Jan 02, 2024 Special Meeting (January 2, 2024)

[00:00:04]

HIT IT.

IF THE AUDIENCE, IF EVERYONE WOULD, UH, PLEASE COME TO ORDER.

I CALL THIS INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.

[INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

GOT TO PROVIDE TODAY'S INVOCATION.

HE'S COMING.

MICHAEL, YOU HAVE ONE MORE PRAYER IN YOU, .

YOU WOULD JOIN ME NOW IN THIS PRAYER OF INVOCATION.

WE'RE NOT INVOKING THE PRESENCE AND THE POWER OF GOD, WHICH IS ALREADY EVERYWHERE PRESENT.

BUT INSTEAD, WE INVOKE OUR AWARENESS AND OUR RECEPTIVITY TO ALLOW THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO MOVE THROUGH THIS BODY, THROUGH THIS ROOM, TO DO THE WORK THAT IS THEIRS, TO DO DIVINE CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE AND CREATIVITY TO ATTACK THESE PROBLEMS, DIVINE POWER TO CREATE LASTING AND EFFECTIVE CHANGE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

AN OVERALL DIVINE PEACE AND HARMONY TO GUARD HEARTS AND MINDS THAT THIS WORK MAY BE DONE IN THAT FLOW OF DIVINE GOOD.

THANK YOU GOD.

AMEN.

AMEN.

AMEN.

THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

IF Y'ALL WILL JOIN ME IN RISING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THANK YOU.

YOU BE SEATED.

MADAM

[11:00 AM - ROLL CALL]

PRESENT.

COUNCILMAN PECK HERE.

COUNCILMAN JACKSON? HERE.

COUNCIL MCCAIN.

PRESENT.

COUNCILMAN EVAN CHAVA.

HERE.

COUNCILMAN FLICKINGER.

PRESENT.

COUNCIL THOMAS PRESENT.

COUNCIL HUFFMAN PRESENT.

COUNCIL CASTILLO PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ.

PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTEX TATUM.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.

HERE.

COUNCILMAN DAVIS.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.

PRESENT.

COUNCILMAN PLUMMER HERE.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN HERE.

NO MINUTES DOUBT.

THERE ARE NO MINUTES AT THIS TIME.

LET'S KEEP GOING.

BEFORE THIS NOW,

[1.  CONFIRM appointment of Mayor Pro Tem]

ITEM ONE IS A, A MOTION TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR PRO TEM.

MINUTES CALL SECOND PRO TEM, NOT VICE.

ANY DISCUSSION? PRO IS COUNCILMAN.

NO, I'M PROUD TO, UH, ANNOUNCE IT.

MARTHA CA TATUM MAYOR PRO.

MY FIRST, MY FIRST OFFICIAL ACT AND I COULD NOT BE ANY CROWDER.

THANK YOU.

I'VE WORKED WITH THE COUNCIL IN TATUM, CAST AS TATUM FOR YEARS.

UM, HER PUBLIC SERVICE AS WELL RECOGNIZED CONSTITUENT SERVICE, RAN UNOPPOSED, WHICH IS DIFFICULT IN THESE DAYS.

BUT, UH, I'M LOOKING VERY FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND YOU PROVIDING US YOUR LEADERSHIP.

I THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

THANK YOU.

WE'RE GONNA VOTE.

MADAM SECRETARY FAVOR? ALL IN FAVOR? UH, ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

ITEM NUMBER

[2.  RECEIVE nominations for appointment of Vice Mayor Pro Tem]

ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS? HUFFMAN, I'LL FIND YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN HUFFMAN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER AMY P OH SECOND.

COUNCIL

[3.  CONFIRM appointment of Vice Mayor Pro Tem]

I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THE MOTION.

OKAY.

IT'S BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? CHAIR? HEARING NONE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

[00:05:10]

YES, SHE'LL ANNOUNCE IT.

OKAY.

ITEM

[4.  

RECOMMENDATION from the Director Administration & Regulatory Affairs for purchase and approval of individual Fidelity Bond Form for JOHN WHITMIRE, MAYOR in the sum of $50,000.00 and CHRIS HOLLINS, CITY CONTROLLER in the sum of $50,000.00 as required by the City Charter and the Code of Ordinances - $1,400.00 - Total Premium - Property and Casualty Fund

AND CHRIS HOLLAND CITY CONTROLLER IN THE SUM $50,000 AS REQUIRED BY THE CITY CHARTER AND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.

IS THERE A MOTION? YES.

SECOND.

A MOVE TO SECOND.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? NO ONE OPPOSED.

SO PASSES.

I'M BO, I'M BONDED.

THANK Y'ALL.

, UH, AND MEMBERS THAT COMPLETES THE AGENDA FOR TODAY.

AND THIS IS NOW THE MOMENT WHERE WE CAN INTRODUCE OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES TO THOSE WATCHING ON HTV AND THOSE HERE IN THE CHAMBER.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE SOME MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY HERE TODAY, WHICH I PROUDLY INTRODUCED AT OUR CEREMONY.

SARAH AND WHITNEY, UH, OR SOMEWHERE.

WHITNEY MEYER.

JENKINS.

SARAH, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE.

UH, OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

OKAY.

UH, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS.

UH, I WOULD START CALLING YOU OUT BY NAME, BUT I'M GONNA LEAVE SOMEONE OUT.

SO, I DID SEE CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN, WHERE WE'RE HONORED WITH YOUR PRESENCE.

AL WE'RE GONNA NEED YOUR HELP.

LONG TIME FRIEND, A COLLEAGUE OF MINE FROM THE STATE SENATE, CAROL ATA CAROL.

AND, AND IF THERE'S OTHERS, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA.

CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, CONGRESSWOMAN JACKSON LEE, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN JACKSON LEE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

LET ME JUST COMMENT THAT THE, UH, CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WILL PLAY A REAL ACTIVE ROLE IN, IN OUR, UH, ADMINISTRATION, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY RECEIVE, APPRECIATE ANY SUPPORT, AND Y'ALL ALL HAVE A RECORD OF SUPPORTING THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE FUTURE.

