s growth story is still being written. Experience should remain at the table.
