AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Brenda Stardig is currently serving her second term in office. Council Member Stardig is being challenged by Iesheia K. Ayers-Wilson in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. STARDIG IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION in the upcoming election.”
Brenda Stardig is an influential leader who has lived in District A of the City of Houston for more than forty years alongside old friends and new neighbors.
She has helped people in the community, devoting time and resources to improving west Houston. Her compassion is shown through her actions.
Brenda is a past president of one of the City of Houston's Super Neighborhoods, she has organized numerous crime fighting initiatives, and as a Spring Branch Education Foundation member, she has strived to enhance public education. Brenda doesn't rest. She has served as a director on the boards for government, financial and medical corporations. Brenda has received praise for her tireless efforts, including the Keep Houston Beautiful Mayor's Award Certificate of Recognition Winner and the award for Leadership in Excellence in Neighborhood Development from Bank of America.
In addition to being a community leader, Brenda is an accomplished businesswoman. She excelled in the financial industry for 20 years prior to her successful transition to real estate. Brenda is a multi-million dollar producer who is trusted throughout the industry and is known for doing the right thing for her clients. She also offers her expertise as a member of three different real estate associations.
Brenda has dedicated her life to expanding opportunities for others and preserving a quality of life for the people of Spring Branch. She has never forgotten where she came from - or the faith and dedication that drives her.
Council Member Brenda Stardig
*The District A Houston City Council Member pretty much serves areas in northwestern Houston which includes communities north of Interstate 10 along the Katy Freeway. It also covers Spring Branch as well. You can (CLICK HERE) to study the map of this district.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Jerry Davis is currently serving his second term in office. Council Member Jerry Davis is being challenged by Vincent Ferguson Duncan, Isaac Mayorn, Kenneth Perkins, and Ben White, Jr. in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. DAVIS IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION in the upcoming election.”
Recognized for his community involvement, Jerry was invited to serve on the board of Change Happens!, a local community-based non-profit organization serving adults and at-risk youth in Harris County. While serving at Change Happens! Jerry recognized there was a void to be filled. Using his training in education, coupled with his desire to help children, he founded the organization Making It Better (MIB). MIB is a local non-profit whose mission is to address the severe disadvantages faced by low-income children in the Houston area by providing them with academic intervention, positive activities, and adult role models. Jerry also serves on the Houston Housing Resource Board, assisting clients of the Houston Housing Authority by developing innovative approaches to affordable housing and self-sufficiency.
Council Member Jerry Davis
*The District B Houston City Council District is widely considered to be an African American stronghold based on the way this district is drawn. District B pretty much serves the north and northeastern sides of Houston. You can (CLICK HERE) to study the map of this district.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Ellen Cohen is currently serving her second term in office. Council Member Ellen Cohen is being challenged by Carlton Jarvis and Michael McDonald, in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. COHEN IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION in the upcoming election.”
Ellen Cohen has lived and worked in the city of Houston for the past 38 years. She served for 10 years as the Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee, and for 18 years as the CEO of the Houston Area Women’s Center, working with survivors of sexual and domestic violence. In 2006, she was elected as the Texas State Representative for Houston’s District 134. After serving two terms in the Texas Legislature, Ellen decided to continue her public service career at home. She ran for Houston City Council, and was sworn into office in January 2012 as the Council Member representing District C.
During her tenure on Council, Ellen has championed the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, the elimination of the sexual assault kit backlog, the creation of a Parking Benefit District for the Washington Corridor, and many other initiatives to improve the quality of life of her constituents. She is currently serving her second term on Council.
Council Member Ellen R. Cohen
*The Houston City Council District C district encompasses areas north of the 610 Loop, which overlaps into the Heights and Braeswood areas. District C also covers some parts of Montrose, the Houston Museum District and a few of the communities that surround Rice University. You can (CLICK HERE) to study the map of this district.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Dwight Boykins is currently serving his first term in office. Council Member Dwight Boykins is running for re-election unopposed in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. BOYKINS IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION in the upcoming election.”
