“I will miss being here.” Houston certifies elections, swears in new clerk

On Monday, the City of Houston held a special meeting to certify the results from Tuesday’s elections before swearing in two city council members.

With only 8% of the city’s registered voters turning out to cast a vote, every vote was important as there was a 4-vote margin separating two candidates for one of three city council seats.

The narrow margin went in favor of one of the City’s newest Councilmembers, Lisa Johansen, who edged past Jay Lowenstein, who had won a special election last year following the departure of then-mayor Virgie Thompson and then-deputy mayor Lance Wilson, who resigned their positions as city council members.

Also officially certified into office is another new member to the council, Kent Mitchell, who ran against Dale Lloyd. Both were seeking Seat D, which had been held by David Duren, another councilman who had won in a special election last year.

Jeffrey Brasel, the third of the councilmembers from last year’s special election ran unopposed in his reelection bid.

Councilmembers Brasel and Johansen were sworn into office Monday night, while Councilman Mitchell was called out of town and was unable to attend. He will be sworn in at the next regularly scheduled council meeting.

“I look forward to another year and moving forward,” said Councilmember Sandy McDonald after congratulating Councilmembers Johansen and Brasel.

“I’m really looking forward to this council, bringing new blood in, and I can’t wait to see where we go. We’ve got a rough road ahead of us and I can’t wait to see how we work it out,” said Deputy Mayor Mike Adams.

The other item on the agenda was the swearing in of new City Clerk Tani Weiber Schoneman after out-going clerk Rebecca Rein accepted a new position with the State of Alaska.

Schoneman had previously worked as a municipal clerk for the Bristol Bay Borough during the 2010’s until her family left, and while she said “it’s been a hot minute,” since she has served as a clerk, she is not worried about her capacity to serve, although she did ask for leniency when it comes to filling the requests of the council and the public.

“If I don’t know something, I’ll ask. If you have questions for me and I don’t have the answer, just give me a minute and I will get you the answer, and I will make sure it is the correct answer.”

She said that she will also utilize her predecessor’s knowledge while doing everything she can to fulfill her duties and move the city forward. Meanwhile, Rein expressed great faith in Shoneman’s capacity to serve.

“She is very no-nonsense and unbiased, and those two qualities are required for this position.”

Rein has served the City of Houston in various capacities since 2013, chairing the Planning and Zoning committee, serving as Deputy Clerk, then moving up to City Clerk a year and a half ago.

“I will miss being here.”

Rein took a few minutes to thank the citizens in the audience for their support, thanked the election officials, and then addressed the council.

“To all of the current council, I wish you all the best. It has been a tumultuous year and a half, but we have all put in a lot of hard work and I am really proud of everybody who stuck with it and kept everything running.”

Members of the council thank her for her years of dedication and hard work.

“From a citizen’s standpoint, and working with you through the Fire Department, I just want to say thank you for everything. You are always there to answer questions, and when we’re frustrated, you talk everybody through it with a calm voice,” said Councilmember Johansen.

The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is set for Thursday, October 12 at 6:00 pm at Houston City Hall.