Candidates weigh in on Grand Parkway issue
By Stephen Palkot

Thursday, October 30, 2008 3:07 PM CDT

Sharp words were exchanged between the two candidates for Fort Bend County Precinct 1 at a forum Wednesday night.

The forum was sponsored by S.T.O.P., a group of business owners and residents opposed to the idea of Grand Parkway being built in southern Fort Bend County as a toll road with elevated interchanges at U.S. 59.

Morrison said he has been against the road “from the very beginning,” and said he would refuse to support a bond issue to fund construction of the road.

“The way to defeat this project is just to get you one public official who has a little bit of courage who will help you stop the project,” he said.

Whether the Commissioners Court has control over the project was another issue. Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, who is uncontested in his re-election bid, said the county in the past tried to take control of the project from the Texas Department of Transportation, but Gov. Rick Perry in 2007 vetoed a bill calling for exactly that.

“So one of the things we hope to do is to get your involvement and your assistance to pass legislation in 2009 that will get the Grand Parkway back in control of the local government so you will have some input on what will be built here,” Meyers said.

Ordeneaux accused his opponent, Morrison, of straying from a “race on issues” by taking out a newspaper ad critical of Ordeneaux and campaign contributions he has received from developers.

“I have worked with good engineers, good developers, good attorneys, people that built the communities you live in today. And you moved there because you liked it, and they’re designed well,” Ordeneaux said.

Source:

http://www.fbherald.com/articles/2008/10/30/news/doc490a075329741818644128.txt 

Comment/opinion: Greg Ordeneaux (R), heavily backed by special interest Houston developers and supported by Bob Hebert (R), appears to have bounced around on this issue depending on the audience. Mr. Richard Morrison and John Wieder (CD-22) candidate have consistently been against this proposed take-over of a public road for private tolling.

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