SO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.

IT'S A REAL PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE OUR CITY CONTROLLER, CONTROLLER, HOLLINS.

UH, THE MIC IS YOURS AND, UH, WE WERE HONORED THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU, UH, MR. MAYOR, AND TO THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE RETURNING, AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NEWLY ELECTED, UH, CONGRATULATIONS.

UH, IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.

IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE FORMALLY SWORN IN, UH, AS YOUR CITY CONTROLLER.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT YOU CARRY THAT SAME FEELING OF, OF PRIVILEGE, AND, AND OF BEING HUMBLED BY THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON.

AND SO I THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING ALONGSIDE, UH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

NOW, I'M GONNA TURN TO MY FAMILY.

I'M NOT TURNING MY BACK ON Y'ALL, BUT I'M TURNING TO MY FAMILY.

I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, MY FATHER GEORGE, IF YOU WOULD STAND MY MOTHER, CHRISTIE.

UH, I LOVE Y'ALL SO MUCH.

I DON'T WANNA SAY TOO MUCH 'CAUSE I'M GONNA START CRYING UP HERE.

, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ME, UH, TO BE ROLE MODELS FOR WHAT IT MEANS TO, UH, WALK WITH GOD AND, UM, TO LIVE WITH INTEGRITY.

THANK YOU.

YOU WELCOME, UH, MY WIFE MORGAN.

PLEASE STAND AND BE ACKNOWLEDGED.

, SOME OF Y'ALL, MY KIDS ARE TERRORIZING SOME OTHER PART OF CITY HALL RIGHT NOW.

, UH, MORGAN, THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO, TO GET US HERE.

THANK YOU FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU'VE MADE.

I APPRECIATE YOU.

UH, I HAVE MANY, MANY OTHER MEMBERS, UH, OF MY FAMILY WHO MAY BE WATCHING, UH,

[00:10:01]

UH, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL, UM, SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THIS CAMPAIGN, THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.

LIFE'S BEEN DONE TO SUPPORT US.

I, IT, IT MEANS SO MUCH.

AND, UM, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR ENTRUSTING ME, UH, WITH THIS INCREDIBLE POST, UH, AND THIS INCREDIBLE RESPONSIBILITY.

UH, AS WE TALKED ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, WE'RE GONNA BE FOCUSED ON ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SERVING THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON IN THE WAY, UH, THAT EACH OF US DESERVES.

WE'RE GONNA BE FOCUSED ON TRANSPARENCY, MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THESE CHAMBERS AND ACROSS THIS CITY, UH, AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY'RE INVESTING IN US, AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT INVESTMENT IS PAYING A DIVIDEND IN THEIR LIVES AND IN THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILIES.

AND FINALLY, WE'RE GONNA BE FOCUSED ON, ON INNOVATION.

MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING NEW IDEAS AND BRINGING BEST PRACTICES TO EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN STEP UP OUR GAME SO THAT WE CAN SOLVE THESE CHALLENGES.

UH, MR. MAYOR, UH, WHICH YOU SO ELOQUENTLY DESCRIBED TODAY DURING YOUR REMARKS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.

MAKING SURE THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS ONE THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF, AND ONE THAT CONTINUES TO BE BETTER FOR THE KIDS THAT WE'RE RAISING, UH, IN THIS CITY.

AND, AND ULTIMATELY AS YOUR CITY CONTROLLER, AS YOUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT IN A WAY THAT'S EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE.

UH, AND THAT'S SETTING US ON A PATH, UH, TOWARDS FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY.

AND SO, AGAIN, UH, I'LL STOP THERE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING ALONGSIDE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

UH, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

THANK YOU.

HOUSTON.

I'M SORRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.

NO, SHE WAS JUST TELLING YOUR MIC WAS ON.

I GOT IT.

I WAS GONNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

WE ALL REP CERTAINLY REPRESENT THE SAME HOUSTONIANS, SO THANK YOU.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

NOW, MEMBERS, UH, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UM, MAYOR PROM TATUM, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR WHITMEYER.

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

I'M SO HONORED, I'M SO HONORED TO SIT HERE TODAY.

UM, NOT ONLY AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM, BUT AS A RETURNING COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING THE INCREDIBLE DISTRICT A, UH, IN THIS WONDERFUL CITY OF HOUSTON.

UH, STANDING BEHIND ME IS MY SON, JACOB, PAUL TATUM.

HE IS MY GREATEST INSPIRATION, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT HE WAS ABLE TO ESCORT ME TODAY.

AND IN THE AUDIENCE ARE MY PARENTS.

AND I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE, IF YOU'VE EVER HEARD ME SPEAK IN OUR, ANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, THAT THERE IS A GREAT LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY WHEN YOU ARE THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR YOUR MOM AND DAD.

AND MY PARENTS ARE HERE TODAY, ROLAND AND ELENE CASTEX.

UH, MY SISTER, MY NIECES A HOST OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

MY SORORITY SISTERS, MY LINK SISTERS ARE ALL HERE TODAY, UM, TO CELEBRATE HOUSTON.

AND WHEN I WAS FIRST INAUGURATED IN 2016, THERE WERE FIVE WOMEN ON CITY COUNCIL.

TODAY WE HAVE 10, AND WE ENJOY SERVING WITH THE MEN ON COUNCIL.

BUT WHEN THERE IS A SUPER MAJORITY OF WOMEN ON HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL, WE ARE MAKING A STATEMENT THAT WOMEN ARE HERE TO SERVE AND TO LEAD.

AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WOMEN ON COUNCIL.

UH, I HAVE TRAVELED AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THERE ARE NOT VERY MANY CITY COUNCILS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS OR THE COUNTRY THAT LOOK LIKE THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

SO I'M SO PROUD TO SIT WITH EACH OF YOU.

I ALSO WANNA THANK MY INCREDIBLE STAFF.

