Editing Stafford, Texas (section)

==Government and infrastructure==
[[File:City Hall Stafford Texas DSC 3262 ad.JPG|thumb|Stafford City Hall]]
[[Image:StaffordMC.JPG|thumb|right|The Stafford Municipal Complex is located in the southern part of the city off Staffordshire Road at Constitution Avenue.]]

===Local government===
The City of Stafford stopped levying nonschool property taxes in 1995. It is the only Houston-area city and the most populous city in Texas to do so. Sales and franchise taxes from businesses fund the city.<ref name="Leezerotaxes">Lee, Renée C. "[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6464089.html Property tax set at zero seems to suit Stafford]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. June 7, 2009. Retrieved on June 10, 2009.</ref>

From 1969 to 2020, Stafford's mayor was Leonard Scarcella. By 2018, he was the longest-serving mayor in the [[United States]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.staffordtx.gov/government/mayors-office/about-mayor-scarcella.html|title = About Mayor Scarcella}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fbindependent.com/stafford-to-celebrate-a-legend-years-of-mayor-scarcella-p13346-1.htm|title = Stafford to celebrate a legend, 50 years of Mayor Scarcella}}</ref> On June 28, 2020, Scarcella died at age 79.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abc13.com/mayor-of-stafford-dies-history-leonard-scarcella-death/6278560/|title=Mayor Leonard Scarcella of Stafford dies at age 79|date=28 June 2020}}</ref> In December 2020, Cecil Willis was elected mayor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Cecil Willis|url=https://www.staffordtx.gov/government/mayors-office/about-mayor-willis.html|access-date=2021-02-18|website=www.staffordtx.gov}}</ref>

The Stafford City Hall, Stafford Police Department, and Municipal Court buildings are on South Main, adjacent to one another.<ref>"[http://www.cityofstafford.com/government_departments/city_departments/police_department.htm Stafford Police Department]." City of Stafford. Retrieved on June 12, 2009.</ref> The Stafford Volunteer Fire Department operates out of three fire stations.<ref>"[http://www.cityofstafford.com/city_services/fire_department.htm Stafford Volunteer Fire Department]." City of Stafford. Retrieved on June 12, 2009.</ref>

The city is governed by its Home Rule Charter, which resembles the [[United States Constitution|US Constitution]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.staffordtx.gov/documents/home-rule-charter.pdf|title=Stafford Home Rule Charter}}</ref> The Charter Review Commission reviews the charter every five years. The most recent review was in 2018. The commission consisted of:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://staffordtx.suiteonemedia.com/web/Player.aspx?id=1095&key=-1&mod=-1&mk=-1&nov=0|title=Home Rule Charter Review Commission|website=staffordtx.suiteonemedia.com|access-date=2018-07-04}}</ref>

Ash Hamirani

Jonathan Montoya

Hector Acevedo

Christeen Seymour

Lawrence Vaccaro Jr.

Vice Chairperson Ettienne Zak

Chairperson Robert Sorbet

===County, state, and federal representation===
Stafford is partly in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]] and partly in [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]]. Residents pay property taxes to their respective counties.<ref name="Leezerotaxes"/>

Harris County Precinct One, headed by Commissioner [[Rodney Ellis]], serves the section of Stafford in Harris County.<ref>"[http://www.pct3.hctx.net/aboutprecinct/allprecincts.aspx Precinct Maps : All Precincts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108112234/http://www.pct3.hctx.net/aboutprecinct/allprecincts.aspx |date=2009-01-08 }}." ''[[Harris County, Texas]]''. Retrieved on May 2, 2012.</ref><ref>"[http://www.co.harris.tx.us/comm_lee/  Welcome to the Harris County Precinct One Website!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216171659/http://www.co.harris.tx.us/comm_lee/ |date=December 16, 2008 }}." ''[[Harris County, Texas]]''. Retrieved on May 2, 2012.</ref>

