[00:00:02]
>> [MUSIC] GOOD EVENING. [BACKGROUND] THANK YOU.
[ 5:00 p.m. - The City Council Convenes in City Council Chambers in Open Session.]
GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE HERE.I DON'T KNOW, DO WE HAVE STILL HAVE USE OF THESE SEATS HERE, ADDISON? ARE WE STILL HAVE SOME OF THESE RESERVED? THERE'S SOME SEATS RIGHT THERE BEHIND YOU.
THERE'S SOME SEATS HERE IF SOME OF YOU WANT TO FILL IN AND BY CHERYL BACK THERE IN THE BACK, THERE'S A FEW SEATS.
IF SOME WOULD YOU LIKE TO FILL IN.
LOOK, IF YOU STAY ON THE BACK, YOU CAN'T HEAR AND THE LORD DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. COME ON UP.
NO TAKERS. SOME OF YOU WANT TO COME IN, YOU ALL CAN FILL IN THESE SEATS.
IT IS OUR 2024 OATH OF OFFICE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AND I'M PLEASED TO WELCOME YOU ALL HERE.
I AM TREY PAYNE [LAUGHTER] AND I'M YOUR OFFICIAL MC OF THE NIGHT.
THE OATH IS TAKEN, I THINK I'M JUST NORMAL MC UP HERE TONIGHT, BUT I AM PLEASED TO BE HERE, AND THIS IS AN EXCITING NIGHT FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THIS UP, PASTOR LARRY BROOKS, PASTOR, IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD AND OPEN THIS UP WITH AN INVOCATION.
>> WOULD YOU JOIN ME IN A WORD OF PRAYER, PLEASE.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT OCCASION TODAY AS WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS ON OUR NEW MAYOR AND COUNCIL MAN HARRIS.
FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GRANT BOTH GREAT WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT AS THEY HELPED TO LEAD THE CITY AND THEIR DISTRICT FORWARD.
FATHER, WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS ON THIS PRESENT CITY COUNCIL AS THEY JOIN TOGETHER AS A UNITED TEAM TO LEAD OUR CITY.
HELP US NOW AS CITIZENS TO SUPPORT THEM, TO ENCOURAGE THEM, AND TO PRAY FOR THEM.
FATHER, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE SERVICE RENDERED BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, BLESS THEM IN THEIR NEW VENTURES.
NOW MAY YOUR GRACE, PEACE, AND BLESSING REST UPON THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION IN OUR CITY AT LARGE IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.[APPLAUSE]
>> IT'S ALWAYS FUN WHEN YOU GET TO BE THE MC, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO INTRODUCE SOMEONE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO SAY REMARKS ABOUT YOU, BUT YOU'RE NOT REALLY SURE EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO SAY.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN THE MIKE OVER TO DR. JENNIFER WILSON.
>> THANK YOU, TREY. BEFORE WE GET STARTED
[1. Recognition of Outgoing Mayor Tray Payne, and Mayor Pro Tem Shelia Patterson Harris]
TONIGHT AND WELCOME OUR TWO NEW MEMBERS ON TO COUNCIL.I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW IN CASE YOU WEREN'T AWARE, WE ARE ALSO LOSING A FANTASTIC MAYOR THAT HAS LED OUR CITY WELL FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
NOW MAYOR PAYNE HAS BEEN COUNTING DOWN.
I'M PRETTY SURE FOR THE LAST 18-20 MONTHS ONTO THIS DATE, THIS EXACT DATE RIGHT HERE FOR HIS DAY TO LEAVE OFFICE AND TO HAND THE REINS OVER TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
WE WOULD BE A MISSED IF WE WOULD NOT THANK MAYOR PAYNE FOR ALL OF HIS HARD WORK THAT HE HAS DONE HERE WITH THE CITY OF LUBBOCK.
WE THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE CALL.
THE CALL FROM OUR LORD, THE CALL FROM OUR CITIZENS, THE CALL FROM OUR GREAT CITY TO COME AND SERVE THE CITY OF LUBBOCK AND TO SERVE ALL OF YOU GREAT PEOPLE.
IT HAS PROBABLY BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST HONORS OF MY LIFE TO MEET HIM IN THIS PROCESS, TO WORK WITH HIM AND TO LEARN UNDER HIS GUIDANCE ON HOW TO BEST SERVE ALL OF YOU.