Dwight A. Boykins is currently serving at City Council Member for District D. Dwight is a native of District D and attended local public schools. He received his BBA in Marketing from the Jesse H. Jones School of Business at Texas Southern University. Dwight is also President and CEO of DBoykins Consulting, a consulting firm that specializes in governmental affairs, advocacy and business development. He has served on various boards and committees, including the Hurricane Ike Relief Fund Board, which was responsible for overseeing the distribution of over $16 million in funding to the city’s most devastated area. Dwight has also previously served on the Oversight Committee of ReBuild Houston and remains a huge advocate for the improvement of the city’s street infrastructure. As a member of City Council, Dwight serves on the Budget and Fiscal Affairs, Transportation Technology and Infrastructure, Housing and Community Development, Transportation Policy Council and Ethics, Elections & Council Governance Committees. Dwight is involved in numerous organizations and activities. He is currently a member of the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a Life Member of the NAACP and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
Dwight is a man of faith and he and his wife are active members of Windsor Village United Methodist Church. Dwight resides in District D with Genora, his wife of 25 years.
Council Member Dwight Boykins
*The Houston City Council District D is widely considered to be an African American stronghold district. Texas Southern University and University of Houston both fall within the boundaries of this single-member district. This district also covers a large portion of the northernmost part of Houston encompassing Midtown; but also covers areas such as Sunnyside. You can (CLICK HERE) to study the map of this district.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Dave Martin is currently serving his first term in office. Council Member Dave Martin is running for re-election unopposed in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. MARTIN IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION in the upcoming election.”
A proven business and government leader, Dave has a strong desire to ensure conservative principles are applied in City government. He has been influential in providing sound business and proven decision making skills to the council in dealing with notable issues facing Houston today. First elected in November 2012; public safety, fiscal responsibility and economic development have been and will continue to be cornerstone of Dave’s daily priorities. Additionally, he works hard to ensure exemplary constituent service to the residents of District E. During his first term, Dave has been appointed to serve as Vice Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee, Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits, Ethics and Council Governance Committee and Transportation, and Technology and Infrastructure Committee.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana and a graduate of Louisiana State University, Dave serves as a Managing Director of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. and previously worked for two large “Big Four” Accounting Firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP and Ernst & Young, LLP.
Dave was elected to the Humble ISD Board of Trustees in 2004 and served as President, Board Finance Committee Chairman and Chairman of the Board Audit Committee.
Dave also served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Harris County Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA) where he was also Chairman of the Board Finance Committee. While serving in this capacity, Dave helped with Houston’s mission to attract the very best sporting events into our city, bringing economic development while ensuring the debt service payments for Houston’s Sports venues are transacted to protect Houston’s tax dollars. Dave has also been involved with the Greater Houston Partnership where he served on the Education Policy/Strategic Policy Committee. As a member of “Raise your Hand Texas”, an advocacy organization dedicated to supporting Texas Public Schools, Dave has been instrumental in shaping public policy for public education for many years.
Dave and his wife Julie have been married for 30 years. They live in Kingwood with their three children, David, Michael and Jennifer. They are active parishioners at St. Martha’s Catholic Church.
Council Member Dave Martin
17629 El Camino Real, Suite 415
*The Houston City Council District E pretty much covers Kingwood and portion of Houston that overlaps into the Clear Lake area. You can (CLICK HERE) to study the map of this district.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Richard Nguyen is currently serving his first term in office. Council Member Richard Nguyen is being challenged by Dr. Kendall L. Baker and Steve Duc Le is the only candidate we know of who is seeking to unseat Council Member Richard Nguyen in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election – check back periodically for updates. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. NGUYEN IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION in the upcoming election.”
Richard A. Nguyen was born in Saigon, Vietnam and immigrated with his family to the US in 1975 at the age of 11. The family settled in Ohio. After high school, Richard earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Capital University in Columbus.
Richard briefly taught middle and high school in Hilliard, Ohio after working in the health care field in Columbus. Upon moving to Houston, Richard earned a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from Texas Health and Science University in Austin and then continued his career in public service with the Solid Waste Management Department in the City of Houston, where he served for almost 10 years.
In addition to his career, Richard enjoys drawing and spending time with his children. Richard currently resides in Alief with his wife and two children, as well as his elderly parents.
Council Member Richard Nguyen
*The Houston City Council District F Council district has a large Vietnamese American constituency. This district pretty much covers southwestern Houston including parts of Alief, Westchase, Tanglewilde, and the Briarmeadow area. You can (CLICK HERE) to study the map of this district.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Oliver Pennington is currently serving his third and final term. He is term-limited and cannot run for re-election. Initially Pennington threw his hat into the ring as a 2015 Mayoral Candidate; but withdrew due his wife Beverly suffering an illness. There are two key candidates running for the Houston City Council District G seat in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election – those candidates are: Sandie Mullins Moger and Greg Travis. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. THIS SEAT IS OPEN in the upcoming election.”
