Commissioners return after two months
On Monday, Commissioners Grady Prestage and Dexter McCoy returned for their first commissioners' court meeting in two months. The pair have been skipping meetings, they said, after legal questions were raised over interim Judge Daniel Wong's appointment.
Wong, who was appointed in April, has been sued by the county attorney to be removed from the position after the case that put him there was dropped in June.
Before any discussions took place on Monday, McCoy addressed why he returned. The special meeting had only one item to vote on.
Wong said he wouldn't vote because of business ties he may have with future projects.
"It raises the obvious question," McCoy said. "If Mr. Wong can step aside to protect the integrity of a vote involving a company in which he has business interests, why won't he step aside to protect the interest and the integrity of the people's business?"
Without Wong voting, the four commissioners voted unanimously to create a reinvestment zone. It will allow businesses to receive tax breaks for future projects.
One proposal is a Tesla solar manufacturing plant that the company claims in documents could employ 10,000 people. Wong didn't address McCoy's comments regarding the recusal request.
However, he pointed out the pair returned while he's still overseeing the meeting. That quickly sparked a back-and-forth with McCoy.
"Just to be sure that I'm still the county judge running this meeting," Wong said. "I want to welcome our Commissioner McCoy, Commissioner Grady coming back, recognizing that I'm county judge running this meeting."
"That is not what we are recognizing," McCoy said. "We are here to move the people's business."
"I'm not debating," Wong said.
"Excuse me," McCoy said. "Because the appropriate actions have been taken to protect the people's interests, we are returning."
'Political retribution': Returning commissioners shift focus to an upcoming meeting
Monday's agenda only had one voting item. However, it wasn't the only thing discussed.
McCoy set his sights on an item on Thursday's commissioners court meeting. Item 30 B states, "Take all appropriate action for Fiscal Year 2027 to establish a Legal Department."
McCoy said if approved, it would dramatically impact the county attorney.
"Late on Friday, hoping the public would not notice, Mr. Wong published an agenda item to dismantle the office of the county attorney on the agenda for the court this Thursday," McCoy explained. "Stealing her staff, her funding, and her authority right away from her."
County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson has taken Wong to court to challenge him over his appointment. The case is currently in court and scheduled for trial in November.
"We must call this out for what it is, political retribution directed at our independently elected county attorney, Bridgette Smith-Lawson," McCoy said.
The item states it would "transfer attorney and support staff positions and associated funding and resources; and authorize all necessary budgetary, personnel, administrative, and operational actions to implement the same, subject to applicable law."
The county attorney said she has 42 staff members. Only a dozen of them, she said, are used for items outside the ones listed on the agenda.
ABC13 reached out to the judge's office about the agenda item and received a statement from communications director Bobby Eberle.
"This creation of the Civil Division would be a revenue-neutral endeavor. What will occur at Commissioners Court on Thursday is a briefing from the budget department on how many staff members will be involved and the amount of the funding transfer. These are items we don't know, but we will be briefed on during the meeting. This is certainly not political retaliation. In fact, Judge Wong is seeking the exact opposite: to remove politics from day-to-day legal operations. The County Attorney has politicized her office, is highly partisan, and has abused her power. The more functions that can rightfully be handled by other, competent attorneys is a win for Fort Bend County."
The return of the commissioners may be short-lived
Commissioners are scheduled to meet on Thursday. As long as the three republicans show up, there's a quorum.
That changes next month. In order to set a tax rate in September, there must be four members.
After he showed up on Monday, ABC13 asked McCoy's office if he plans to return to future meetings. ABC13 received a statement:
"Daniel Wong continues to contaminate the business of the county with his participation. He has shown he will step aside when his personal business interests are at stake but not when the county budget, tax rate, employee raises, and county services are at risk. We remain ready to handle the people's business and will continue to fight Wong's corruption and political retribution. When Daniel Wong stops contaminating county business with his participation like he did today, we will be able to handle county business without issue. That choice remains with Mr. Wong."
The legal matter may not be resolved prior to the looming budget vote. The judge may consider a temporary injunction hearing.
If he doesn't, the trial isn't scheduled until November.