With oaths Democrats assume full control of Harris County government
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - With the salutation "Happy Blue Year" dozens of Democratic officeholders consummated their election in the November sweep by reciting the oath of office.
They will be led by 27-year-old Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who urged each entering office, to validate the risk undertaken by voters that this regime change represents.
"They took that chance because they believed in us. They believed in our ideas and our courage and our energy and the values that we stood for. They put their trust in us and now it is our job to be worthy of that trust," said Hidalgo.
Hidalgo's priority is public safety - providing protection from repressive policing and protection from the devastation of floods.
"Our first task is to make sure people are safe, that our community is protected, to work in concert, so that we are building a resilient community that is ready anything Mother Nature, or Austin or Washington D.C. may throw at us," said Hidalgo.
Joining Hidalgo in a Democratic majority on the court is former Sheriff, now Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia.
"I get to build a community that can count on not being flooded. I can build a system of government and criminal justice that people can count on being fair and transparent," said Garcia.
For Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle, one of the few elected Republican remaining in County government, effective reform is fine, as long as it doesn't dig taxpayers into a fresh financial hole.
"To the extent that we would jeopardize our financial security or that we would jeopardize the good job we do with the basics, we could have some conflict," said Cagle, who also predicted finding plenty of common ground with Democratic colleagues.
Sharing the stage with newly sworn county officials was a swath of new judges, accurately described as "the most diverse in Harris County history" with each pledging a more equal application of justice.
"They will know that they will be respected when they come into the courtroom. That they will be before a fair individual that will give them the benefit of the doubt that is afforded to all citizens," said Judge Tonya Jones, Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 15.
"We want a court that works for everybody and for far too long I think we've lacked the balance and I am happy to bring that back to the people," said Judge Toria Finch, Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 9.
In addition to calling for a rapid settlement of the county's ongoing bail bond reform litigation, Judge Hidalgo announced a series of seven town hall meetings spread throughout the county.
Hidalgo says the gatherings are designed to gauge the needs and priorities of the people she is now sworn to serve.