By Aubrey R. Taylor
Publisher of Houston Business Connections Magazine
As I was viewing my facebook news feed on today, the above “Happy New Year” posting from Houston City Council Member Oliver Pennington popped up. As you probably know by now, Council Member Oliver Pennington is currently serving his third and final term as a city council member and will be running for mayor in the upcoming City of Houston Mayoral Election. But that's a story for another day. Today, the thing that immediately caught my attention about the post I'm referencing, was the diverse make-up of the group of people who are already a part of Council Member Oliver Pennington's network. Maybe it was just the "Happy New Year's" message; I'm not sure. But non-the-less, the number of likes the posting had already generated after only being posted for a few minutes on facebook was very impressive.
Here's a sampling of a few of the names I ran across:
Byron K Clay, Millie White, Carl Davis, Tex Christopher, Hector E. Jannay Martinez, Ivan Reyes, Dedee Draysmommy Savoy, Blanca Suarez Velez, Shari Duvall, Sabrina Piel, Mahmoud Khalil, Bianca B. Harris, Debbie Hill McKinney, Bryant N. Ballard, Miguel Ramirez, Saladin Sal McIntosh, Eppie Chapa, Icallmea Diamondintheruff Narcisse, Monica Haller, Gabriela Leon, Janet Gonsalez-Martinez, Megale Bloomer, Suleyma Chaires, Andrew McVeigh, Elizabeth Cuevas, Karlo Hamilton, Juan Jesus Cerda, Cata Htx, Gimena Rubio, Monica Delacruz, Cesar El Boss Delascalles, Gustavo Gomez, Shumetra Jack, Jazmin Barajas, Maricela Moreno, LaDdy REdd Moore, Doris Cardenas Buchanan, Cris Garcia, Raul Vigil, Bobby Mathis, Alan Garcia, Selena Agredano, Mitchel James, Vicki Proctor, Dede MizzLoyalty Evans, Karleen Vinas, Jose Duenas, Juanette Thompson, Calvin Maestro Fuller, Darilyn Davis, Dakota Downs, Paty Dominguez, Sylvia Ramon, Leonardo Limon, Betty J. Mays, Carol Ann Myers, Yohanath Chavarria, Kris N Krys Guillory, Gabino De Los Santos, Selena Melgar De Magaña, Victoria Leija, Valeria Taylor, Cathy Hanna Walker, Pat French, LaShantra Henderson-Bonilla, Mayela Lopez, Norma Uribe, Guadalupe Siliceo, Veronica Facio, Sepo Silva, Bigbaby Long York, YoLi Sanchez, J. Pery Castro, Joanna Robles Hernandez, Irving Esparza, Doris De la Garza, A. Wayne Lay, Mariposa De Crystal, Rosie Newman, Shirlon Fry, Carla Carlson-Wallace, Janet Rodriguez, Juan Ruben Olivarez, Willy Murillo, Victoria D Moore, Norelia Alvarenga, Eliseo Medina, John Dennis, Veronica Tellez Rivas, Walter Sanchez, Bertha Adkins, Kristen Garces, Jesus Angel Ibarra, Zohair Mirza, Monica Allen-Lemon, Bri Marie, Corona Ann, Los Junior's Diaz de Leon, Yesi Joachin, Jacob Kerr, Teresa Gir, Alice Frazer, Gretel Carbonell Cespedes, Alexis Morales, Santos Judit, Lourdes Montenegro, Fernando Lamas, Evelyn Robinson Walton, L.D. Rollin Trucks Martinez, James Brown, Luis Gonzalez, Kathie Chevalier, Selena Agredano, Gatito Love, TL Oneandasixthdeep Jenkins, Mark F. Kirschke, Qveen Qui, Carol Ann Myers, Patty Calvillo, Jessica Wells, Abdul Hai, Sylvia Marisela Gómez-Frayre, Vane Lopez, Norma Hernandez, A. Wayne Lay, Leslie Castro, Veronica Hernandez, Sharon Foster, Francisco Javier Aguilar Jr., Cindy Delahunt, Jose Torres, Athena Green, Steve Zola Jr, Daniel Ruiz, Dan Laake, Carla Carlson-Wallace, Tomi Wilkey Porterfield, Nick Broussard, Rosa Linda Rhodes, Ulises SwHtx, Lupe Luna, Roseann Igtsmine Young, Debra Alwayskeepinitreal Benson, Revanda Posey, Hunnicutt Bonner, Angel Solórzano, Antonio Aguirre, Eugene Burks, Maricela Elguezabal, Nathan Slade, Juan Nunez, Sylvia Gonzalez, Jessica Blake, Bianka Martinez, Ty-esha Thawife James, Zohair Mirza, Joseph Saleh, Kanddi Rodriqueez, Lindy Riojas, Empresario Perez, Sebastian Medrano, Alex Ann, Ace' Booqie Nunu, Annick Castillo Ledoux, Matthew Casher, Káiwén Lee Man, Mya Atkinson, Pachis Ferrusquilla, Tommy Dukes, Jesus Martinez, Jovita Gonzalez, Jessica Barrera, Jesse Lopez, Amberlea Renee Gonzales, Leticia Ramirez, Luis Enrique Grande, Bryan Delgado, Kristen Garces, Cesar El Boss Delascalles, Willine Pettis, Graciela S. Basham, John Thompson, Ashley Mendoza, Eppie Chapa, Connie Sanchez, Doris De la Garza, Fabiolaa Rosales, Yoryeth Herrera, Raven Williams Staysmilin', Andrew Gomez, Kari Gray-Smith, Nsb Slik, Ivette Acosta Gonzalez, Cecilia Maldonado, Jasmine Williams, Jessica Georgia Ann, Vacynthia PrinceMom Moore, and Cassandra Walker.
