[SPECIAL SESSION AGENDA on April 13, 2026.]
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I'M THE CHAPLAIN WITH THE CITY OF RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I'VE BEEN ASKED TO SORT OF HOST THIS THING THIS MORNING.
SO WE'LL GET STARTED. I WANT TO WELCOME EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO THIS IMPORTANT CELEBRATION IN THE LIFE OF FORT BEND COUNTY.
OKAY. HOW'S THAT BETTER? YEAH. IN THE LIFE OF FORT BEND COUNTY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY HERE IN JUST A MOMENT.
BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT EVENT.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL CURRENT AND PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE COUNTY.
PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO CALL ON PASTOR BRIAN LAMB WHO WILL COME AND LEAD OUR INVOCATION. LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.
GRACIOUS AND SOVEREIGN GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH GRATITUDE.
ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THAT AUTHORITY ULTIMATELY COMES FROM YOU.
TODAY, WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THIS SIGNIFICANT MOMENT AS DANIEL WONG IS SWORN IN AS FORT BEND COUNTY JUDGE.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR DANIEL, FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TO SERVE GOD AND SERVE THE SERVE THE COUNTY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO TRUST UPON HIM.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT LEADERSHIP IS A SACRED STEWARDSHIP CARRYING GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
WE ASK THAT YOU GRANT HIM WISDOM, CLARITY OF MIND, AND DISCERNMENT IN EVERY DECISION IN COMPLEX SITUATIONS.
GUIDE HIM TO WHAT IS RIGHT, JUST, AND FOR THE GOOD FOR ALL PEOPLE.
GIVE HIM INTEGRITY. MAY HIS LEADERSHIP BY BE MARKED BY HONESTY, HUMILITY, AND FAITHFULNESS.
GOD, HIS HEART FROM PRIDE AND DISCOURAGEMENT AND HELP HIM TO WALK IN UPRIGHTNESS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. GRANT HIM COURAGE WHEN DECISIONS ARE DIFFICULT.
STRENGTHEN HIM TO STAND FIRM WITH CONVICTION AND GRACE.
HELP HIM TO LEAD NOT OUT OF FEAR, BUT WITH STEADY RESOLVE AND COMPASSION.
REMIND HIM THAT LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT PEOPLE.
HELP HIM TO LISTEN WELL, TO CARE DEEPLY, AND TO SERVE ALL THE RESIDENTS OF FORT BEND COUNTY WITH FAIRNESS AND RESPECT.
SURROUND THEM WITH WAS YOUR GRACE AND STRENGTH.
MAY THEIR HOME BE A PLACE OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND REST.
AND LORD, WE PRAY FOR THIS COUNTY.
MAY IT BE MARKED BY JUSTICE, UNITY AND FLOURISHING.
USE DANIEL'S LEADERSHIP FOR THE COMMON GOOD AND THE WILL AND THE WELL-BEING FOR ALL.
WE TRUST AND TRUST HIM INTO YOUR HANDS.
GUIDE HIM, SUSTAIN HIM AND HIS LEADERSHIP.
REFLECT TRUTH, MERCY, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.
WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE WITH US TODAY THE FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE COLOR GUARD, AND THEY ARE NOW GOING TO PRESENT THE COLORS.
WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE STAND? LORD.
AND PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AS COMMISSIONERS, MYERS AND MORALES COME FORWARD TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES TO OUR TWO FLAGS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE JOIN ME IN HONORING ONE OF THE GREATEST NATIONS. TODAY, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HOW DO YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE FOR THE GREATEST STATE IN THE GREATEST
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COUNTRY? HONOR TEXAS FLAG.I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS.
ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
IT IS NOW MY PRIVILEGE TO SAY A FEW WORDS OF INTRODUCTION TO OUR NEW COUNTY JUDGE, DANIEL WONG. DANIEL STEPPED OFF OF AN AIRPLANE AT NEW YORK'S JFK AIRPORT.
HIS HEART WAS POUNDING WITH EXCITEMENT AND UNCERTAINTY AS HE CAUGHT SIGHT OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, A SYMBOL OF HOPE FOR MILLIONS WHO CAME BEFORE HIM.
HE KNEW HIS LIFE WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE FOREVER.
