Mayor-Elect Parker named her transition team chairs this week. They include the campaign Chair – Gil Garcia, State Rep. Garnet Coleman, and well-known philanthropist Nancy Kinder. Parker reiterated her desire to make public safety and improvements in the Police Department a top priority.
Additionally, she announced that the transition team will include committees that will study these areas:
- Metro
- Housing Department funding
- Contracts and Personnel
- Relationships with other governments
- Neighborhood Protection
- Permitting efficiency
- Public Works
- Density and Development Ordinances
- Minority Contracting
It’s important to remember that Parker has conducted performance audits on city departments as Controller. She is intimately familiar with the workings of the city and knows the strengths and weaknesses of many of them.
It is our best guess that she and her team will take a serious look at these priority issues and make solid recommendations for change, even when it may be tough to do so.
Additionally, Parker has begun to indicate who might be on her team. Waynette Chan will be her Chief of Staff. Chan has been at City Hall since the Whitmire days and is very knowledgeable about all things city. She has most recently been in Public Works.
Another City Hall veteran, Madeline Appel is expected to serve as a Deputy Chief of Staff. Madeline has been with Parker in the Controller’s office. She knows Houston and City Hall well.
As we mentioned previously on the blog, we had already been directed to work with Janice Evans-Davis on communications.
Rumor has it that campaign manager Adam Harris will join the City Hall staff as well. While we recognize him as a great guy, we are sorry not to see him move to another campaign. He is an extraordinarily talented campaign guru and executed a brilliant campaign strategy. We know that he will serve the Mayor well but were hoping to see him move to another race so we could watch him in action. We’ll look forward to watching him execute his talents on policy and politics at City Hall. Alas, many good campaign hands often join the teams of one of their favorite clients. But it is a loss for the 2010 candidates.
There are also several people of note that will be empowered by the Parker team. David Arpin was Chair of the Finance Committee and is serving as the Chair of the Inaugural Committee. David is a veteran of Houston politics and one of the hardest working people I know. He worked tirelessly to ensure that Parker had the funds to cross the finish line and you can bet that the Inaugural will be a classy affair.
Grant Martin has been Parker’s general consultant since her first win and is a seasoned political veteran. While he relocated to San Francisco a few years ago, he kept strong ties to Houston. He put together the winning Parker team and will continue to have significant influence with the new Mayor and with her City Hall team.
Kathryn McNiel has been involved in Texas politics for many years. Since we were young go-getters together, I won’t mention the number of years. She is a solid political advisor and close to Parker. She also drove the successful Costello campaign. Call her smart and influential for 2010.
Cindy Clifford has been a Parker loyalist and close friend for many years. Cindy is a business owner who can cheerlead for her friends better than anyone we know. When some business folks were picking on her for backing Parker, she stood firm and let them know that “and Annise Parker will be our next Mayor!” She was right! You can rest assured that her loyalty is appreciated and that her vibrant personality and Houston enthusiasm will be important to a Parker administration.
There are many more to mention and we’ll keep the discussion going over the next few days.