NOW I'M JUST PRIVILEGED WITH ALL OF THAT IN THE PROFESSIONAL ASPECT TO CALL HIM MY FRIEND.
HIS EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WHILE HE'S BALANCED, BEING IN THE MAYORAL POSITION HAS BEEN A TRUE GUIDING LIGHT, I THINK TO ALL OF US ON COUNCIL TO SHOW THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE BALANCE WITH ANYTHING THAT YOU DO.
YOU CAN'T DEDICATE YOURSELF FULLY IF YOU'RE NOT DEDICATED TO YOUR FAMILY AND TO THE LORD, AND I THINK TREY HAS BEEN A SHINING EXAMPLE OF HOW TO DO THAT.
I WATCHED HIM WALK THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH HIS CHILDREN WHILE THEY PARTICIPATED IN SPORTING ACTIVITIES.
I WATCHED HIM WALK THROUGH THE MARRIAGE OF ONE OF HIS DAUGHTERS, I'VE WATCHED HIM WALK THROUGH, WATCHING HIS ELDEST GET ACCEPTED INTO LAW SCHOOL.
[00:05:02]
I KNOW HE'S SO IMMENSELY PROUD OF ALL OF HIS FAMILY AND THEY ARE SO PROUD OF ALL OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT TOGETHER WITH THE CURRENT COUNCIL AND SOME OF THOSE OLDER MEMBERS ARE ALREADY GONE AND THEY'RE NOT HERE.
WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED JUST A LITTLE BIT IN A SHORT TIME WITH A NEW COUNCIL, AND HE WILL CONTINUE TO ACCOMPLISH A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN HIS PROFESSIONAL LIFE, HIS PERSONAL LIFE, AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY, NO MATTER WHAT POSITION HE SITS IN.
LUBBOCK IS IN GOOD HANDS NOW WITH A NEW COUNCIL AND A NEW LEADERSHIP.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM, BUT HE IS GOING TO BE DEARLY MISSED.
THE JOKES, THE FUN TIMES, THE HARD TIMES, THE HARD CONVERSATIONS, ALL OF IT HAS BEEN WORTH IT, AND I HOPE, MAYOR THAT YOU KNOW IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.
WE DO HAVE A FEW GIFTS FOR THE MAYOR BEFORE HE COMPLETELY STEPS DOWN AND MOVES FORWARD WITH WELCOMING OUR NEW MAYOR AND OUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
STAFF IS GOING TO BRING YOU A FEW GIFTS FORWARD.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO TELL HIM HOW GRATEFUL WE ALL ARE FROM THE CITY OF LUBBOCK, FROM ALL OF COUNCIL, FROM THE NEW MAYOR, FROM THE OLD COUNCILS, THANK YOU, MAYOR PAYNE FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF LUBBOCK.[APPLAUSE]
>> MY 11-YEAR-OLD AT THE TIME DREW THIS ON THE BOARD UPSTAIRS THE VERY FIRST NIGHT I WAS SWORN IN.
I JUST LEFT IT THERE, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME INTO THAT OFFICE AND WHAT IN THE WORLD IS A WEENIE DOG NAMED BOB.
SHE DREW THOSE ALL OVER THE HOUSE.
I WILL BE BRIEF BECAUSE I USUALLY AM, BUT I DO REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
MY FAMILY COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.
I'VE GOT TWO DAUGHTERS AT CAMP, A COUPLE OF THEM HAVE JOBS, AND MY WIFE HAD TO GO SEE HER FATHER IN OKLAHOMA CITY, SO I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED, WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND THEN GOING OUT AFTER ONE TERM AND I SAID, WELL, I'M PROBABLY THE DUMBEST PERSON FOR RUNNING AND THE SMARTEST PERSON FOR GETTING OUT EARLY, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT THAT'S JUST THE PATH THAT WAS BEFORE ME FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS THAT WE DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT UP HERE.
BUT AT ANY RATE, I LEARNED SO MUCH, I MET SO MANY INCREDIBLE PEOPLE, I MADE SO MANY NEW FRIENDS.
THERE WILL BE FRIENDS FOR LIFE, AND I COULD NOT BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT US, IT'S NOT ABOUT PATS ON THE BACK AND POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCES AND RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR AND GETTING SOME FREE LUNCHES.