Now, I’m not advocating on behalf of Council Member Pennington, or any of the other candidates who will be running for Mayor of Houston in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 Mayoral Election. But I am excited to see that the citizens of Houston will have a good well-qualified field of candidates to choose from on Election Day. But for now, get to know Oliver Pennington.
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About Oliver Pennington
Oliver Pennington’s life is one of hard work, dedication, and achievement. Oliver was born and raised in the Clear Lake area to Olin and Gussie Pennington, who was herself a pioneer and leader of her day serving as the appointed tax collector for the local school district and as a Board Member of Webster State Bank. Gussie Pennington may have sparked some of young Oliver’s interest in politics through her work at the grassroots level as a precinct chair. The Penningtons also founded the real estate company Pennington/Isles, which still serves Houston’s Bay Area under the name Pennington/Chen.
Oliver graduated from Rice University in 1960 and then went on to law school at the University of Texas where he was an Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review.
Oliver married Beverly Buzzini in 1968, and together they raised two children, Oliver Pennington III and Sarah Pennington Tropoli. They currently have 5 very active grandchildren.
Upon graduation from the University of Texas, Oliver took a job at the local firm of Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP., where he quickly progressed to partner and stayed in that role from 1973 to 2002. His practice focused on municipal issues, including: municipal finance, municipal law, municipal utility law, environmental law, and administrative law. Through this focus, he participated in monthly meetings of boards that dealt with water, sanitary sewage, drainage, security, solid waste services and other similar neighborhood issues.
Oliver is the former Chairman of the Houston Civil Service Commission. He was a board member of the Memorial Park Conservancy for five years. Additionally, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the North Houston Association, a trade group advocating public policy and economic development policies favorable to that area and also served on the Del Monte II Civic Association, serving as Treasurer and President. Oliver is also a member of the Greater Houston Partnership and has previously served on the Water Laws Committee, Environmental Committee, and the Economic Development Committee. He is a longtime member of the Houston Bar Association.
Oliver is currently in his third term as the Houston City Council Member for District G. In his role of Council Member, he has prioritized economic development as well as constituent services. He is the past chairman of the Flooding & Drainage Committee and current chairman of the Ethics, Elections & Governance Committee. In addition, he serves on the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Committee and the Transportation, Technology & Infrastructure Committee. Oliver is also on the Board of Directors of the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
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Today represents much more than the mere changing of a date on our calendar to a new year. I believe that today marks the beginning of a new season for us. So let's expect for God to do something great and powerful this year! 2014 is gone and will never return again! 2015 is here and comes jammed packed with a brand new set of opportunities for growth and prosperity for each of us. We can have what we say and believe is ours. Proverbs 18:21 teaches us that: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." So let's eat the fruit of life, renewed hope, divine healing, accomplished missions, realized dreams, uncommon blessings and unexplainable favor as God's plan for us in 2015 begins to unfold in ways we've never seen before!