Oliver Pennington's life is one of education, hard work, dedication and achievement. Born and raised in Houston, he loves this city and everything it has to offer. Oliver achieved great success at a very young age. He graduated in 1960 from Rice University. From there he went on to law school at the University of Texas. He graduated in 1963.
During that time he was an Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review. He married in 1968 to Beverly Buzzini and together they raised two children right here in District G, Oliver Pennington III and Sarah Pennington Tropoli. Oliver currently has 5 grandchildren.
Upon graduation, he took a job at the local firm of Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP. He quickly became a partner and took on that role from 1973 to 2002. Oliver's practice included municipal finance, municipal law, municipal utility district law (where he attended monthly meetings of boards which dealt with water, sanitary sewage, drainage, security, solid waste services and other similar neighborhood issues), environmental and administrative law.
Oliver is the former Chairman of the Houston Civil Service Commission. He was a member of Board of the Memorial Park Conservancy for five years, which is right in the heart of District G. He is also a member of the Houston Bar Association. He is a member of the Greater Houston Partnership where he is or has been a member of the Water Laws Committee and the Environmental Committee and the Economic Development Committee. Oliver was also a member of the Board of Directors of North Houston Association, a trade group advocating public policy and economic development policies favorable to that area.
Oliver has been involved in the community at many different levels, particularly at the neighborhood level because of his municipal utility district law practice. He has been successful and is now ready to give back to his community and the city of Houston by serving as Councilmember for District G.
Council Member Oliver Pennington
*The Houston City Council District G Council Member serves areas in western Houston that extend along the 610 Loop between 610 and Interstate 10. Memorial, Tanglewood, and River Oaks make up a large portion of this district. You can (CLICK HERE) to study the map of this district.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Ed Gonzalez is currently serving his third and final term. He is term-limited and cannot run for re-election. At this time there are four key candidates running for the Houston City Council District H seat in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election – those candidates are: Jason Cisneroz, Roland Chavez, Karla Cisneros, and Abel Davila. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. THIS SEAT IS OPEN in the upcoming election.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Ed Gonzalez was first elected to serve on Houston City Council in 2009. A life-long resident of the City of Houston, he is dedicated to making his hometown the leading global city of the 21st century.
Council Member Gonzalez is committed to public safety and served the Houston Police Department for 18 years. While at the Houston Police Department, Gonzalez was promoted to Sergeant, served on the elite hostage negotiation team and was a homicide investigator. He has used his extensive law enforcement experience to help craft innovative and effective solutions to modern-day crime issues. Council Member Gonzalez has been a public servant for most of his adult-life and knows what it means to be “on call” at all times to serve the constituents of the City of Houston.
Council Member Gonzalez also prioritizes quality of life issues and infrastructure improvements for our city. He is well-known for regularly visiting neighborhoods and speaking to residents about their concerns. He works diligently to connect with residents and community leaders, an effort to educate his constituents on the services the City of Houston provides and to address their needs. Recognized as an active user of multiple social media platforms, Gonzalez has used technology as an additional tool to communicate with constituents and to further engage with the communities he represents.
Council Member Gonzalez has been a champion for education and regularly speaks at area schools. He passionately advocates for literacy by sharing his personal story; his father did not have the ability to read and write as an adult, but made sure that his son had every opportunity to learn and to achieve though education. Today, Council Member Gonzalez holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Houston Downtown and earned a Master’s Degree from the University of St. Thomas.
On Houston City Council, Gonzalez has served as Mayor Pro-Tem since 2012 when he was appointed by Mayor Annise Parker and confirmed by his peers; previously he served as Vice Mayor Pro-Tem, first elected by his peers in 2010. Currently he serves as Chair for the Public Safety & Homeland Security (PSHS) Committee. Gonzalez also sits on the following committees: Budget and Fiscal Affairs (BFA), Ethics, Elections and Council Governance (EECG), Houston and Community Affairs (HCA), Quality of Life (QoL), and Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure (TTI).
Council Member Gonzalez and his wife, Dr. Melissa Gonzalez, reside in Lindale Park with their daughters; they make nearby St. Patrick Church their worship home.
