KP George made history when he was elected as Fort Bend county judge, becoming the first person of color and South Asian to hold the seat. Fort Bend, a suburb of Houston, is one of the most diverse counties in America. Since his historic election in 2018, George led the county through a pandemic, massive freeze, and other transitions. Let’s learn more about him.
Growing Up
George was born in India and lived in a village with no electricity or running water. He always dreamed of moving to the United States. In 1993, he was able to obtain a Visa and move to America. Six years later, George relocated to Fort Bend with his wife, Sheeba, and two children.
Political Career
Before George became county judge, he served as a school board member for Fort Bend ISD. During the 2018 election, George beat out longtime county judge Robert Herbert, who served in the position for 15 years. During his first term, George oversaw the county through the pandemic. As the pandemic wore on, George received racist messages because of the COVID-19 business restrictions he placed in the county and his stance on wearing a mask to prevent illnesses. After the pandemic, he oversaw several COVID-19 recovery initiatives including an emergency grant program for small businesses and a childcare voucher program. George also sought out new business development — soliciting Amazon to build a new fulfillment center in the county.
Current Term
George was re-elected in 2022 to serve another four years as county judge. He wants to attract good-paying jobs to the county, help improve mental health issues, and combat human trafficking. He also plans to focus on public safety and emergency response.
Do you have a place or person I should feature for Houston History? Email me.