As President and CEO of Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, the publisher of Houston Business Connections Magazine I would also like to encourage you to support the people, small business, organizations, corporations and ministries who support our mission and vision to uplift, inspire, inform, and empower others as we climb.
Best regards,
Aubrey R. Taylor
Publisher of Houston Business Connections Magazine
957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
P: (832)212-8735
C: (832)894-1352
EMAIL: aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com
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**** Please do not forget that your advertising and or support as a subscriber to Houston Business Connections Magazine can enable us to reach more people with our message of encouragement, hope, inspiration, and empowerment. So email us your request for a hard-copy of our “2014 Year-End Review” edition of Houston Business Connections Magazine today at: (aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com). And don’t forget that our ad prices start at a very low $40.00 dollars per issue. WE CAN ACHIEVE OUR INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE GOALS AND DREAMS BY FINDING CREATIVE WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER!!!
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PEOPLE FEATURED ON THE COVER: Businessman Craig Joseph (owner of Houston's This Is It Soul Food). FBISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre, TSU Program Director Dr. Michael O. Adams (Director of the eMPA and MPA programs at Texas Southern University), Judge Loyd Wright (District Probate Judge for Court #1 in Harris County), Businessman Bill Frazer (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston), Controller Ronald C. Green (City of Houston Controller), Mayor Allen Owen (the mayor of Missouri City), Judge Christine Riddle Butts (District Probate Judge for Court #4 in Harris County), Grayle James (the FBISD President of the Board of Trustees), and Educator/Attorney Carroll G. Robinson (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston). Email your request to (aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com) if you would like to have a copy of our "2014 Year-End Review" edition of Houston Business Connections Magazine mailed directly to your home or business.
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Boasting accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), the master of public administration (MPA) program at TSU is a 48-credit-hour program that has produced key change agents in human resources, international development and policy. For more information about these programs, please contact Dr. Michael O. Adams, 713-313-7760.
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Launched in Fall 2013, the emergency management and homeland security (EMHS) program is designed to create graduates with extensive theoretical and applied knowledge in emergency management and disaster research. The Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security prepares students for careers in emergency management and public safety careers and will introduce students to the all-hazards approach, emergency disaster management phases, risk assessment, prevention and management, counter-terrorism, consequence management, mitigation, and recovery. For more information about these programs, please contact Dr. Michael O. Adams, 713-313-7760.
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About Carroll G. Robinson
Carroll G. Robinson is an Associate Professor and a former Associate Dean of External Affairs at the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas. Professor Robinson is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System (HCC) and a Citizen Member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund. He is a former member of the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors of K9s4COPs. He is also a past chairman of the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce.
Professor Robinson is a former At-Large (elected citywide) member of the Houston (Texas) City Council. As a member of the City Council, Professor Robinson chaired the city’s Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee.
Professor Robinson represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the local council of regional governments. He served as a member of the Board’s Budget Committee and was a Vice Chair of the Transportation Policy Council. He also represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for I-69 Texas and TEX-21, a statewide transportation coalition of elected officials, business leaders and transportation and infrastructure professionals.
Professor Robinson is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities where he served as a member of the Board’s Finance Committee and was a member of the Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Steering Committee. He is a former member of the Texas Municipal League’s Utilities and Environment Committee, and Transportation Task Force; Advisory Board of the Texas Environmental Defense Fund; a past President of the Texas Association of Black City Council Members where he was also a member of the Housing Committee; a former member of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO); a former member of the Texas Attorney General’s Municipal Advisory Committee (1998); Founding Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council’s Local Elected Officials Network; a former Chairman of the National League of Cities Democratic Municipal Officials; a former member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC); and a former General Counsel of the Texas Democratic Party.
Prior to his election to the Houston City Council, Professor Robinson was an Associate Professor at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. He has also worked as an adjunct Professor at South Texas College of Law.
Professor Robinson has worked in the Texas Legislature as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis. He received his Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) in Political Science from Richard Stockton State College in Pomona, New Jersey (where he received a Certificate of Academic Accomplishment in African-American Studies) and his Juris Doctorate from the National Law Center at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Professor Robinson is a Life Member of the NAACP and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is the author or co-author of numerous legal and public policy articles and commentaries. Robinson plans to put his vast experience and know-how to work for the people of Houston should voters choose him as the best candidate in the race for City of Houston Controller on the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election ballot.
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