HE HAD LEFT MACAU, CHINA, A PLACE WHERE OPPORTUNITY WAS VERY SCARCE, AND HE HAD COME TO A PLACE THAT WAS NEW AND WHERE FAITH, FREEDOM AND HARD WORK COULD FORGE A BRIGHT FUTURE.
HE HAD NO IDEA JUST HOW PROFOUNDLY THIS JOURNEY WOULD SHAPE HIM.
WITH A HEART FULL OF FAITH AND AN UNRELENTING DRIVE FOR SUCCESS, DANIEL DEDICATED HIMSELF TO HIS STUDIES.
HE PURSUED HIS EDUCATION WITH FIERCE DETERMINATION AND EARNED A PHD IN ENGINEERING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
AND HE SET THE FOUNDATION FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER.
HE BUILT HIS OWN ENGINEERING FIRM, EVENTUALLY OPENING UP 13 OFFICES AND EMPLOYING 400. HIS COMPANY PARTNERS WITH SOME OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST CORPORATIONS, INCLUDING EXXONMOBIL, SPACEX AND MANY OTHER GLOBAL GIANTS, LEAVING A LANDSCAPE OF MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ACROSS TEXAS AND ACROSS THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. HOWEVER, DANIEL WILL TELL YOU THAT HIS GREATEST SUCCESS ISN'T FOUND IN THE BOARDROOMS OR IN THE ENGINEERING MARVELS.
IT IS IN HIS FAMILY. DANIEL IS A DEVOTED HUSBAND, FATHER TO TWO SONS, GRANDFATHER TO TWO GRANDCHILDREN, RAISING HIS FAMILY IN FORT BEND COUNTY.
THROUGH HIS OWN JOURNEY, HE HAS INSTILLED IN THESE NEXT GENERATIONS THE VALUES OF FAITH, HARD WORK AND SERVICE, ENSURING THAT HIS LEGACY WILL EXTEND FAR BEYOND HIS OWN PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
HE'S AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF HIS CHURCH, SERVING AS THE CHURCH BOARD PRESIDENT, LEADING WITH THE SAME PASSION AND DEDICATION THAT DEFINES EVERY ASPECT OF HIS LIFE.
AS PART OF HIS FAITH JOURNEY, HE HAS EARNED A MASTER'S DEGREE IN THEOLOGY FROM FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
DESPITE HIS SUCCESS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, DANIEL FELT A DEEPER CALLING TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY AND TO GIVE BACK TO THE PLACE THAT HAS GIVEN HIM EVERYTHING.
HIS LEADERSHIP ROLES SPANNED DECADES, DEMONSTRATING HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. FOR EXAMPLE, HE'S A BOARD MEMBER OF THE TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, A BOARD MEMBER OF THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE SIENA PARKS AND LEVEE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, A FORMER TRUSTEE OF THE FORT BEND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE TEXAS BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND A FORMER SUGAR LAND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE.
AND THERE ARE MANY MORE SERVICE POSITIONS THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT FROM BUSINESS TO GOVERNMENT. DANIEL HAS BEEN A LEADER WHO UNDERSTANDS BOTH ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PUBLIC SERVICE, ENSURING THAT FORT BEND COUNTY THRIVES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE HONORABLE JUDGE DEAN HRBACEK TO COME FORWARD, ALONG WITH DANIEL AND HIS WIFE, MAY, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE.
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IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.OATH OF OFFICE. I. AND I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY.
I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE, AND ALSO SUPPORT THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE OFFICE OF COUNTY JUDGE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, STATE OF TEXAS, AND FURTHERMORE, AND FURTHERMORE, I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM.
FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES IMPOSED BY LAW OF THE.
BY LAW ENFORCED BY LAW, DURING MY TERM.
DURING MY TERM AS COUNTY JUDGE AND WILL DO THE BEST I COULD TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAW OF THE UNITED STATES, OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THE STATE AND OF THE STATE.
SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD.
CONGRATULATIONS TO JUDGE AND MRS. WONG. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE NEWLY SWORN IN FORT BEND COUNTY JUDGE DANIEL WONG.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.
GOOD MORNING. I WILL BE VERY SHORT.
I WANT TO GO TO LUNCH, I KNOW THAT.
OKAY. SO. TODAY IS NOT JUST A CEREMONY.
I STAND BEFORE YOU DEEPLY HONORED.
HUMBLED BY YOUR TRUST AND READY TO GET TO WORK.