IT'S ABOUT SERVING BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE GOD PLACES YOU AND YOU GROW WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED, AND THAT'S WHERE HE PLANTED ME FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR MY TIME.
I WISH MY WIFE COULD BE HERE TO SEE THIS BECAUSE SHE WOULD.
BUT ANYWAY, NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE SOMEBODY WHO'S GIVEN A WHOLE LOT MORE TIME TO THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THAN PEOPLE WILL EVER EVER KNOW.
MAYOR PRO TEM PATTERSON HARRIS IS NOT ONLY AN AMAZING PERSON, SHE'S GOING TO BE MISSED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE.
YOU DON'T EVER WANT TO GIVE A SPEECH AFTER SHEILA.
YOU DON'T EVER WANT TO GIVE A PRAYER AFTER SHEILA.
I LEARNED THAT VERY EARLY ON BECAUSE IT JUST DOESN'T CARRY THE SAME WEIGHT AND SHE'S GOING TO BE MISSED.
HER CHARISMA WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN JUST LIKE THE CHARISMA OF HER FATHER AND THE CHARISMA OF JUST ABOUT EVERYONE IN HER FAMILY
[00:10:01]
AND IF YOU HADN'T HAD THE PLEASURE OF HEARING HER SPEAK OR PRAY, YOU'RE MISSING OUT.SHEILA JUST CALLED ME DUDE THE PAST TWO YEARS AND HONESTLY, I'M NOT SURE IF SHE KNOWS MY NAME.
WHEN I SEE HER, I JUST HEAR, HEY, DUDE, I KNOW A LOT OF YOU ARE JUST REFERRED TO AS MAMA, AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU KNOW THAT OR IF YOU EVEN HAVE KIDS, BUT THAT'S SHEILA.
SHE SERVED DISTRICT TWO FOR EIGHT YEARS AND HAS CONTINUED THE GREAT TRADITION OF EXCELLENT REPRESENTATION IN HER DISTRICT.
HER GOALS WERE TO REVITALIZE THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ESTABLISH OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT SHEILA'S DISTRICT, IT WAS ABOUT THE WHOLE CITY.
SHE FOUGHT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN HER DISTRICT, BUT SHE CARED ABOUT LUBBOCK, TEXAS USA.
SHE LOVED PAVING DIRT ROADS PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYTHING.
ACTUALLY, MAYBE NOT AS MUCH AS SHE MIDTOWN, BUT SHE LOVED PAVING DIRT ROADS.
FOR EIGHT YEARS, SHE WORKED WITH LEADERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND AGENCIES TO UNIFY LUBB AND TO INITIATE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS THAT ARE FELT INVISIBLE THROUGHOUT HER DISTRICT IN THIS CITY.
SHE RAN FOR OFFICE TO REPRESENT PEOPLE.
A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS SOMETIMES WE DISAGREED.
BUT AT THE END, IT WAS ALWAYS IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE, AND I LEARNED A LOT BECAUSE SHEILA WOULD CONSTANTLY REMIND ME ABOUT THAT.
SHE GOT MORE CALLS THAN ANYBODY ELSE ON CITY COUNCIL, IT SEEMED LIKE FOR A WHILE.
EVERYONE HAD HER NUMBER, AND SHE WAS GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM CITIZENS NONSTOP.
I NEVER ONCE HEARD SHEILA COMPLAIN. THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
THAT'S A BIG DEAL IN MY FAMILY, I CAME FROM A FAMILY THAT YOU JUST DIDN'T COMPLAIN.
IT DIDN'T DO ANY GOOD AND NOBODY LISTENED TO YOU ANYWAY.
BUT WHEN THINGS WERE HARD OR WE MADE HARD DECISIONS, SWIMMING POOLS [LAUGHTER].
THINGS THAT WERE HARD TO DO, AND SOME PEOPLE REALLY NEVER UNDERSTAND THE WHERE AND WHYS AND WHATS, BUT SOME THINGS THAT HAD TO BE DONE.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO DO HARD THINGS. SHE NEVER COMPLAINED.
SHE WORKED HARD FOR A DISTRICT, SHE LOVED HELPING BRING NEW BUSINESSES IN AND LOOK WHAT DISTRICT LARINO FOODS IS IN. THAT'S A GREAT THING.
IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU, I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
WE'VE ALSO GOT SOME GIFTS PREPARED FOR YOU, STREET SIGNS, SOME PHOTOS FROM HER EIGHT YEARS HERE, NAME PLATE, SOME CHALLENGE COINS, AND HER PORTRAIT THAT WAS HANGING IN THE LOBBY.
ONCE AGAIN, I ASKED THE QUESTION, DID SHE WANT THE 2016 VERSION, OR DID SHE WANT THE 2024 VERSION? I'M NOT SURE WHICH WE WENT WITH, BUT THAT'S IT.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE US TO GIVE A WARM STANDING OVATION TO MISS SHEILA PATTERSON HARRIS, MAYOR PRO TEM.[APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND]
>> TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR THE THINGS HE HAS DONE.
TRULY, I THANK GOD FOR LIFE AND THE JOY OF LIVING.
HE GIVES US AIR TO BREATHE EVERY DAY.
AS MY BROTHER SAYS, HE PUTS US ON THE WAKE UP LIST.
I LOOK AROUND AND ALL OF THESE FOLKS LOOK AT THEM BACK THERE.
BECAUSE YOU DON'T MR. HENRY BACK THERE BECAUSE YOU DON'T DO IT ALONE.
[00:15:07]
YOU DON'T STAND ALONE, YOU DON'T SCREAM ALONE SOMETIMES GORDON GET READY.>> BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU SO WANT TO DO AND YOU CAN'T, BUT MY DAD WOULD ALWAYS SAY, DON'T YOU QUIT.
DON'T YOU QUIT BECAUSE THE CHILDREN NEED YOU.
I'M SPEECHLESS, Y'ALL. I'M GRABBING STUFF.
IT HAS BEEN EIGHT YEARS OF MY LIFE.
THAT'S A WHOLE LOT OF TIME, Y'ALL.
WITH THAT, I HAVE ENJOYED SO MUCH OF IT.
THE THING THAT HAS MADE ME HAPPY MORE THAN ANYTHING ARE FOLKS LIKE Y'ALL, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT SHARE THINGS, THAT SAY NO, WE DON'T WANT THAT MS. SHEILA.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS AND YOU DON'T SHY AWAY, YOU JUST DO WHAT YOU CAN TO GET IT DONE.
TO MAYOR PAYNE, IT HAS BEEN REAL, DUDE.
[LAUGHTER] SERVING WITH YOU ONLY A SHORT WHILE, BUT AS I'VE SAID TO YOU BEFORE, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW LONG YOU'VE GIVEN YOUR TIME.
TO THE CURRENT COUNCIL, SOME OF THE FOLKS I'VE SERVED WITH A COUPLE OF YEARS ALREADY.
I'VE ENJOYED SERVING WITH YOU.
I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU AS YOU CONTINUE ON TO LISTEN ABOVE THE NOISE AND MAKE THE BEST DECISION THAT YOU CAN.
TO GORDON HARRIS. I'LL GET TO YOU IN A MINUTE, MR. MARY LECH.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TENFOLD SO THAT YOU'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO GRASP ON TO ON THOSE DAYS WHEN IT DON'T GO QUITE LIKE YOU WANT IT.
YOU SAT DOWN THERE BY ME [INAUDIBLE] FOR TWO, YEAH, THAT WAS THE WARMEST SPOT UP THERE. I DON'T DO COLD.
THEN HE WANTED TO ASK ME IF HE COULD BORROW MY HEATER ONE TIME.
THAT AIN'T HOW HOW YOU RUN A CITY.
[LAUGHTER] I HEARD TREY TALKS ABOUT IT, WASN'T BECAUSE OF THE MEALS.
BUT TO EACH OF YOU, I GOT SOME GOOD FOLKS, MAN, THAT HAVE BEEN WITH ME AND HUNG WITH ME THROUGHOUT THIS THING FROM DAY 1 WHEN I WAS CRAZY ENOUGH TO SAY OKAY, AND I HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN WITH ME FOR 34 YEARS, WHO'S BEEN CRAZY ENOUGH TO ALLOW ME TO BE GONE AND DO THIS AND DO THAT FOR OTHER FOLK.
THEN THERE ARE SOME FOLK IN THE COMMUNITY OVER THERE AT PARKWAY NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, WHO'D HAVE ME COME OVER TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE CHILDREN.
