Progress and management through humility, ethics

First and foremost, I would like to take this time to thank everyone who has been in support for me as Mayor. One of my goals is to create an environment of transparency in Houston’s government. There should never be a hidden agenda with any Mayor or council member.

It is extremely important, in my opinion, that the residents of Houston are informed to changes in their city that may affect their lives. Every person present at city meetings should have the opportunity to ask questions about an issue they do not understand, and to provide their knowledge and input.

The city employees are members of a team with the same views for the city of Houston: reasonable and manageable progress of our city based on the residents’ choices and opinions for the direction of our city.

My first 30 days have been very busy. Like I promised in my acceptance speech on appointment as Mayor, I have focused on learning the processes that the city employees engage in. After watching them and seeing how efficient they operate the city’s business, I have learned that I can trust them to make decisions within their departments. I have been proven right, and watched the efficiency of the city skyrocket with fewer decisions having to be passed through the Mayor’s office, and have seen tasks completed more quickly. Current projects for department heads include updating their operating procedures and eliminating duplication of work and effort.

I also identified that the city needed to reactivate the Human Resources Committee. As the city’s personnel officer, treasurer Carolyn Grabowski will interview city residents for the three open seats on this committee.

If you are interested in volunteering on this position, visit our city website and follow the information there. Council member Kathleen Barney has offered to serve as the committee’s liaison to the city council.

Police officer Brandon Gray has proven his position to be essential to the safety and protection of our residents, and as such I supported moving his position from a temporary basis to a full-time, regular position. With Officer McAnally and Officer Gray on the beat, that gives the residents two police officers full-time in the city, and they are complemented by 10 reserve police officers.

I have complete confidence in all of my department heads at this time, and look forward to another 335 days of progress and management through humility and ethics.

Virgie Thompson is the newly elected Mayor of Houston.