Council Member Ed Gonzalez
*The Houston City Council District H single-member council district covers some of the areas north of the 610 Loop. The larger portions of this district include the Near Northside and Northside of Houston extending to Little York Road. Parts of Downtown and the Heights also fall within the boundaries of this district. You can (CLICK HERE) to study the map of this district.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Robert Gallegos is currently serving his first term. Council Member Robert Gallegos is being challenged by Herlinda Garcia in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. GALLEGOS IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION in the upcoming election.”
Robert Gallegos was born at Parkview Hospital on 75th and Harrisburg and was raised in Magnolia Park. Robert attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church & Elementary School, where he was baptized, received his Holy Communion and was confirmed. He attended Edison Junior High School and was active in both the marching and stage bands. Robert became president of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Youth Organization (C.Y.O.) and went on to graduate from Stephen F. Austin High School.
A graduate of Houston Community College, Robert earned an Associate’s Degree in International Trade & Distribution and went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University. He is a graduate of Spencer School of Real Estate.
He’s a member of the National Hispanic Professional Organization, a member of LULAC Council 402, served on the Board of the Gulf Coast Community Services Association, and is certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE).
Robert spent over 25 years in Logistics Sales in Motor Freight and International Trade. He served as a Community Liaison for Former County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia with an emphasis in Galena Park, Jacinto City, Aldine, and City Council Districts H & I, and has worked for the Harris County Sheriff’s Department.
Robert Gallegos was born at Parkview Hospital on 75th and Harrisburg and was raised in Magnolia Park. Robert attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church & Elementary School, where he was baptized, received his Holy Communion and was confirmed. He attended Edison Junior High School and was active in both the marching and stage bands. Robert became president of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Youth Organization (C.Y.O.) and went on to graduate from Stephen F. Austin High School.
A graduate of Houston Community College, Robert earned an Associate’s Degree in International Trade & Distribution and went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University. He is a graduate of Spencer School of Real Estate.
He’s a member of the National Hispanic Professional Organization, a member of LULAC Council 402, served on the Board of the Gulf Coast Community Services Association, and is certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE).
Robert spent over 25 years in Logistics Sales in Motor Freight and International Trade. He served as a Community Liaison for Former County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia with an emphasis in Galena Park, Jacinto City, Aldine, and City Council Districts H & I, and has worked for the Harris County Sheriff’s Department.
Council Member Robert Gallegos
*The Houston City Council District I district includes many of the neighborhoods in southeastern Houston – and the East End of Houston. However it also includes most of Downtown Houston. You can (CLICK HERE) to study the map of this district.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Mike Laster is currently serving his second term in office. Council Member Mike Laster is being challenged by Manuel C. Barrera, and Jim Bigham in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. LASTER IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION in the upcoming election.”
ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER LASTER
Mike Laster was born in San Pablo, California but his family relocated to Texas soon after his birth, settling in the rural community of Bangs in Brown County. Educated in the public schools of Brown County, Mike demonstrated his leadership skills at an early age by serving as President of the High School Student Body, of his High School Class, of the National Honor Society and the Future Farmers of America.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s Plan II Honors Program, Mike earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center. While at the Law Center, Mike distinguished himself as the National Vice Chair of the American Bar Association Law Student Division.
Mike is an attorney specializing in real estate with the firm of Williams, Birnberg & Andersen, L.L.P. in Houston, where he has practiced for the past thirteen years. From 1989 to 1995, Mike served as a Senior Assistant City Attorney in the Real Estate Division of the City Attorney’s Office, where he handled many aspects of a general real estate and development practice for the city.
Throughout his life Mike has developed an extensive record of civic involvement and achievement. He has served as a Board Member as past Chairman of the Sharpstown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone and Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ). As Chairman, he worked to complete an amended TIRZ project plan that provides over $90 million in infrastructure development and financing dollars to the TIRZ area.
A founding Board Member and Secretary of the Greater Sharpstown Management District (GSMD), Mike helped: implement a Constables on Patrol Program which added additional constables to patrol the business corridors of the district; create a graffiti abatement program that cleaned up thousands of graffiti sites; and, worked to revitalize the neighborhood with new street signs and esplanade beautifications.
Mike is also a Board Member and former President of the Sharpstown Civic Association, a group serving over 6,800 homes in the area with neighborhood protection programs, crime prevention and security patrols.