WE RAN UNOPPOSED THIS LAST TIME, AND A LOT OF THAT WORK WAS DUE TO THE INCREDIBLE STAFF THAT I HAVE AT CITY HALL.

UH, MY DISTRICT, A CHIEF OF STAFF DE DE CHAVIS, MY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, JOE GADSON, UH, COMMUNICATIONS KIM DAVIS AND OUR DIRECTORS OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES, UH, MELVIN HOPKINS.

THANK YOU, UH, FOR ALL OF THE GREAT WORK, UH, AND BARBARA HEIGHT THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO IN OUR DISTRICT A OFFICE.

UM, MAYA ANGELO SAID, I DO MY BEST BECAUSE I'M COUNTING ON YOU, COUNTING ON ME.

AND SO HOUSTON, I WILL DO MY BEST BECAUSE I'M COUNTING ON YOU, COUNTING ON ME.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO WORK FOR THIS GREAT CITY.

COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER BECK, OUR THANK YOU MAYOR, ASSISTANT PRO TEM .

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES, UM, FOR VOTING FOR ME FOR AS VICE MAYOR PRO

[00:15:01]

IT'S A JOB THAT I, UM, WILL TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY AND VERY APPRECIATIVE.

AND I KNOW THAT I CAN BUILD ON THE GREAT WORK THAT MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM DID AS VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, TO REALLY USE THAT POSITION TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND BE A VOICE FOR COUNCIL.

SO THANK YOU IS, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME.

UM, STANDING BEHIND ME IS MY FIANCE, JORDAN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

ALWAYS, UM, SUPPORTING EVERYTHING THAT I DO AND THIS CAREER.

AND I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK, UM, FOR ALL OF OUR FAMILIES TO JUMP INTO, UM, SUPPORTING US.

SO THANK YOU.

UM, ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE, I HAVE MY PARENTS, ARLENE AND DAVID, THEY ARE THE MOST SUPPORTIVE PARENTS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

MY MOM WATCHES EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL SESSION AND PUBLIC SESSION, AND I KNOW SHE'S EXCITED TO WATCH WITH THE NEW COUNCIL, UM, HERE.

AND MY SISTER ALLISON AND HER HUSBAND DAN, AND, UH, MY NIECE AND NEPHEW ADAM AND ARI ARE IN FROM OUTTA TOWN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

AND MY KIDS, ABIGAIL AND ANNABEL, UM, THEY ARE SUCH TROOPERS, ALWAYS COMING WITH ME TO MEETINGS AND, UM, LETTING ME LEAVE TO GO TO MEETINGS.

AND SO JUST SO APPRECIATIVE OF MY KIDS AND ALSO MY STAFF, UM, LIZ, SARAH, JOSIE, AND ALAN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, WE ALSO RAN UNOPPOSED, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT, THAT THE STAFF DOES.

WE AS, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS OUR STAFF, AND THEY ARE AMAZING AND CANNOT THANK THEM ENOUGH.

AND FINALLY, TO DISTRICT A THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR FLOOD MITIGATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES TO BE IMPROVED.

AND MAYOR, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THOSE ISSUES IN DISTRICT A AND I KNOW YOU'RE SO SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING ALL OF THAT FORWARD.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

AND AS YOU SAID IN YOUR INAUGURATION, LET'S GET TO WORK.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MARTINEZ.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, SO I'LL FIRST START OFF BY SAYING THAT IT'S BEEN A LONG PATIENT JOURNEY.

UH, BUT DISTRICT I IS NO, UH, STRANGER TO ME.

I USED TO WORK FOR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN CASTILLO BACK IN THE LATE NINETIES.

AND SO TO BE HERE, IT'S A FULL CIRCLE OF SERVICE, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.

UM, I'M HERE WITH MY, MY WIFE, MY KIDS.

UM, MY CAMPAIGN HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT FAMILY.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT FAITH, IT'S BEEN ABOUT COMMUNITY.

AND SO I'M HAPPY TO, TO, YOU KNOW, SHARE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND DISTRICT.

I, UH, MY FAMILY, WHICH IS MYA, MY, MY WIFE, MY OLDEST, UH, JOAQUIN, UH, THEN JULIAN LUCAS, WHO'S WITH ME, AND KALINA, WHO'S WITH MY WIFE, UM, IN THE AUDIENCE.

UM, MY IN-LAWS ARE HERE, UH, JUDITH AND JUAN OLGUIN.

MY, UH, MY FATHER'S BROTHER, MY UNCLE LUIS MARTINEZ, MY COUSIN AMANDA, AND THEN MY MOTHER, UH, MARIA MARTINEZ.

UM, AND BEFORE I, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT ARE ACROSS THE, THE STREET, I HAVE, UH, 10 SIBLINGS, UH, NINE OF 'EM THAT ARE HERE.

UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR CONTINUING TO HAVE FAITH IN WHAT I'M DOING.

UM, AND WE'RE HERE BECAUSE THE SPIRIT OF MY FATHER STILL IS WITH US AS WELL.

UM, AND SO KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TOUGH, THE TOUGH, UH, WAYS OF, OF BEING BROUGHT UP IN A LATINO COMMUNITY IN THE EAST END FAMILY OF 12, UH, KNOW THAT THAT WORK ETHIC IS COMING WITH ME TO THE HORSESHOE, KNOW THAT I'M EXCITED AND EAGER TO GET TO WORK WITH MY COS COLLEAGUES AS WELL.

UH, AND WITH THE MAYOR, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, SIMILARITIES IN OUR PLATFORM, PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WANNA MAKE SURE THAT CITY SERVICES ARE PRIORITIZED AS WELL.

SO KNOW THAT YOU'LL HAVE A CHAMPION HERE WITHIN DISTRICT.

I, UH, FOR THE DISTRICT, I RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU AGAIN, WE'RE, NO, WE'RE NOT STRANGERS.

WE'VE BEEN AROUND EACH OTHER FOR SO LONG.

UM, AND NOW I GET TO SERVE YOU ALL AS YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.

SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND, UM, GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU ALL, MAYOR.

I, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

UM, YOUR UNIFIED APPROACH, UH, TO LEADERSHIP IS SOMETHING THAT I STAND BEHIND AND STAND WITH YOU ON.

SO EXCITED TO SERVE WITH YOU, UH, TO THE CONTROLLER, CHRIS HOLLINS.

UH, THIS IS A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR US.

WE GRADUATED FROM MOREHOUSE COLLEGE, THE EXACT SAME YEAR, THE EXACT SAME MAJOR SITTING IN THE EXACT SAME CLASS.

SO, UH, FROM THE HALLS OF MOREHOUSE TO NOW CITY HALL, I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH YOU AS, AS WELL TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE AROUND THIS DAIS.

I WANT TO SAY, UH, THAT I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED AND PROUD AND HONORED TO SERVE WITH YOU ALL.

UH, FOR THOSE WHO ARE RETURNING, UH, THE COLLABORATION AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE BEFORE, I LOOK FORWARD TO PUSHING IT FORWARD AND TO THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR IDEAS AND HAVE YOUR SPIRIT IN THIS CHAMBER AS WELL.

UH, STANDING BEHIND ME IS MY WIFE, VANESSA.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT IN THE AUDIENCE IS MY, UH, BROTHERS DONALD AND MICHAEL, AS WELL AS MY CHILDREN, NADIA AND EJ.

UH, MY DAD IS AT HOME WATCHING, UH, MY MOTHER'S LOOKING DOWN FROM HEAVEN.

ALL MY FAMILY

[00:20:01]

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SACRIFICES AND SUPPORT TO MY STAFF, PAUL, DAVID, FRANCIS, MISTY, AND NOW DENNIS.

UM, I CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT YOU ALL.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS AND TO THE DISTRICT J CONSTITUENTS AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

I REMAIN HONORED AND HUMBLED TO REPRESENT YOU ALL.

SO GOD BLESS YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

STANDING BEHIND ME IS GEORGE ALCORN, MY HUSBAND, EVERYBODY KNOWS HIM.

UH, , HE RUNS RIGHT ALONGSIDE ME.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, HONEY.

I LOVE YOU ALWAYS.

UH, MY KIDS ARE HERE, MAYOR, LIKE YOU SAID, NO MATTER HOW MANY PLAQUES, AND I DON'T HAVE VERY MANY PLAQUES OR REWARDS, BUT MY BEST ACHIEVEMENT ARE MY KIDS.

I'VE GOT ALL FOUR HERE, GEORGIE, MARIA, AND HER HUSBAND, MIKE, JANIE AND SUSIE.

SO, JUST PROUD OF THEM AND HAPPY THAT THEY'RE HERE.

UM, WE'VE GOT SOME BOYFRIENDS, AUSTIN AND EMILY, AND, UH, THOMAS ISN'T HERE, BUT HI THOMAS.

AND MY SISTER JANIE IS HERE AND HER HUSBAND MARK.

I'M SO EXCITED THEY'RE HERE.

UM, THA I WAS OPPOSED SADLY.

BUT, UH, SO THANKS TO MY, UH, CAMPAIGN STAFF, JAMES CARDONA AND KIM JESSOP.

THEY WERE AMAZING.

THANK YOU TO MY STAFF.

STAFF, MY COUNCIL STAFF, JORDAN, AND JULIA AND KATIE AND JUSTICE.

AMAZING WORK.

YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST.

UH, I THINK THAT'S EVERYBODY.

OH, STEVE COSTELLO.

STEVE COSTELLO, MAN, MY, MY JUST, UH, MY MENTOR AND JUST THE GUY THAT GOT ME INTO ALL THIS AND, AND JUST THE, THE BEST PUBLIC SERVANT.

HE AND DEBBIE, I KNOW DEBBIE'S HERE.

STEVE'S PROBABLY WORKING AWAY GETTING SOME FLOODING STUFF DONE.

NO, I THINK I SEE HIM BACK THERE.

ANYWAY, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

UM, LET'S GET TO WORK.

COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND MAYOR, CONGRATULATIONS.

IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE ON THIS ICE WITH YOU.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO ALL OF MY, UM, CURRENT COLLEAGUES AND NEW COLLEAGUES.

UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU AS WELL.

IT'S GONNA BE, UM, A LOT OF GREAT WORK FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND IT'S EXCITING.

I LIKE MY FRIEND HERE.

WE'RE OPPOSED AS WELL, .

UM, BUT WE DID AN AMAZING JOB.

SO FIRST I WANNA THANK THE OVER 90,000 HOUSTONIANS THAT CLICKED THAT BOX AND REELECTED ME.

THIS IS MY LIFE'S PASSION, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS EVERYTHING IT NEEDS IN THIS SPACE OF QUALITY OF LIFE.

THAT IS WHAT I LOVE AND, AND, AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.

I AM JOINED BY MY TWO SONS, HARRISON AND SHARIF.

MY MAXI IS AT HOME WITH THE COUGH AND FLU, SO HE'S WATCHING ONLINE.

UM, I MISS MY GRANDMOTHER.

SHE WALKED ME LAST YEAR, LAST, LAST TIME.

I MISS HER.

SHE'S WALKING, WATCHING FROM HEAVEN.

BUT MY DAD, UM, ESCORTED ME.

MY FATHER, MATTHEW PLUMMER ESCORTED ME TODAY.

AND THEY'RE IN THE AUDIENCE WITH MY MOM FOR SEE A PLUMBER.

THEY'RE HERE.

I'M ALSO JOINED BY MY BROTHER, WHO IS MY ROCK.

AND, UM, AND THEN MY COUSIN VISITING FROM EAST AFRICA.

UH, FATIMA MUSA, SHE'S HERE AS WELL.

UM, I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF, UM, MAN, VERONICA CC CATHERINE, UM, FOR, AND KEVIN FOR REALLY SUPPORTING US AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GOT BACK IN HERE AGAIN.

AND THEN MY CAMPAIGN STAFF FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE FOUGHT HARD AND MADE SURE WE GOT THIS WIN.

