Fort Bend ISD trustee election won by candidates who opposed controversial book and gender policies
Two candidates who expressed opposition to gender identity and book removal polices adopted by Fort Bend ISD have been elected to serve on the school board, according to unofficial results from Saturday’s election.
Afshi Charania’s win against board vice president Rick Garcia, along with Angie Wierzbicki’s win of a seat being vacated by David Hamilton, represent a shift in the board's makeup following several controversial decisions by trustees, including a gender fluidity policy passed in April and a book removal policy passed last year. The gender policy requires school district administrators to notify parents if their children ask to be called by a pronoun that does not align with their gender assigned at birth, while the board gave the Fort Bend ISD superintendent direct authority over community challenges to library materials, bypassing a book review committee.
Charania and Wierzbicki campaigned against both policies, which were supported by Garcia and Hamilton.
"Throughout this campaign, I've been inspired by your stories, your hopes for our schools and your unwavering commitment to our children's futures,” Wierzbicki wrote in a Facebook post after her win. "Together, we share a vision of an inclusive, high-performing public school district where every student feels valued, supported and prepared for success."
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/elections/2025/05/05/520560/fort-bend-isd-trustee-rick-garcia-unseated-by-afshi-charania-angie-wierzbicki-wins-open-seat/