Core Issues – Dr. Cynthia Lenton-Gary for Fort Bend County Judge

This plank is vital in a rapidly growing county where property values and tax burdens are high.

Issue	Cynthia’s Plank (Action Items)
Problem: Rapidly rising property appraisals and the risk of uncontrolled county spending place an increasing burden on Fort Bend families and seniors.	Solution: Common-Sense Budgeting & Tax Relief
Goal: Ensure every tax dollar is spent efficiently and transparently, and fight to keep more money in the pockets of hardworking families.	* Annual Zero-Based Review: Implement a requirement for annual zero-based budgeting for all county departments to cut unnecessary waste and sunset redundant programs.
	* Fight for the Homestead: Advocate aggressively at the state level for increased residential homestead exemptions and a permanent cap on property tax increases for seniors.
	* Transparent Spending: Modernize the county’s accounting portal to make all expenditures easily searchable and accessible to the public, ensuring true accountability.

Fort Bend’s population growth necessitates a plan for transportation, drainage, and utility management.

Issue	Cynthia’s Plank (Action Items)
Problem: Congestion, inadequate drainage, and delays in essential infrastructure projects are outpacing our county’s current planning efforts.	Solution: Future-Proofing Fort Bend
Goal: Develop a coordinated, county-wide strategy that prioritizes infrastructure projects based on safety, economic impact, and long-term sustainability.	* Regional Drainage Coordination: Create a joint task force with local MUDs and municipalities to unify flood control standards and implement proactive, rather than reactive, drainage improvements.
	* Traffic Congestion Relief: Accelerate and complete key road widening and intersection improvement projects using transparent, performance-based contracts to avoid costly delays.
	* Prioritize Utility Reliability: Invest in modernizing aging water and energy infrastructure to handle current demands and prepare for the next decade of growth, reducing service interruptions.

This leverages Cynthia’s education background while tying it to a top-tier service: public safety and job readiness.

Issue	Cynthia’s Plank (Action Items)
Problem: Local businesses struggle to find skilled workers, while public safety departments need support to recruit and retain top-tier personnel.	Solution: Investing in People and Safety
Goal: Forge strong partnerships between educators, law enforcement, and businesses to build a skilled workforce and ensure a safe community.	* Skills-First Partnerships: Expand the Fort Bend County partnership with Houston Community College and local vocational schools to offer targeted, high-demand certification programs (e.g., HVAC, IT, medical tech).
	* Support for Law Enforcement: Ensure competitive pay, state-of-the-art equipment, and necessary training for the Sheriff’s Office and all first responders to maintain low crime rates and high morale.
	* Youth Mentorship & Job Pipeline: Fund targeted mentorship programs to connect Fort Bend high school students with local employers, creating a direct pathway from graduation to high-wage, local jobs.