SO, HOUSTON, THANK YOU.

I AM READY TO ROLL MY SLEEVES UP AND GET THIS JOB DONE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN PLUMMER AND ALCORN.

I'VE RUN OPPOSED AND UNOPPOSED.

AND UNOPPOSED IS A LOT BETTER.

, I CAN TELL YOU.

VERIFY THAT.

YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.

WELL, SPEAKING OF OPPOSED, I HAD EIGHT OTHERS IN MY RACE, SO I GET IT.

SO ON, ON A, ON A LONG JOURNEY, WE MADE IT HERE.

AND, UM, FIRST OFF, I, I WANNA BE SURE TO THANK, UH, THE ASTROS FANS IN THE ROOM THAT VOTED FOR ME.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT REALLY HELPED A LOT.

BUT, UH, I'VE GOT A HUGE, UH, CIRCLE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS HERE TODAY.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT BEHIND ME, MY TWO SONS, WE'VE GOT TRAVIS AND JUSTIN CARTER, AND THEN MY LITTLE SISTER, CELIA CASTON.

UM, I'VE, MY LIFE, I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR THOSE YOUNGER, THESE ARE THE THREE YOUNGER ONES BEHIND ME HERE.

AND, UH, I, I FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS HAD A SERVANT'S HEART AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING SERVICE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU, BUT ALSO TO, TO JUST GET TO LEARN FROM, FROM ALL OF YOU AND, AND GREAT PEOPLE.

I'M SO EXCITED, SO GRATEFUL, MOST IMPORTANT, GRATEFUL TO THE VOTERS WHO, WHO BROUGHT US HERE TODAY.

AND AS I TELL EVERYBODY, I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKING THIS A BETTER CITY.

SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS EVANS SHABAZZ.

THANK YOU.

[00:25:01]

I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO SERVE DISTRICT DI AM COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT D, WHAT I CALL THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.

AND CERTAINLY I DID HAVE SOME PEOPLE TO COME FOR ME, BUT I DID TELL THEM THAT A FIGHT CAME WITH IT.

AND SO, UH, THANK GOD THAT I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE.

I CERTAINLY, I HAVE MY FAMILY IN HERE.

I HAVE MY, MY BROTHER, BERT, UH, MY SISTER IN LOVE, HIS WIFE ELLE, MY SISTER KATHY.

UH, MY NIECE OLIVIA, MY SISTER THAT LIVES IN NEBRASKA, CHARLOTTE, AND HER, HER DAUGHTER IS ON HER WAY.

MY FRIEND ANNETTE.

YEAH, I TOOK UP MORE SEATS THAN I WAS SUPPOSED TO.

AND, UH, CRYSTAL AND CHLOE.

I ALSO WANT TO, UH, SAY IN LIGHT WITH WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD SAID, WE KINDA HAVE A SPELL HOUSE HERE GOING ON WITH, UH, WITH, UH, OUR CONTROLLER, HOLLANDS A COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND THEN LETITIA PLUMMER AND I, WE ALL GRADUATED FROM MOREHOUSE AND SPELMAN COLLEGE, WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE HBCU, BY THE WAY.

AND SO CERTAINLY I AM VERY GLAD TO BE HERE.

ALSO, THE SPIRIT OF MY PARENTS, UH, DOC EVANS, WHO WAS THE BASKETBALL COACH AT YATES, MY MOTHER, WHO WAS AN EDUCATOR, MY GRANDFATHER, WHO WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF PRAIRIE VIEW, A AND M UNIVERSITY, CERTAINLY MY GRANDPARENTS AND MY BELOVED BROTHER, MARK, WHO REALLY WAS THE MAYOR OF THIRD WARD.

AND CERTAINLY, UH, THEY ALL CAN'T COME INTO PLAY.

THEY COVER ME.

AND CERTAINLY, I THANK GOD FOR BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE IN THIS SEAT.

AND THANK YOU, DISTRICT D, YOU CAME OUT IN NUMBERS, UH, BOTH TIMES ACTUALLY.

AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL PLACING YOUR CONFIDENCE IN ME TO CONTINUE TO DO THE SERVICE FOR DISTRICT D.

I CERTAINLY NEED TO CHECK, UH, THANK MY CHIEF OF STAFF, STEVEN, JAMES, UH, COREY, UH, INGRAM AND TUCKER, WHO MAINTAINED THE OFFICE WHILE I WAS RUNNING AROUND LIKE A CHICKEN WITH THEIR NECK CUT OFF.

AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU FOR HELPING ME TO STAY IN PLACES AND TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.

SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE SO WE CAN DO THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE CITY, BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S WHAT MY HEART IS, AND THAT IS MY CALLING.

AND I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

COUNCILMAN COSTELLO.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES.

UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH YOU ALL AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE GONNA GET TO DO ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

UH, STANDING BEHIND ME TODAY IS MY HUSBAND, JOEL, WHO HAS BEEN, UH, THE ABSOLUTE BEST PARTNER ON THIS JOURNEY, UH, THAT I COULD HAVE EVER ASKED FOR, AND HAS MADE A, A GRUELING CAMPAIGN JUST A LITTLE EASIER.

BUT, UH, WE'RE ALL HERE NOW, AND I WANNA THANK HIM FOR, FOR ALL OF HIS SUPPORT, UH, OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND ALSO TO MY FAMILY.

WE HAVE IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, MY MOM, MY DAD, MY SISTER, NIECES, NEPHEWS, UNCLES, THEY'RE ALL THERE.

UM, THIS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU ALL.

UM, FROM BEING THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE, ALL THE SUPPORT THEY'VE GIVEN ME, UH, TO, TO HERE, TO REPRESENTING THE DISTRICT I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN WHERE THEY ALL STILL LIVE, UH, IT'S A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT.

I'M INCREDIBLY, UH, GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THEIR SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN.

AND, UH, EVEN MY IN-LAWS FROM SEYMOUR, WISCONSIN, JUST, UH, A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF GREEN BAY, MADE THE TRIP DOWN.

