Fort Bend Candidate Forum 2025 Recap

Democracy knocked, and Fort Bend answered! 🗳️✨

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, the 2025 Fort Bend Candidate Forum brought civic engagement to the forefront at the University of Houston at Sugar Land. Residents from across the county gathered in Brazos Hall to connect directly with candidates running for key local offices, including:

Mayor of Sugar Land

• William Ferguson
• Naushad Kermally
• Sarwar Khan
• Carol McCutcheon
• Michelle Mikeska
• Alex J. Sowell
  (Source: City of Sugar Land, Community Impact)

Sugar Land City Council, At-Large Position 1

• Jim Vonderhaar
• Maggy Horgan
• George Kakkanatt
• Aqeel Virk
• Muzaffar Vohra
  (Source: City of Sugar Land)

Sugar Land City Council, At-Large Position 2

• Rob Boettcher
• Ameer Malik
  (Source: City of Sugar Land)

Sugar Land City Council, District Two

• Sanjay Singhal
• Nasir Hussain
• Gladys Nunez
• Cindy Picazo
• Bradley William Tilton II
  (Source: City of Sugar Land, Community Impact)

Sugar Land City Council, District Four

• Rick Miller
• Dr. Zeenat Mitha
• Sapana Patel
  (Source: City of Sugar Land)

For the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees (Positions 3 and 7), the official candidate list can be found on the Fort Bend ISD website or through local election coverage, but the city’s official site does not list school board candidates.

Whether attendees were seasoned voters or new to the local election scene, the non-partisan event empowered everyone to get informed and involved. Guests participated in lively meet-and-greets, asked thoughtful questions during audience Q&As, and heard first-hand from candidates about their visions for the community—all while early voting was underway.

The forum was made possible by a dynamic coalition of community organizations, including EMGAGE, BakerRipley, the League of Women Voters, and many others. All partners upheld the event’s neutral, educational mission, ensuring a welcoming space for all.

Light refreshments kept the conversations flowing, and the energy in the room reflected a shared commitment to shaping Fort Bend’s future. By the end of the afternoon, voters left more confident, informed, and inspired to participate in our democracy.

Local elections have a direct impact on public education, infrastructure, and representation. The 2025 Fort Bend Candidate Forum proved that when the community comes together, our voices truly matter.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the organizations behind the forum: EMGAGE, BakerRipley, the League of Women Voters, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA), American Community Media (ACoM), Bridges to Empowerment, Fort Bend Voters League, Greater Houston Lions Club, Houston Voting Initiative, Indian American Public Affairs Council (IAPAC), JACL Houston, NAACP Missouri City & Vicinity Branch, OCA Greater Houston, Pakistani American Voters Association, Protest Organize Participate (P.O.P.), SAAVE TX Education Fund, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), Texans Against Gerrymandering (TAG), and Texas Students Union. Your dedication made this event possible and strengthened our community’s democratic spirit.

#FortBendVotes #CandidateForum2025 #YourVoiceMatters