TODAY, THEY STAND AND HAVE THE AMBASSADORS HERE WITH US TODAY.
[APPLAUSE] THAT'S THE PASTOR OF NEW HOPE AND HIS FIRST LADY.
I COULD TELL HOW HE WAS DRIVING THAT CAR DOWN THE STREET.
[LAUGHTER] THEN THERE'S THE GOOD FOLKS OF ATMOS ENERGY, WHO PARTNERED WITH ME AND SO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN DISTRICT 2 WHEN THEY BEGAN DOING THEIR NEW LINE PROJECT DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIP WITH CITIZENS.
I LOOK UP AND ATMOS BE UP THERE YELLOW HOUSE CANYON MORE THAN ME.
BUT THEY HAD DEVELOPED A RELATIONSHIP AND ATMOS WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE
[00:20:05]
BEING GOOD CITIZENS TO THE FOLK TO TAKE THEIR THOUGHTS, AND THEIR CONCERNS, AND REVIEW THEM AND THEN MAKE A DECISION, SO THANK YOU GUYS.THAT'S HOME MINISTRIES. BOY, I TELL YOU WHAT, SHE'S THE HARDEST WORKING WOMAN IN SHOW BUSINESS LOOKING OUT FOR FOLKS NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.
THEN YOU LOOK UP HERE AND YOU SEE ALL THESE LADIES WEARING RED.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE BACK THERE.
[LAUGHTER] BUT SHE'LL BE HERE.
THAT'S THE THING. THERE SHE IS.
THESE LADIES IN RED MET WITH ME IN OCTOBER INTO NOVEMBER OF 2016, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY'D BE WITH ME AND THAT THEY'D STAND WITH ME AND THEY PRAYED WITH ME AND THEY WENT AND GOT INFORMATION FOR ME, AND THEY HELPED ME.
WAS THAT ME? THAT'S [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] THEY WENT AND GOT INFORMATION.
THEY WALKED BLOCKS WITH ME SO MUCH SO THAT I LOST 25 POUNDS, Y'ALL.
[LAUGHTER] THROUGHOUT THESE EIGHT YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN WITH ME.
IF I HAD SOME PLACE TO GO, I'LL GO AND BE THERE WITH ME.
IF I HAD COMMUNITY MEETINGS, THEY COME, AND THEY TAKE THE NOTES, AND PRAY, AND ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF.
I'M SAYING ALL OF THIS BECAUSE IT MEANS SOMETHING.
I MAY NEVER GET TO SAY A WORD UP HERE IN THE COUNCIL, IN CHAMBERS, AT CITIZENS TOWER EVER AGAIN AFTER TODAY, BUT I WANT TO SAY IT TODAY BECAUSE I MAY NOT EVER HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SEAN.
I BLESS GOD FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT HE HAS JUST [NOISE] DOWN AT 2303 BECAUSE OF BEING OBEDIENT.
TRYING TO HOLD IT IN, Y'ALL BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT A LITTLE SHOUTING, BUT I CAN DO SO.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN BECAUSE THERE ARE SPECIAL FOLKS HERE TODAY, AND YOU NEED TO STAND SO THAT THE PEOPLE CAN SEE YOU AND PREPARE FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOURS AS WELL, MR. HARRIS.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY PEOPLE.
MR. ROBERT BAXTER, HE FOLLOWED ME EVERYTHING I DO.
WHEN THEY START TURNING DOWN THE CARNAL APARTMENTS, HE SAID, MS. SHEILA.
[LAUGHTER] BUT IT TAKES FOLKS LIKE THAT WHO DON'T MIND.
YOU GOT TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S GOT YOUR BACK, Y'ALL.
NOW, WHEN WE GREW UP AND WE HAVE US, BUT WE'D ALWAYS HAVE SOMEBODY THAT HAD OUR BACK AND THEN YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE AND THE WORLD WOULD GO BEFORE YOU.
I THANK YOU. I BET YOU ALL GOD SPEED.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL BE COMING BACK UP TO THIS BUILDING OR NOT.
[LAUGHTER] JUST IN CASE I DON'T, I WANT TO SAY A GREAT BIG THANK YOU, JARED ATKINSON. THANK YOU.
ALL OF THE FIRE RESCUE FOLKS. THANK YOU, GUYS.
