Galveston County Daily News, Oct. 23, 2007 Dr. John D. Stobo, executive director of academic programs and former president of UTMB, makes a case for renewal and extension of Galveston's sales tax for economic development. Jeff Sjostrom is co-author of the guest column. Stobo is chairman of the board of the Galveston Economic Development Partnership and Sjostrom is the organization's president.