An active member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Mike has served as Senior Warden; as a member of the Vestry; and is a past parish Delegate to the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
Council Member Mike Laster
*The Houston City Council District J single-member district covers several neighborhoods along Southwest Freeway (U.S. Route 59). It also includes the Sharpstown and Gulfton areas of Houston, and stretches from the 610 Loop south of Beltway 8. You can (CLICK HERE) to study the map of this district.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Larry Green is currently serving his second term in office. Council Member Larry Green is running for re-election unopposed in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. GREEN IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION in the upcoming election.”
ABOUT LARRY V. GREEN
Sworn into office in January 2012, Council Member Larry V. Green is the Council Member of the newly formed District known as “K”. District K serves from the edge of the Texas Medical Center to the portion of Houston within Fort Bend County. The District also includes the Reliant/ Astrodome Complex, two management districts, and two school districts—Houston ISD and Fort Bend ISD.
Engaged in private practice of law for 21 years, Council Member Green has been responsible for all matters relative to a general practice. During, his first term on Houston City Council, Council Member Green has brought over 20 million dollars’ worth of economic development projects to District K including but not limited to a Houston Police Department station, neighborhood street reconstruction and repair projects, a senior citizen center in Fort Bend Houston and has brought a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) for the Hiram Clarke and Fort Bend Houston Area. Additionally, Council Member Green led the efforts to increase the MWBE / SBE participation goals from 22 percent to 34 percent. The Council Member also insured that women owned businesses were included back into the city’s affirmative action contracting program.
Council Member Green has been appointed by Mayor Parker to be chair of Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee. This Committee is responsible for the Information Technology, Houston Airport System, METRO, Port of Houston and the Public Works and Engineering department projects as well as Rebuild Houston Projects, Water & Sewer, and water resources and conservation.
He has recently been appointed by the National League of Cities to serve 2014 Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Steering committee. As a member of the committee, Council Member Green will address national economic policy, general financial assistance programs intergovernmental relations, census, and municipal bonds issues just to name a few.
Council Member Green earned his BA in Political Science from the University of Houston and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence, from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Greater Houston Partnership, a former Board Trustee of Brentwood Baptist Church, serves on the Board of the Texas Black Expo, and serves on the College of Science and Technology Advisory Board at Texas Southern University.
Council Member Larry Green
*The Houston City Council District K single-member district pretty much encompasses the far southwestern area of Houston. Parts of Almeda Road, Gessner, and Braeswood fall within the boundaries of this district. But this district also encompasses parts of 2234 in Fort Bend County. You can (CLICK HERE) to study the map of this district.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Stephen C. Costello is currently serving his third and final term. He is term-limited and cannot run for re-election. A few of the key candidates running for the Houston City Council At-Large Position #1 seat in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election is as follows: Jenifer Pool, Chris Oliver, Georgia Provost, Lane Lewis, Tom McCasland, James Partch-Galvan, William M. "Mike" Knox, and Michael "Griff" Griffin. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. THIS SEAT IS OPEN in the upcoming election.”
Stephen Costello is in his third term as Houston City Council Member At-Large Position 1. He chairs City Council's Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee which oversees all financial matters related to the city's $5.1 billion annual budget. He also serves on the Quality of Life Committee; the Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee; and the Ethics Elections and Council Governance Committee. He is the current chair of the Transportation Policy Council, the organization responsible for providing policy guidance and overall coordination of transportation planning throughout the Houston-Galveston area region. On City Council, Stephen focuses on issues related to strengthening the city’s long-term financial health; improving transportation and mobility; upgrading the city's aging infrastructure; increasing access to fresh, healthy food in under-served communities; and expanding green space and outdoor recreational opportunities.
Stephen is an engineer with a background in flood control and drainage. He is president of Costello Engineering and Surveying, a Houston civil engineering firm he co-founded in 1991. Costello Engineering and Surveying has over 130 local employees and recently received top honors as a "Best Place to Work" by both the Houston Business Journal and Houston Chronicle. In early 2014, Stephen was named "Engineer of the Year" by the Texas Society for Professional Engineers, a distinction widely recognized as the engineering community's highest honor.
With a degree in civil engineering from the University of New York at Buffalo, Stephen's first job in Texas was working as a civilian with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Galveston. It was with the Corps working with residents whose homes had been flooded that Stephen discovered what has become his lifelong interest in storm water management and flooding issues. Striving to reduce flooding risks in Houston, in 2010 Stephen led the charge to pass the Renew Houston initiative, now the ReBuild Houston Program, a pay-as-you-go program to improve Houston’s street and drainage infrastructure.
