A power struggle has broken out at the top of one of Texas's largest counties. According to Fox 26, Fort Bend County is caught in a dispute over who legitimately holds the office of county judge, with commissioners calling for Interim County Judge Daniel Wong to step down and saying he is no longer in charge. The disagreement has left the county's leadership in question at a moment when official business still has to go on.
At the center of the fight is the timing of Wong's appointment. The Republican was sworn in as interim county judge in April, and county officials say that term ended on June 17th. Wong, however, disagrees with that interpretation, insisting that he remains in the role and saying he will continue to serve the people of the county.
County officials trace the end of his appointment to a separate legal case. They say Wong's temporary appointment lapsed after Judge KP George's civil suit over alleged First Amendment violations was dismissed. With that case resolved, officials argue, the basis for Wong's interim service disappeared, even as he maintains he is still entitled to the seat.
Other officials have moved publicly to declare the position vacant. Commissioner Dexter McCoy, a Democrat who is running for county judge, claims Wong is no longer legally the county judge. County Attorney Bridget Smith Lawson, also a Democrat, stated that Wong no longer possesses the legal authority to act as county judge as the court issues a new order in the matter.
With the top job contested, another commissioner has stepped forward to keep the county running. Commissioner Grady Prestige says he plans to preside over the meeting and that business will continue as usual. In a statement, Prestige said that under state law there are now only four members of the commissioners court with legal authority to hold office, and that as the most senior member he will preside over county business until a replacement is made.
Legal observers suggested the underlying question may already be settled. A Fox 26 legal analyst said the judgment placing Wong in office is final, and that as a result the litigation is no longer needed on the books. That assessment points to a resolution on paper, even as the practical question of who runs Fort Bend County plays out in real time at the commissioners court.