POLS 1337 1st Edition Lecture 14Previous: Local Government in TX Part IMayor Of HoustonAnnise Parker (Current Mayor)Won re-election in 2009 & 2011Council-Manager GovernmentEstablished in early 20th century- Purpose: To ensure the government operates effectively- Voters elect city council & mayor, city council & mayor hire managerMayor acts as “Guiding Force” instead of “Driving Force”, he/she is very influentialCity CommissionsCommissioners are in charge of different areas of the city- Started 1st in Galveston after 1900 hurricaneSuccessful beginning, became abandoned b/c of corruption and incompetenceTexas CountiesTexas has a total of 254 countiesPopulation- 8 counties (< 1,000) These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- Harris County: 4.1 Million (3rd largest county in nation)Land Area- Rockwall county (149 sq mi)- Brewster country (6,193 sq mi)Texas Counties vary among land size, population, demographics.etc…County Governments in TexasCounty Gov. include inside cities, but focus In counties in unincorporated areasSimilar to the state government, power in TX counties are highly fragmented County Commissioner’s CourtCounty Judge- Ed Emmett (Harris Country Judge)The County’s “CEO”There’s 4 County Commissioners per county- Precincts must be closely equal on the basis of people, not land- Commissioners serve 4 yr termsLaw Enforcement in TX CountiesHarris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia- Reelected Nov 2012- Formerly worked in HPD & Served on the City CouncilHarris County Dist. Att. Devon Anderson- Sworn in ( gained position) in 2013- Replaced her husband (Mike Anderson) who was elected for the position but died beforeHarris County Att. Vince Ryan- Won Reelection in Nov. 2012- Handles Civilsuits for county (serves as plaintiff and
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