HOUSTON, Texas – On Friday, the mayor of Houston, John Whitmire, announced he has appointed a new chief of staff.
The news comes after he announced his former Chief of Staff, Chris Newport, was leaving, but will continue to serve as a trusted partner to Whitmire.
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“It has been an absolute honor to serve Mayor Whitmire and the City of Houston. I continue to believe in the mayor’s vision for the city, and in its unmatched potential for this organization to be a force for good,” said Newport. “I thank the wonderful team, colleagues, and employees of the city for allowing me to serve alongside them. My responsibilities to my family require me to serve in a different capacity, but the mayor knows that I will answer his or the city’s call, day or night.”
To replace Newport, Whitmire appointed Cynthia Wilson as the next Chief of Staff.
Whitmire said that since day one of the administration, Wilson has served as the mayor’s Senior Advisor for operations and quality of life issues.
“Cynthia and I have worked together for years, dating back to her time as a school administrator in my Texas Senate District,” said Mayor Whitmire. “She came out of retirement to join my mayoral administration and has been in my office for every major decision. I have complete confidence in her leadership and trust her ability to manage our municipal operations and challenges while advancing my priorities. She brings a wealth of experience and passion needed to get the job done.”
Cynthia previously served as District Superintendent for the Houston Independent School District, Superintendent of Schools in the Orangeburg Consolidated School District in South Carolina, and Chief of Staff and Chief Human Capital Management Officer for the Dallas Independent School District.
“This is a pivotal moment in the mayor’s administration, and we will continue the momentum to fix Houston with robust policies that strengthen public safety, improve infrastructure, stabilize the city’s finances, and enhance quality-of-life issues,” said Wilson. “Mayor Whitmire’s priorities are clear, and I look forward to building on the success of his administration.”
Wilson’s appointment is effective immediately.