Pearland City Council members on Monday delayed until October any appointments of representatives to the Houston-Galveston Area Council following heated discussion and comments from residents supporting the selection of the city’s recently elected mayor.
A regional planning commission that covers 13 counties, H-GAC permits its member cities to appoint representatives and alternates.
Pearland’s two prior mayors have served in H-GAC roles. However, concern among council members was that Mayor Quentin Wiltz, who took office in May, does not have experience to be appointed.
“I’m not asking for anything more as the mayor of this city, duly elected,” Wiltz said, “but I’m definitely not asking for anything less.”
Former Mayor Kevin Cole served on the HGAC General Assembly along with Councilman Clint Byrom, as well as serving on the HGAC Board of Directors and on the Transportation Policy Council.
“It’s not all mayors on the board of directors; it’s not inherent the mayor assumes that role,” Council member Layni Cade said.
“The right thing to me is what’s best for the City of Pearland,” Councilman Rushi Patel said. “We have a process.”
That process states that vacancies are filled by alternates who finish out their term, he said.
Council members Cade and Joseph Koza are designated as alternates.
During public comment, one resident said she is concerned that Pearland has made its city elections partisan. Ten other speakers addressed the council in support of Wiltz.
“When I cast my vote,” another speaker said, “I expected he would be afforded the same opportunities and access that prior mayors received, including service on regional boards. The question of whether he is qualified has already been answered by the voters of Pearland.”
If appointed in October, a new slate of H-GAC representatives would take effect in January.