KAREN, RICK, UH, TROY, SAM, AND THE NIECES AND NEPHEWS, CAMDEN AND JOSIE.

UM, THEY'RE ENJOYING OUR WARM WEATHER DOWN HERE.

UM, BUT I APPRECIATE, UH, I APPRECIATE THEM MAKING THE JOURNEY DOWN TO, TO BE A PART OF THIS DAY AND, AND THE SUPPORT THEY HAVE SHOWN AS WELL.

UM, I WANNA THANK THE STAFF WHO HELPED, UH, ON THE CAMPAIGN, ALL THE HARD WORK THEY PUT IN, AS WELL AS THE FOLKS COMING ON BOARD TO BE A PART OF THE DISTRICT H OFFICE, UM, AND TO THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT H.

UH, I AM INCREDIBLY HONORED TO HAVE EARNED YOUR TRUST AND YOUR SUPPORT.

I DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY.

I'M READY TO GET TO WORK, TO WORK HARD, TO BE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THE DISTRICT, UH, TO BE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY AS WELL.

AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, TO WORKING WITH YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.

SIR, THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND CERTAINLY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, BECOMING THE MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY.

LET ME FIRST BEGIN BY SAYING I'M VERY HUMBLED AND HONORED TO, UH, BE IN THIS POSITION.

UH, I RESPONDED

[00:30:01]

AND I'M GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THIS GREAT CITY AND TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO MAKE HOUSTON A BETTER CITY.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THIS CITY, AND, UH, I HAVE SERVED, UH, FROM THIS CITY, UM, MY COUNTRY THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF AS A VETERAN AND OTHERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIFE OR THE ALL OF US COULD HAVE THE FREEDOMS THAT WE SHARE.

SO I'M GRATEFUL TO DO THAT AND, UH, AND I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING HOUSTON BETTER AS I KNOW IT.

I'VE ALWAYS TALKED AND BRAGGED ABOUT HOUSTON.

EVERYWHERE I GO ACROSS THIS NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD, AND I'M, I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF THE COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN AND, UH, CERTAINLY EVEN FEELING LIKE THE MINORITY AMONG 10 WOMEN.

BUT I GUESS IT'S ALL RIGHT.

UM, I'M GRATEFUL MY FAMILY IS HERE.

UH, MY FIANCE, ALEXIS WITH ME, MY GRANDSON WHO ESCORTED ME IN, MY DAUGHTERS ARE HERE.

AND, UH, AND MANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS, MUCH OF THEM IS IN THE OFFICE, BUT I AM SO GRATEFUL LOOKING FORWARD TO HOUSTON BECOMING THE CITY THAT WE ALL LOVE AND BEING NUMBER ONE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER, FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR ON YOUR VICTORY AND REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND TO ALL THE OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, WAS ABLE TO SPEND QUITE A BIT OF TIME DURING THE CAMPAIGN WITH THE NUMBER OF 'EM, AND, UH, I'M KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON.

UM, AS FAR AS THE ELECTION, WANTED TO THANK A COUPLE OF THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY HELPED ME, PHIL OWENS AND ROBERT FLANAGAN.

UH, LOOKING TO CONTINUE THE WORK AT DISTRICT E.

UH, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO BRING ON, UH, QUITE A BIT OF DAVE'S STAFF FROM PREVIOUSLY.

AND, UH, COUNTING ON DUSTIN AND, UH, THE PEREZ TWINS TO KIND OF CARRY ME FOR A WHILE.

UM, I'VE GOT HERE TODAY QUITE A FEW PEOPLE.

UH, MY, UH, BROTHER-IN-LAWS ARE HERE, BOTH, UH, STEVE AND JAMES AND THEIR WIVES.

UH, WENDY AND CHARLOTTE.

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, UH, IS HERE AS WELL.

OLIVE, UH, I'VE ALSO GOT, UH, BOTH MY DAUGHTERS HERE.

UH, COURTNEY IS HERE WITH THE GRANDKIDS ACROSS THE STREET, AND KIMBERLY'S HERE WITH, WITH HER HUSBAND.

UM, MY MOM AND DAD ARE HERE AS WELL, AND, UH, WANTED TO THANK THEM AND, AND MY BROTHER DAVEY.

UM, I KNOW, UH, IF I DON'T DO A GOOD JOB, MY MOM WILL BE ON MY BACKSIDE, SO I'VE GOTTA DO EVERYTHING I CAN.

UH, AND THEN, UH, MOST OF ALL, WANTED TO THANK MY WIFE, WHO I AFFECTIONATELY CALL THE GOAT OF WISE, SO SHE'S RIGHT HERE BEHIND ME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

UM, AND I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, AS OUR MAYOR PRO TEM DID THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THIS COUNCIL, AND ALSO TO HAVE, UM, TWO VERY STRONG WOMEN, UM, SITTING TO YOUR LEFT.

I, I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE A VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND A MAYOR PRO TEM THAT ARE BOTH WOMEN.

SO, UM, CONGRATULATIONS INTO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND CONTINUING THE GREAT WORK.

UH, I DID WANNA RECOGNIZE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, UM, BUT I, I HAVE THE BEST FAMILY IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

UH, IF MY DADDY AND MY MOM WOULD PLEASE STAND AND, UH, MY, MY SISTER IS HOME IN NEW YORK RIGHT NOW, BUT, UH, DADDY, MOMMY, I LOVE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR, UH, CREATING WHO I AM AND WHAT I AM COMMITTED TO.

AND I LOVE THIS SEAT, MAYOR, BECAUSE I GET TO SEE THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY EVERY SINGLE TIME WE COME INTO CHAMBERS.

AND THAT IS WHAT HOUSTON IS.

HOUSTON IS THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD.

UM, SO TO MY FAMILY, THANK YOU, UH, FOR SUPPORTING ME THROUGH EVERYTHING.

UH, I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU.

OBJECTION, .