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF FORT BEND COUNTY DESERVE LEADERSHIP THAT SHOWS UP, FOLLOW THROUGH, AND DELIVER RESULTS.
THE ROAD WAS NOT SOMETHING I HAD TO ACCEPT.
I COULD HAVE WAITED, I COULD HAVE TURNED THIS DOWN.
I COULD HAVE STAYED ON THE SIDELINES UNTIL NOVEMBER.
INSTEAD, I CHOSE THE HARD ROAD.
MOST PEOPLE GET 60 DAYS TO TRANSITION INTO THIS OFFICE.
BUT THE CHALLENGES FACED THIS COUNTRY WAS SO BIG AND LEADERSHIP COULD NOT WAIT.
SO I STEPPED FORWARD BECAUSE FORT BEND COUNTY NEEDED LEADERSHIP NOW.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS OFFICE WILL PROVIDE.
FOR TOO LONG, THIS OFFICE HAS LACKED THE THE STEADY LEADERSHIP OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTED.
THAT CHANGES TODAY. WE BEGIN WITH A CLEAR MISSION TO RESTORE THE HONOR, THE INTEGRITY AND TRUST TO THIS OFFICE, NOT JUST IN WHAT WE SAY, BUT IN HOW WE GARIN WITH TRANSPARENCY, WITH ACCOUNTABILITY, AND WITH A COMMITMENT TO ALWAYS PUT THE PEOPLE FIRST.
BECAUSE FORT BEND COUNTY MUST WORK FOR YOU AND WE WILL DO IT TOGETHER.
TOGETHER, WE WILL TAKE ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO FAMILIES ACROSS THIS COUNTY, STARTING WITH PROPERTY TAXES.
THESE. THESE ARE THEIR FAMILIES IN FORT BEND COUNTY RIGHT NOW, STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP, STRUGGLING TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
THEY WORK THEIR WHOLE LIVES TO AFFORD.
WE BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY FEEL.
THAT MEANS RESPONSIBLE, RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING, DISCIPLINED SPENDING, AND TREATING EVERY TAXPAYER DOLLAR WITH RESPECT BECAUSE YOUR MONEY DESERVES TO BE HANDLED WITH THE SAME CARE YOU USED TO EARN IT. WE WILL ALSO MAKE SURE OF.
FORT BEND COUNTY IS PREPARED BECAUSE LEADERSHIP MEANS PLANNING AHEAD.
HURRICANE SEASON IS AROUND THE CORNER.
LIKE IT OR NOT, OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WILL BE READY.
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RIGHT, GREG? IT'S READY.OKAY. NO SCRAMBLING, NO REACTING.
READY? READY TO PROTECT LIVES.
MOST. THAT'S WHAT LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE.
AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS OFFICE WILL LEAD.
WE WILL SET A TONE OF PROFESSIONALISM, URGENCY AND SERVICE.
WE WILL BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, NOT PUSH THEM APART.
WE'LL FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS, NOT EXCUSES, BECAUSE FORT BEND COUNTY IS STRONGEST WHEN WE MOVE TO WORK AS ONE.
WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE AND WE GET TO WORK.
AFTER THIS LECTURE. I'M GOING TO MY OFFICE WORKING.
THERE ISN'T ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE EVERY RESIDENT KNOWS THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS WORKING FOR THEM, FIGHTING FOR THEM, AND DELIVERING FOR THEM.
FORT BEND COUNTY IS WORKING FOR YOU, AND TOGETHER THERE'S NOTHING WE CANNOT ACHIEVE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS FORT BEND COUNTY.
SINCE I HAVE YOU ALL STANDING, LET'S PRAY.
FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR TODAY.
WE THANK YOU. WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT NATION THAT WE CALL OUR OWN.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS AND ALL THAT IT MEANS.
BUT WE ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, THANK YOU FOR FORT BEND COUNTY AND FOR THE CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY, WHICH.
OUR COUNTY IS GROWING SO FAST AND WE NEED SUCH GREAT LEADERSHIP.
WE PRAY, FATHER, THAT WE WILL SEE THAT FORTHCOMING NOW, AND WE ASK YOUR BLESSING ON OUR COUNTY AND ON OUR FAMILIES, ON OUR STATE, ON OUR NATION.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR CEREMONIES.
THE JUDGE IS GOING TO BE HAVING A FEW PHOTO OPS AND THEN HE'S GOING TO WORK.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.