HOUSTON: Indian-American Democrat Okay P George has received one more time period as Fort Bend County Decide in a slender race as he earned 52 per cent of whole votes. George, who hailed from Kerala, after successful the race stated he was grateful for the general public’s alternative. “The residents of Fort Bend County spoke. On the finish of the day, that is essentially the most highly effective establishment. Democracy spoke. And so, I respect it. And I hope everyone respects,” George advised PTI. The 57-year-old Democrat defeated Republican challenger Trever Nehls by 52 per cent of the vote, incomes a second time period. He held off Nehls by almost 8,000 votes on Tuesday in a race that noticed almost 2,46,000 ballots solid, in accordance with unofficial election outcomes launched by Fort Bend County. George stated that underneath his management, Fort Bend County has been main the nation in public security, job creation, academic attainment, and well being. “I’m honoured to have been re-elected because the Fort Bend County Decide to maintain shifting FortBendForward” and proceed to maintain Fort Bend County the #1 place in America to boost our households, he stated. “I’ll proceed to steer our communities with the values of compassion, frequent sense, and unity, and we’ll accomplish much more within the subsequent 4 years as a result of we’ll do it collectively — united and stronger. This can be a time to proceed to maneuver Fort Bend Ahead and that’s what I intend to do,” he stated. “We’re going to proceed the nice work that we have now been doing in my workplace,” he added. George stated his overarching aim for the subsequent 4 years is to enhance the lives of Fort Bend County residents. Mobility and transportation infrastructure, public security, and emergency administration and response are amongst his priorities, he stated, together with attracting good-paying jobs and combatting psychological well being points and human trafficking. When requested what his potential legacy is perhaps – as a Democrat and Indian-American elected official in a suburban space that traditionally most well-liked conservative Republicans – George stated he is extra involved with the roles. “In 2018, after I got here into workplace, no one knew what to anticipate,” he stated. “Right this moment, they know what to anticipate. Leaving Fort Bend County 10 instances higher than after I began, that is my legacy. However I do not take into consideration my legacy. My residents’ well-being is one of the simplest ways to take a look at it, and I wish to proceed to work towards it.” “We introduced high-tech employment alternatives to Fort Bend by attracting Amazon, Tesla, TikTok, Samsung, and extra. We are going to appeal to extra firms for extra good jobs for Fort Bend residents,” he stated. Within the US, county judges’ duties differ from state to state. Relying upon the scale of the county, they carry out a variety of judicial and administrative duties. George is the primary particular person from the Indian-American neighborhood to carry workplace in certainly one of America’s most numerous counties. Pleased with his humble beginnings in India, George, initially from Kokkathodu village close to Pathanamthitta in Kerala, stated his father, a truck driver, earned solely a few US {dollars} a day and he studied utilizing a kerosene lamp. Whereas in India, George grew up talking Malayalam and lived in a straw-thatch hut. When he was 15, his household moved to an even bigger metropolis the place he attended faculty. After his commencement, he bought a job in Mumbai, the place for the primary time he began talking English. He labored in West Asia earlier than shifting to New York in 1993 to work for a monetary agency. Later, he moved to Texas and has been dwelling in Fort Bend County ever since, alongside together with his household. George, whose win in 2018 made him a trailblazer within the Houston space and past, stated he hopes it stays that means now that he is been granted one other 4 years because the chief government for some of the numerous and fastest-growing counties within the nation. “I am hoping it’s prior to now. I would like it prior to now,” George stated of the unfairness and bigotry he has skilled. “We have to transfer ahead. Persons are sick and bored with all this rubbish.” George stated he was “humbled” and “honoured” to be reelected, including that it occurred due to his observe file over the past 4 years. He touted Fort Bend County for being among the many leaders in Texas when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination charges, academic achievement and financial development and prosperity. In line with the most recent census, Fort Bend is now essentially the most numerous county in Texas, and among the many most numerous within the nation with 35 per cent Anglos, 24 per cent Hispanics, 21 per cent Asians and others; and 20 per cent African-Individuals. Rice College professor Mark Jones stated George is essentially the most distinguished Indian-American to carry an government place within the US authorities. “George, an Indian American, is holding essentially the most distinguished government place within the US Govt as he governs a county with a bigger inhabitants and an even bigger price range than the Indian-American mayors of cities like Anaheim, California, and Hoboken,” Jones stated.