Stephen has served as chair and longtime board member of the Memorial Park Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the natural habitat and historical significance of Memorial Park. He is also a board member of Marathon Kids, an organization focused on educating and motivating children to lead active lifestyles, and Family Services of Greater Houston, a nonprofit providing family counseling and case management services to those in need. In addition, he serves as an advisory board member for Trees for Houston, a group dedicated to protecting woodlands and planting trees around the city.
Stephen is an avid runner, competing in over 30 marathons and seven Ironman Triathlons. He and his wife, Debbie, have been married 39 years and have raised two sons in Houston, Stephen and Christopher.They are now proud grandparents of two granddaughters, Eliana and Gia.
Council Member Stephen C. Costello
*The Houston City Council District At-Large Position #1 District covers the entire City of Houston. This council member is elected citywide. You can (CLICK HERE) to view the complete map including all districts.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member David W. Robinson is currently serving his first term in office. Council Member David W. Robinson is being challenged by Willie Davis, Eric Dick, Modesto Rivera-Colon, and Andrew C. Burks, Jr. is the only candidate we know of who’s seeking to unseat Council Member David W. Robinson in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election – check back periodically for updates. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. ROBINSON WILL BE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION in the upcoming election.”
Early in his architectural career, David Robinson assisted with the new U.S. Embassy in Amman Jordan and then contributed to the development and production of the master planning document for the campus of the Texas Children’s Hospital. In 1999, he started his own company as a sole practitioner with an emphasis on building large commercial and institutional buildings. As a small business owner, David has kept his practice going through good times and lean. Currently, he is fortunate to have a healthy list of projects mostly located in the Houston area. He also teaches a graduate level course here in Houston for Texas Tech University on planning and development called "Infrastructure in the Urban Environment."
Along with his architectural practice, David has been actively involved with neighborhood issues, serving eight years as an officer of the Neartown (Montrose) Association, including a couple of terms as president. With the nomination of civic club representatives from across Houston, he was elected to serve as chairman and president of the citywide Super Neighborhood Alliance to a maximum two year term that concluded in January 2013. While serving on the board of directors of the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, David was appointed to the City of Houston Planning Commission by Mayor Bill White in 2007 and re-appointed by Mayor Annise Parker in 2009 – becoming the first licensed architect to serve the city as a commissioner since the 1970's.
David Robinson received a BA in Architecture from Yale College and earned a Master of Architecture degree from Rice University in 1993. David is the proud father of Elissa, a 13 year old who attends the Lanier Middle School. They are active members of Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church and love living here in the great city of Houston, TX.
Council Member David W. Robinson
*The Houston City Council District At-Large Position #2 District covers the entire City of Houston. This council member is elected citywide. You can (CLICK HERE) to view the complete map including all districts.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Michael Kubosh is currently serving his first term in office. Council Member Michael Kubosh is being challenged by John C.B. LaRue, Joseph McElligott, and Doug Peterson in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. KUBOSH WILL BE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION in the upcoming election.”
Sworn in to office in January 2014, Council member Michael Kubosh is an At Large Council Member that covers the entire City of Houston. There are five (5) At Large Positions and he holds At Large Position #3.
For the past 20 years Council Member Kubosh has been involved in the Bail Bond Business in the City of Houston and Harris County. He has served on the Harris County Bail Bond board as the representative for the Bondsman of Harris County. He currently serves as a Director of the State Bail Bond Organization (Professional Bondsman of Texas). Council Member Kubosh is married and has been a Foster Parent and is an Adoptive Parent. He has a large family with five (5) children and 16 Grand Children and one (1) Great Grandson.
Council Member Kubosh led the Citizens Against Red Light Campaign. This campaign was successful in the Charter Amendment that prohibits the use of Red Light Cameras in the City of Houston. He led the petition drive to stop the City from criminalizing the feeding of the Hungry in Houston. Council Member Kubosh now serves on City Council and is a voice of the People for transparency. He believes that the Citizens have the right to know what is going on in City Government and believes that the communication to the public should be in simple and plain words without the use of acronyms that confuse the Citizens.
Council Member Kubosh believes in City Government providing CORE services of Police, Fire & Emergency Services, Water & Sewer, Trash pickup to its Citizens. City Government has gotten involved in many other NON-CORE services projects. The City has created Local Government Corporations that has kept council from the day to day operational oversight.