WHERE ARE THEM POLICES AND THE NEW CHIEF? TELL HIM I SAY THANK YOU.
THERE'S CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] AND ASSISTANT CHIEF WHITE.
YOU HAVE TO APPRECIATE FOLKS, LIKE I TOLD MAYOR.
WE GET TO DO THAT. WE STOPPED DOING THAT FOR SOME REASON.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M OUT OF HERE.
[APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE] THEY GOT ME GUSHES IN HERE, Y'ALL, AND CHICK OLD STICKS.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS IN THE BACKGROUND.
[00:25:03]
UP HERE. COME ON, CHRISTY.COME ON UP HERE, Y'ALL. HEY, CHRISTY.
>> EVERYBODY GOT A PIECE OF IT.
>> SHE GOT SO MUCH STUFF. I DON'T KNOW WHERE [OVERLAPPING]
>> EVEN CJ WALKED WITH US, AND HE WAS JUST FOUR.
>> CURTIS, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS? ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE THOSE OUT? [BACKGROUND]
>> Y'ALL, SOMEWHERE IN THIS ROOM IS MY DAD.
>> SEE WHAT I MEAN? THANKS, CHRIS.
[2. Swearing-In Ceremony]
GORDON AND MARK, WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR OATH, YOU'LL STAND AT THE MICROPHONE NEXT TO ME.ADMINISTERS, PLEASE STAND AT THE MICROPHONE OPPOSITE OF THEM.
WE HAVE ADMINISTER HERE, AND THEN CANDIDATE ELECT WILL BE THERE.
PLACE YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE.
FAMILY MEMBERS CAN JOIN IN AND STAND AROUND AS THEY TAKE THEIR OATH, ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU'LL PLACE YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE THAT'S BEING HELD BY THE MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY AND HOLD YOUR RIGHT HAND IN THE AIR.
NOW, TO LET YOU KNOW, COURTNEY SWORE THEM IN BACK IN THE EXECUTIVE ROOM.
I THINK THIS IS JUST FOR FUN AND PICTURES.
THEN ONCE YOU'RE DONE, YOU'RE FREE TO MAKE SOME REMARKS.
I'LL MOVE ASIDE AND YOU CAN MAKE SOME REMARKS.
WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH BOTH OF THOSE OFFICIAL OATHS AND REMARKS, THEN WE'LL ALL CLOSE THIS UP, AND WE'LL GO GET SOME CAKE, AND PUNCH, AND DESSERTS. COUNCILMAN GORDON HARRIS.
[APPLAUSE] MR. HARRIS WILL TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR LUBBOCK CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
HIS OATH OF OFFICE WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY PASTOR LARRY POKE, AND HE WILL BE JOINED BY MONICA WILLIAMS.
>> BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WOULD YOU REPEAT, I, GORDON HARRIS.
>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM.
>> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM.
>> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
>> I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.
>> AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.
>> AND TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, AND PROTECT THE REST OF IT.
>> OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
>> OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
>> AND ALL THE PEOPLE SAID AMEN.
>> THANK YOU, PASTOR. THANK GOD.
[00:30:02]
WELL, I'LL KEEP IT SHORT.I KNOW THE SEATS ARE HARD AND PEOPLE OF TIRED IS STANDING AROUND, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HELPED ME GET HERE, AS FAR AS MY CAMPAIGN CREW AND EVEN INCLUDING SHEILA, AND SEAN.
IT WASN'T ALL DONE BY MYSELF, AND HOLDING THIS POSITION IS NOT FOR MYSELF.
I'VE HAD A PASSION FOR IT FOR 40 YEARS, AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY IN LUBBOCK KIND OF KNOW ME OR HEARD OF ME.
I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT BETTER.
LUBBOCK IS A GREAT CITY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT GREATER BEFORE THE NEXT GENERATIONS THAT ARE COMING UP, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.
PRAY FOR ME, WORK WITH ME, AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IF YOU GOT A PROBLEM, LET ME KNOW IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HARRIS.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE SENATOR CHARLES PERRY HERE WITH US, AND HE HAS A PROCLAMATION ON SOME WORDS, I BELIEVE, PRIOR TO THE SWEARING END OF MR. MCBRAYER.
>> ACTUALLY, I DON'T HAVE A PROCLAMATION.