AND OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

UH, BEHIND ME, MY INCREDIBLE PARTNER, MATT, UM, IS ALL OF THE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AROUND THE HORSESHOE KNOW, UH, IT IS A PARTNERSHIP.

IT IS A TRUE PARTNERSHIP TO BE ABLE TO SERVE.

UM, WE DO NOT DO THIS ALONE, NOR CAN WE DO THIS ALONE.

SO, MATT, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, UM, FROM PICKING UP THE SLACK AT HOME, UH, TO SUPPORTING US AND BEING THE MOST INCREDIBLE FATHER TO OUR SON, I LOVE YOU.

UH, I ALSO, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UM, OUR FAMILY ALSO EXTENDS TO OUR DISTRICT C STAFF.

UH, OUR CAMPAIGN, WHETHER IT'S GRANT AND PAT AND ANNA AND THE TEAM, BUT ALSO OUR DISTRICT C STAFF THAT WORKS AROUND THE CLOCK 24 7.

SO KATE, UH, ANNA, ARI, AALIYAH, UH, WE ARE HERE TO SERVE AND WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE THAT WORK FOR DISTRICT C.

OUR FOCUS REMAINS ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

UH, THAT

[00:35:01]

AND ALSO, UM, AS ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID, UH, BEING A VERY STRONG ALLY, UH, FOR OTHERS, UM, AND STANDING WITH THEM AS WE CONTINUE THIS WORK.

SO TO ALL OF DISTRICT CI SAY THANK YOU, UH, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR THE SERVICE, UH, AND OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED ME TO CONTINUE THIS WORK.

UH, MAYOR, WE ARE THE MOST ACTIVE IN, UH, YOUR DISTRICT C RESIDENT.

YOU KNOW THIS MORE THAN MOST AND HAVE REPRESENTED THE AREA.

WE ARE THE MOST ACTIVE DISTRICT IN THE CITY.

LET'S STAY THAT WAY.

LET'S STAY ENGAGED AND LET'S KEEP THE WORK GOING.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND FIRST, JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UM, YOU ON YOUR ELECTION, ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES.

UM, CONGRATULATIONS.

I'M HONORED AND EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH YOU IN THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, THIS SECOND TURN, UM, I DIDN'T MAKE IT HERE ALONE.

UM, IT WAS FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT GOT ME HERE.

SO I WANT TO JUST START OFF BY THANKING MY FAMILY.

UM, I THINK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ, YOU SAID YOU HAD 10 BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

MY MOM HAD 16 , BUT THEY'RE ALL NOT HERE.

UM, SOME OF 'EM ARE HERE.

DAD IS NOT HERE.

UM, BISHOP EMMANUEL JACKSON, HE, UM, CAUGHT THE FLU, SO HE COULDN'T ESCORT ME.

BUT I'M BEHIND MISS MY SON, MY BABY BOY.

UM, MARCELLUS HINES WHO ESCORTED ME.

AND I WANNA THANK MY, UM, OTHER SON, MARK KEITH JACKSON, MY SISTERS BROTHERS, UM, MR. ERIC CARR.

UM, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THE CAMPAIGN.

UM, MISS KATHY BLUE FOR DANIEL, CYNTHIA BAILEY, UM, KATHY TER, JENNY GOLDMAN, UM, THE, MY FAMILY AT TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT, WHO ACTUALLY, I'M THEIR FIRST CANDIDATE.

THEY RUN, I WAS A MEMBER OF TOP.

UM, AND THEY SUPPORTED ME MY FIRST GO ROUND.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THEM FOR THE SUPPORT.

UM, THE SECOND GO ROUND, UM, JENNY GOLDMAN, C CATHERINE MCNEIL, AND MANY OTHERS THAT, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA MISS NO FOLKS, BUT THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY STAFF WHO'S WORKED VERY HARD.

UM, WHEN WE FIRST CAME IN OFFICE, OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES WAS TO BE TRANSPARENT, ACCESSIBLE, AND ACCOUNTABLE TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT B.

UM, WE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, A NEWSLETTER, UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS ENGAGED.

AND SO WHAT OUR MAIN FOCUS WAS CONNECTING OUR CONSTITUENTS WITH GOOD PAYING JOBS.

UM, WE LAUNCHED TO BE SUCCESSFUL JOBS, UM, INITIATIVE.

AND THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IS TO BUILD THAT OUT, CONNECT MORE RESIDENTS WITH GOOD PAYING JOBS, AND GET FOLKS CONNECTED TO TRAINING AND IN HOUSING AND, AND TACKLE THE FLOODING.

JUST ALL THE ISSUES THAT'S IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY.

WE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS THE FIRST GO AROUND, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS NEXT FOUR YEARS SO WE CAN FINISH WHAT WE STARTED.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND MAYOR PRO TEM.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

YOU ARE THE BEST.

YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, WE'RE CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU ALL AND, UM, YEAH, LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'M SO EXCITED.

GET TO EXPERIENCE THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS TO PARTICIPATE AND COLLABORATE.

I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THIS CITY.

UM, AND I REALLY WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MY HUSBAND, ELI HUFFMAN, WHO'S BEHIND ME.

UH, HE LOVES DISTRICT G AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON JUST AS MUCH AS I DO.

AND, UH, WE SERVE TOGETHER.

OUR WHOLE FAMILY DOES.

WE HAVE TWO SONS, HAYES AND ELI HUFFMAN.

YOU BOYS MAKE A LOT OF SACRIFICES SO MOM AND DAD CAN DO GREAT THINGS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

AND WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TODAY.

IN THE AUDIENCE, I HAVE MY GRANDMOTHER, FAYE BAKER, WHO'S TURNING 91.

UM, NEXT WEEK I HAVE MY IN-LAWS, LORI AND ELI HUFFMAN, MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, RYAN HUFFMAN, MY SISTER, KATHLEEN BOHART, AND HER TWO BOYS, CROSBY AND BENNETT.

AND FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT AREN'T HERE TODAY, UM, I KNOW I HAVE EXHAUSTED YOU WITH PRAYERS AND REQUESTS, AND YOU HAVE SHOWN UP EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY.