Council Member Kubosh believes that the City should not spend more money than it brings in from taxpayers. There must be accountability and restraint on spending and taxing. He is working hard to protect the citizens from overspending.
Council Member Michael Kubosh
*The Houston City Council District At-Large Position #3 District covers the entire City of Houston. This council member is elected citywide. You can (CLICK HERE) to view the complete map including all districts.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member C.O. “Brad” Bradford is currently serving his third and final term. He is term-limited and cannot run for re-election. A few of the key candidates running for the Houston City Council At-Large Position #4 seat in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election is as follows: Amanda Edwards, Laurie Robinson, Larry Blackmon, Jonathan Hansen, Matt Murphy, Evelyn Husband Thompson and Roy Morales. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. THIS SEAT IS OPEN in the upcoming election.”
ABOUT C.O. “BRAD” BRADFORD
C.O. "Brad" Bradford is an Attorney, Public Safety Consultant, former Houston Chief of Police and Vice Mayor Pro-Tem for the City of Houston. In January 2012, members of the Houston City Council elected Bradford as Vice Mayor Pro-Tem via unanimous vote. Bradford ran three successful citywide campaigns, the maximum (three terms) permitted under law. During his second and third campaign, he won in every council district, without a run-off and got the highest number of votes in all of the citywide contested races.
He became a resident of the city of Houston in 1979. Bradford has lived in Hiram Clarke, Alief, Fondren Southwest, and MacGregor areas, he understands the various characteristics of the Houston community and appreciates efforts to focus on neighborhood needs.
Bradford served 24 years as a Houston police officer and seven years as Chief of Police. He was appointed Houston's Police Chief by Mayor Bob Lanier and re-appointed by Mayor Lee P. Brown. While serving as Chief of Police, Bradford managed 7,000 personnel and $500 million annual budget. During his tenure, citizens' fear of crime and public safety concerns went from 59% in 1996 to only 10% by the time he left office in 2003, as documented by Dr. Stephen Klineberg, Rice University.
He holds degrees in law from the University of Houston Law Center, criminal justice from Grambling State University, and a public administration degree from Texas Southern University. Also, he is a graduate of the FBI Academy and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government Program for State and Local Executives.
Bradford has combined his education, legal training and police experience to work with neighborhoods and businesses, nationally and internationally, to help develop safety strategies.
He has initiated and led investigations, reviews, and assessments surrounding police, community and incidents of crime on numerous occasions. Chief Bradford was part of the leadership team that first developed and implemented community policing strategies in Houston, Texas. Today, more than 80% of the police agencies in America utilize some form of community policing; it is a proven concept in providing public safety services.
Chief Bradford served one of the longest tenures as a Houston Police Chief and implemented many significant programs and initiatives during his administration. These include the Department's first Alternative Dispute Resolution Process, American Sign Language Program, Assessment Center Process for Promotions, Expansion of Airport Security, City/County Jail Consolidation Project, Computer Crime Mapping, Crisis Intervention Team Program, Decentralized Family Violence Unit, Hate Crimes Program and Houston Police Online. Bradford also initiated HPD Crime Laboratory Accreditation, the first Meet and Confer Employees’ Benefits Agreement, established the first Middle Eastern and South Asian Community Liaison, created the No Trucks in the Left-Lane Motorists Safety Program, implemented a Racial Profiling Prohibition Policy, implemented HPD's Top 10 Sex Offenders/Parole Violators Program and created the Department's first Crime Victim Services Unit. He also opened new Police Stations at four divisions and Police Storefronts at five locations. In cooperation with 28 other police agencies and media outlets, Bradford implemented the Technology to Recover Abducted Kids (TRAK) System and he established the first Youth Police Advisory Council in the nation.
Bradford has served as a Precinct Chair and Election Judge in Harris County, Texas. Also, he has extensive experience as a Senior Consultant in the international consulting firm of Brown Group International (BGI). BGI is a full-service consulting firm that provides solutions to problems of government, corporations and individuals. BGI offers services in the areas of Public Safety, Homeland Security, Crisis Management, Government Relations, Community Government, Personnel Selection, Litigation Support, Technology Services and International Trade.
Additionally, Bradford has served for several years as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University. He is a highly rated Professor teaching two particular courses: Police Administration and Judicial Administration.
