County Commissioner Rodney Ellis will preside over the Commissioners Courtroom. throughout the depart of absence taken by Harris County Decide Lina Hidalgo, the highest elected official for one of many nation’s largest counties
The transfer makes Ellis, and HISD product (B.H. Grimes Elementary, Carter G. Woodson Center Faculty and Evan E. Worthing Excessive Faculty) the primary African American to preside over the Commissioners Courtroom.
Requested how he’ll run the courtroom, Ellis mentioned, “Whereas Decide Hidalgo is away, I’ll run the Commissioners Courtroom conferences and can search to take action in the identical spirit because the decide, guided by transparency and inclusivity.”
The Defender requested if Ellis had particular points he’ll concentrate on throughout his time main the Courtroom, and he clarified that “On issues outdoors of Commissioners Courtroom conferences, Decide Hidalgo will stay in communication with key county workers and out there to discharge her duties as county decide.”
Nonetheless, Ellis’ time within the Commissioners Courtroom’s head seat is important, and provides one other chapter to his lifetime of public service, which incorporates being a Houston Metropolis Councilmember (District D, 1983 – 1988), State Senator (thirteenth District, 1990 – 2017) and work he did prior with Lt. Gov. Invoice Passion and U.S. Rep. Mickey Leland, Ellis’ buddy and mentor.
Ellis arrived on the Commissioners Courtroom, following within the footsteps of one other native legend, El Franco Lee, the Courtroom’s first Black member. Now, Ellis is filling in for an additional game-changer, Hidalgo, the primary girl and first Latina to be elected Harris County Decide.
Hidalgo, who introduced on Aug. 7 that she is taking a depart of absence to obtain remedy for scientific melancholy, and will probably be out for the “subsequent a number of weeks,” did say in a letter to the individuals of Harris County that she “will stay out there within the occasion of an emergency.” And per Commissioners Courtroom guidelines, the senior (longest standing) member of the courtroom (Ellis) shall preside in her absence.