AND SO I JUST CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ME, UM, TO MY COLLEAGUES.

YOU KNOW, I WAS IN A REALLY CONTENTIOUS RACE AND THE WAY THAT MY COLLEAGUES SURROUNDED ME AND HELPED ME FROM MAKING PHONE CALLS AND BLOCK WALKING TO RAISING MONEY.

UM, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW THAT TOUCHED ME, UM, OVER THIS RACE BECAUSE I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT G, UM, AND TO MY STAFF, JAMES, RACHEL, AND SARAH, I APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH,

[00:40:04]

WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GREAT VICTORY.

YOU'RE COMING IN WITH A MANDATE, UH, TO IMPROVE THINGS HERE IN OUR CITY, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF, UH, YOUR EFFORT TO DO THAT.

I WANT TO THANK MY WIFE, CAROLINE DOZIER, WHO'S STANDING BEHIND ME.

IT'S FITTING THAT SHE'S STANDING BEHIND ME.

UM, I HAD A, I HAD A BOSS WHO WAS FOND OF TELLING ME THAT I'M MARRIED UP, AND, UH, HE WAS RIGHT.

WE DIDN'T AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT WE AGREED ON THAT.

MARRYING HER, UH, WAS THE BEST DECISION I'VE EVER MADE, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, THE SUPPORT SHE'S GIVEN ME OVER THE YEARS AND OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS OF HARD CAMPAIGNING.

I WANT TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE MY SON, MATTHEW RAMIREZ, WHO'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY AS WELL.

THEY, UH, HAVE SACRIFICED GREATLY.

UH, WHILE I'VE BEEN ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AWAY, MANY MEALS MISSED HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, OPPORTUNITIES MISSED, AND COUNTLESS OTHER, UH, THINGS MISSED.

THAT'S THE PART OF CAMPAIGNING THAT, UM, DOESN'T GET TALKED ABOUT ENOUGH.

BUT I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THEIR SACRIFICES.

AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT OTHER FAMILY HERE AS WELL.

I BELIEVE MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, BETSY DOZIER, IS HERE.

THE MOST SUPPORTIVE MOTHER-IN-LAW, ANY SON-IN-LAW COULD EVER, UH, HOPE FOR.

I HAVE TWO, UH, WONDERFUL NIECES HERE, KARIN AND AVA JORGENSON FROM WISCONSIN VISITING.

UH, MY PARENTS ARE NOT HERE.

THEY'VE BOTH PASSED ON, BUT I WANNA HONOR THEM, UH, AND ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THE SACRIFICES THEY MADE OVER THE YEARS.

UM, NEITHER ONE OF THEM HAD MORE THAN A GRADE SCHOOL EDUCATION GROWING UP IN THE DEPRESSION ON A FARM ON AS, AS, UH, SHARECROPPERS HERE IN, IN THE GULF COAST AREA.

AND, UM, EVERY ONE OF THEIR SEVEN KIDS NOT ONLY GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WENT ON TO COLLEGE AND MANY OF US EARNED ADVANCED DEGREES.

UM, THEIR EFFORTS, UH, GOT ME INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LAW SCHOOL, AND I WAS ABLE TO HAVE A GREAT CAREER IN PUBLIC, UH, SERVICE AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND FOLLOWED THAT UP WITH A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL YEARS OF, OF, UH, PRACTICING LAW.

AND I SHOULD MENTION THAT MY WIFE, CAROLINE, IS A PUBLIC SERVANT AS WELL.

IT IS AN HONOR TO WORK AND TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.

I RECOGNIZE THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

I DON'T HAVE A DISTRICT.

I HAVE 11 DISTRICTS, AND I SAID A NUMBER OF TIMES ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THAT I WANT TO SUPPORT, NOT TO SUPPLANT OUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO I WANNA WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO MAKE EVERY PART OF THIS CITY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.

AND I WANNA THANK THE, UH, VOTERS OF HOUSTON WHO, UM, ELECTED ME.

UM, AGAIN, IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE.

I'LL WORK HARD EVERY DAY TO HONOR THE DECISION THAT YOU'VE MADE.

I WANT TO THANK, UM, THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS HORSESHOE, TWO OF WHOM ARE, UH, HERE TODAY.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK, AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARY ANN HUFFMAN, WHO I GET TO SIT NEXT TO FOR, FOR A WHILE NOW.

UM, WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING ME GET ELECTED.

I WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT YOUR ASSISTANCE.

I WANNA THANK MY PREDECESSOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, MIKE KNOX, UH, WHO ASSISTED ME GREATLY AS WELL.

AND SO MANY SUPER VOLUNTEERS, SEVERAL OF WHOM ARE HERE TODAY.

I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHO'S HERE.

THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CROWD, BUT I KNOW SOME OF YOU WHO ARE HERE.

AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT YOUR ASSISTANCE.

AND, UM, I LOVE YOU ALL, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I ENJOY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO IMPROVE THINGS HERE IN THE CITY.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS.

MAYOR WHITMEYER.

DID YOU SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST? UH, UH, ALWAYS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO MY NEW COLLEAGUES.

WELCOME TO THE HORSESHOE, TO MY RETURNING COLLEAGUES.

WE GET TO MAKE MAGIC AGAIN FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

AND TO MR. CONTROLLER, I AM DEEPLY EAGER TO WITNESSING YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE GREATNESS OF OUR CITY.

THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WERE NOTHING SHORT OF A WHIRLWIND FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND STAFF, AND I INTEND TO MAKE MY LAST FOUR YEARS THE BEST FOUR YEARS.

UH, THE BEST FOUR YEARS FOR ME INCLUDES ADOPTING A FUNDED HOUSING PLAN WHERE WE CREATE PERMANENT PATHWAYS OF AFFORDABILITY FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS, REGARDLESS OF INCOME.

IF YOU ARE IN OUR CITY BY CHOICE OR CIRCUMSTANCE, YOU DESERVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO STABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, GOOD SCHOOLS, JOBS, AND TRANSIT.