Much of Stafford is in [[Texas House of Representatives, District 26|District 26]] of the [[Texas House of Representatives]]. As of 2012, [[Charles F. Howard|Charlie Howard]] represents the district.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20041027092305/http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/pdf/districts/26.pdf District 26]." ''[[Texas House of Representatives]]''. Retrieved on December 5, 2008.</ref> Some of Stafford is in [[Texas House of Representatives, District 27|District 27]] of the [[Texas House of Representatives]]. As of 2012, [[Ron Reynolds (Texas politician)|Ron Reynolds]] represents the district.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20031018061746/http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/pdf/districts/27.pdf District 27]." ''[[Texas House of Representatives]]''. Retrieved on May 2, 2012.</ref> Most of Stafford is in [[Texas Senate, District 13|District 13]] of the [[Texas Senate]], represented by [[Borris L. Miles]].<ref>"[http://www.senate.state.tx.us/Icons/Dist_Maps/Dist13_Map.pdf Senate District 13] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628202736/http://www.senate.state.tx.us/Icons/Dist_Maps/Dist13_Map.pdf |date=2011-06-28 }}" Map. ''[[Senate of Texas]]''. Retrieved on May 2, 2012.</ref> Some of Stafford is in [[Texas Senate, District 17|District 17]] of the [[Texas Senate]], represented by [[Joan Huffman]].<ref>"[http://www.senate.state.tx.us/Icons/Dist_Maps/Dist17_Map.pdf Senate District 17] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219040031/http://www.senate.state.tx.us/Icons/Dist_Maps/Dist17_Map.pdf |date=2008-12-19 }}" Map. ''[[Senate of Texas]]''. Retrieved on May 2, 2012.</ref>
[[File:StaffordPOTX.JPG|thumb|left|Stafford Post Office]]
Stafford is in [[Texas's 22nd congressional district]]. As of 2021, [[Troy Nehls]] represents the district.<ref>"[http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/tx22_109.gif Congressional District 22] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609193344/http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/TX22_109.gif |date=2012-06-09 }}." ''[[National Atlas of the United States]]''. Retrieved on May 2, 2012.</ref>

The [[U.S. Postal Service]] operates the Stafford Post Office.<ref>"[https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input.action?locationTypeQ=all&address=Stafford%2C+TX&radius=20&locationType=po&locationID=1383227&locationName=STAFFORD&address2=&address1=4110+BLUEBONNET+DR&city=STAFFORD&state=TX&zip5=77477&zip4=9998&tollFree=800-ASK-USPS%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B%28800-275-8777%29&fax=281-240-4318&tAddress=&tAddress1Ams=&tAddress2Ams=&tCityAms=&tStateAms=&tZipAms=&tCarrierRouteAms=&latitude=29.6358624&longitude=-95.57268&sWithin=20&&&&&&&&& STAFFORD]." [[U.S. Postal Service]]. Retrieved on April 24, 2018. "4110 BLUEBONNET DR STAFFORD, TX 77477-9998"</ref> Some locations in Houston have Stafford mailing addresses.<ref name=KingwoodannexQ's>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/annexation/annexation_FAQ.html|title=City of Houston Annexation FAQ|publisher=City of Houston|date=1996-10-31|access-date=2018-04-24|quote=Numerous residents of the City of Houston have Missouri City, Webster, Friendswood, Stafford, Humble and even Kingwood addresses.|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961031170034/http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/annexation/annexation_FAQ.html|archive-date=1996-10-31}}</ref>

Fort Bend County does not have a [[hospital district]]. [[OakBend Medical Center]] serves as the county's [[charity hospital]] which the county contracts with. Harris County has a hospital district, [[Harris Health]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Knipp|first=Bethany|url=https://communityimpact.com/news/2016/11/02/fort-bend-county-lacks-hospital-district/|title=Fort Bend County lacks hospital district|newspaper=[[Community Impact Newspaper]]|date=2016-11-02|accessdate=2021-10-18}}</ref>