City of Houston Announces Inauguration Plans December 29, 2011

Seven new faces will join city of Houston government next week when they are sworn in as city council members.  Council members-elect Larry Green, Andrew Burks, Jack Christie, Helena Brown, Ellen Cohen,  Jerry Davis and Mike Laster  will join Mayor Annise Parker and other city leaders at the inaugural festivities, which are open to the public.

Houston city council member elect

The State of Texas

CITY OF HOUSTON

You are cordially invited to the inauguration and swearing in of the Mayor of the City of Houston, the City Controller and the City Council

on

Tuesday morning, January 3, 2012

commencing at 9:30 a.m. sharp

at the

HOBBY CENTER for the Performing Arts

800 Bagby – Downtown Houston

The Honorable Annise D Parker

Mayor

The Honorable Ronald Green

City Controller

The Honorable Helena Brown

City Council District A

The Honorable Jerry Davis

City Council District B

The Honorable Ellen Cohen

City Council District C

The Honorable Wanda Adams

City Council District D

The Honorable Michael Sullivan

City Council District E

The Honorable Al Hoang

City Council District F

The Honorable Oliver Pennington

City Council District G

The Honorable Ed Gonzalez

City Council District H

The Honorable James Rodriguez

District I

The Honorable Mike Laster

District J

The Honorable Larry Green

District K

The Honorable Stephen Costello

At Large Position 1

The Honorable Andrew Burks Jr

At Large Position 2

The Honorable Melissa Noriega

At Large Position 3

The Honorable C.O. Bradford

At Large Position 4

The Honorable Jack Christie

At Large Position 5

Immediately following the Inaugural ceremony, the Mayor, Controller and City Council will retire to Council Chambers located across Bagby on the 2nd Floor of City Hall for the 1st official meeting of the new council for 2012 beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Will Prominent Attorney Influence Council Runoff Race? December 4, 2011

On Saturday, December 10, Houston Voters will decide the outcome of the city council at-large position 5 race between incumbent Jolanda Jones and chiropractor Jack Chrstie.

As early voting got underway, some targeted households received a mail piece from the Christie campaign touting an endorsement from prominent Houston attorney Rusty Hardin.

Hardin, the father of a Houston police officer, says he’s endorsing Christie because of “incredibly irresponsible” comments Jones made earlier this year about police. Hardin says Jones “further endangered” officers when she handed out cards advertising her law firm which instructed people to never talk to police.

Those cards triggered an investigation by the city’s Office of Inspector General, because phone numbers for Jones’ private law practice and her taxpayer funded council office were printed on the cards. She was cleared of any wrongdoing, but was chastised in the report for showing poor judgment.

Hardin, who has represented such high profile criminal defendants as former baseball player Roger Clemens, former basketball star Calvin Murphy and former Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole, is well respected by many Houstonians.
Considering his son’s occupation as a Houston police officer, it’s not surprising that he would take a stand on this issue.

Jones certainly has many personal and political friends sticking by her.
Congressman Al Green recently hosted a fundraiser for her runoff race and Jones has her own mail piece targeting voters.

A Rematch In The Race For City Council At-Large Position 5 July 19, 2011

While embattled Houston city council member Jolanda Jones fights ethics allegations, she is drawing a familiar opponent.

 

Jack Christie, who lost to Jones in a 2009 runoff ,  has announced he will run for Houston City Council, At-Large Position 5, the seat Jones currently holds.

 “After receiving a tremendous amount of encouragement from both past and new supporters to go for it, I have decided to run,” said Christie. “I have heard a lot lately from folks who are ashamed of what is going on in city government. I said 2 years ago that I would do 3 times the job than the current Council Member, I now know I can do ten times better. I will serve with integrity, as I did when I was Chairman of the Texas State Board of Education, but most importantly I will be a leader that Houston can be proud of. “Our city is thriving and growing, despite the national economic climate.”

In 2009, Jones defeated Christie by less than 1% of the vote. 

Some political insiders believe Jones is vulnerable because of the allegations she used her political office resources and staff to run her law practice.

The case has been refered to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office by the city’s Office of Inspector General.

However, Jones also has a lot opponents throughout the city.  She may be down, but it’s too early to say she’s out.

One thing is for certain – this will be an interesting rematch.

 

Chris Bell Takes Sides In Council Runoff November 10, 2009

From the desk of Chris Bell Dear Friends, My friend Jolanda “Jo” Jones is in a tough runoff election with Republican Jack Christie. I can tell you that given his past record, Christie will not be a friend on City Council. We don’t need his brand of radical right-wing politics on City Council. We need Jo and she needs us – NOW! I have chosen to support Jo financially because I believe in her and I believe that she does good work for our city. She keeps an open door and provides a voice for a lot of folks who would be shut out otherwise. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind and has demonstrated the kind of independence we need more of on City Council. Make no mistake: Jo’s opponent will be well funded and she must have our solid financial support in order to win the runoff. Please send her a check today or use the link below to contribute online – we need to keep Jo fighting for us and keep the Republicans from putting a right wing radical on Council. Please make a contribution to Jo right now at www.JolandaJones.com. Thank you, Chris Bell