As a Houston City Council Member, Bradford focuses on the delivery of core services which include water, garbage, infrastructure issues and safety services. In addition to serving on the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, he served as Chair of the Ethics, Elections and Council Governance Committee, Vice Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee and chaired a City of Houston Procurement Process Task Force.
Bradford’s civic activities include serving as a Precinct Chair, Election Judge, and Deputy Voter Registrar in Harris County, Texas. He holds memberships and volunteers in numerous community activities including the ENRICH After-School (Evaluating the Out-of-School-Time Needs, Resources and Initiatives in the Communities of Houston) Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Education Foundation of Harris County, American Education Technologies Youth Counselor, Grambling State University's Criminal Justice Advisory Board, Wiley College Criminal Justice Institute, DeVry University Industry Advisory Board, 100 Club, Harris County Constable Precinct 7 Advisory Board and frequently serves as a university guest lecturer, crime prevention and safety awareness speaker.
Council Member C.O. "Brad" Bradford
*The Houston City Council District At-Large Position #4 District covers the entire City of Houston. This council member is elected citywide. You can (CLICK HERE) to view the complete map including all districts.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: “Council Member Jack Christie is currently serving his second term in office. Council Member Jack Christie is being challenged by Tahir H. Charles, Jack Christie, Sharon Moses, Phillipe Nassif, and Brad J. Batteau in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19, 2015 and ends on Friday, October 30, 2015. CHRISTIE WILL BE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION in the upcoming election.”
ABOUT JACK CHRISTIE
Jack Christie is a native Texan, businessman, chiropractic physician and community leader. Jack’s broad range of experience has taken him through Houston’s numerous and richly diverse neighborhoods, and he is proud to serve the entire city as At-Large Position 5 Council Member.
Christie received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Texas Chiropractic College and served in the Army Reserves Medical Corps for six years. He received a certificate in International Relations upon completion of graduate courses at the Bush School of Government at Texas A&M. He now runs two successful Houston-area practices that care for over 20,000 patients. As a dedicated small business owner for over thirty years, Christie lends his expertise to the local business community through his position on the Board of Directors for the Spring Branch-Memorial Chamber of Commerce.
Jack’s previous elected positions prior to arriving at Houston City Council include his three terms as a State Board of Education board member and three terms on the Board of Trustees of Spring Branch Independent School District. Christie was elected President of Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees and was appointed Chairman of Texas State Board of Education from 1995-2000.
Christie’s background in science and education has made him a sought-after education and technology expert. He has appeared on NBC’s Today, ABC’s World News, CNN and CNN Money networks and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times and Time, Fortune and Wired magazines. After being selected from a pool of nominees by the state’s premier names in science, Dr. Jack Christie was inducted into the Texas Science Hall of Fame in 2000.
While an accomplished businessman and a recognized name in his many fields, Jack Christie is most clearly defined by his unrelenting drive to serve his community. Thirty years ago Jack founded the Annual 5th Ward Ice Skating Party and has acted as its organizer and underwriter every year since. He served on the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Houston Board of Directors for five years; he volunteered as a Big Brother himself for eight years and has had the unparalleled privilege of watching his “littles” grow into successful and self-assured adults in their own rights.
Jack is the proud father of John, Katherine and Patrick. He is an active member of St. Cecilia’s Church and an Eagle Scout. Jack has been an avid runner for more than forty years, competing and finishing marathons and the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii.
Council Member Jack Christie
*The Houston City Council District At-Large Position #5 District covers the entire City of Houston. This council member is elected citywide. You can (CLICK HERE) to view the complete map including all districts.
The City Council is the City's legislative body, with the power to enact and enforce all ordinances and resolutions. Eleven Council Members are elected from districts and five are elected at-large, by all voters of the City.
The sixteen members of Council, along with the Mayor, act only by ordinance, resolution or motion. They adopt and may alter the annual budget and confirm the Mayor's appointments. Council is responsible for the appropriation and issuance of bonds, the awarding of contracts and the approval of City expenditures over $50,000. Council may lease or dispose of the City's real estate and may levy assessments against property. Council determines its own rules of procedure, and its meetings are open to the public.
Sixteen Council Members are elected every two years, in odd-numbered years. Council Members are limited to serving three terms of two years each, with each term beginning on January 2 of the even-numbered year. Five Council Members are elected At-Large, or city-wide, while the other eleven are elected to geographic districts of roughly the same proportion of population.
You can write to your Council Member at: 900 Bagby / City Hall Annex / First Floor / Houston, TX 77002.