I WAS TOLD, JUST PUT IN THE MAIL, AND YOU KNOW GOVERNMENT WORD BEING WHAT IT IS.
WHEN IT ARRIVES, WE WILL DELIVER IT.
I DO BRING GREETINGS FROM GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PATRICK AND SPEAKER PHELAN, AS WELL AS THE THREE REPS HERE.
SENATOR, ME, CHARLES PERRY, OBVIOUSLY, AND THEN CARL TEPPER, REPRESENTATIVE TEPPER AND REPRESENTATIVE BURROUGHS.
THEY HAD OTHER ENGAGEMENTS, BUT YOU HAVE THEIR FULL SUPPORT.
I CAN'T LEAVE THIS WITHOUT SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT SHEILA.
I LEARNED EARLY ON WHEN I GOT INTO POLITICS A LITTLE BIT THAT ANY DAY WITH TJ WAS A GREAT DAY, AND HE TAUGHT YOU A LOT IF YOU JUST SPEND 30 MINUTES WITH ME.
IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT KIND OF MOOD YOU'RE IN, YOU LEFT BETTER.
YOU CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
IF I'M A BATMAN IN VEGAS TODAY, I THINK YOU'LL BE BACK IN HERE SPEAKING IN FRONT OF THIS CHAMBERS OVER SOMETHING PRETTY QUICK, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE YOUR DAY IS NOT DONE.
WE'RE TOLD TO TOLL ON THIS SIDE, SO YOU'VE GOT WORK TO DO.
TREY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
YOU ANSWERED A CALL IN A SEASON IN LIFE, AND I THINK WE ALL HAVE THOSE SEASONS, AND FOR WHEN WE'RE CALLED TO SERVE IN WHAT WE DO, AND I THINK YOU HAVE LEFT AN IMPACT IN A GOOD WAY BY HOW YOU BROUGHT A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO A CALMING INFLUENCE.
YOU'RE MORE TALENTED AS A JOKESTER THAN AN ATTORNEY, [LAUGHTER] AND SO YOU DO HAVE A CAREER DOWN AT FROGGY BOTTOMS. IS THAT STILL A PLACE? I DON'T KNOW.
I WOULD JUST SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I WILL ALSO LEAD INTO PUBLIC SERVICES HARD.
IT DON'T MATTER IF IT'S COUNTY, CITY, STATE, FEDERAL, ENVIRONMENTS PRODUCE DIFFERENT REASONS WHY IT'S HARD, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE HARDEST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS BALANCE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORKING POOR AND THE WORKING CLASS, THE MIDDLE CLASS SPECIFICALLY, CAN AFFORD WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
THEREIN LIES THE CHALLENGES OF THE DAY, THE PRIORITIES.
MARK ASKED ME TO SAY A FEW WORDS, AND ME AND MARK TALKED A WHILE, AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH LUBBOCK AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS GOOD.
WE HAVE OUR CONVERSATIONS FOR SURE.
WE'RE EACH COMPETING INTERESTS SOMETIME AS FAR AS THINGS WE CAN DO AND CAN'T DO BUT WE NEED TO DO BECAUSE 30 MILLION PEOPLE ASKED FOR IT RATHER THAN 300,000, SO THERE'S ALWAYS THAT INHERENT HEALTHY CONFLICT, I THINK, MOST OF THE TIME [INAUDIBLE] THE PROCESS.
BUT LUBBOCK 'SHAD GOOD LEADERSHIP.
I'VE BEEN HERE 40 YEARS NOW, AND GREAT LEADERSHIP, AND THEY'VE TACKLED SOME BIG ISSUES FOR THE FUTURE THAT MOST PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED.
MARK AND I HAD THE SAME PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH TO IF IT'S A POLICY, HOW IS IT GOING TO AFFECT THE $15 IN OUR EMPLOYEE OR THE $10 IN OUR EMPLOYEE? CAN THEY AFFORD IT AND IS IT NEEDED IF THEY CAN'T? WHEN YOU START FROM THERE, EVERYTHING BETTER HAPPENS BECAUSE THERE'S A MAJORITY OF FOLKS, AND THEY DON'T USUALLY ENGAGE.
MARK AND I, AND I THINK THE COUNCIL IN GENERAL HAS THAT OPINION FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, WHAT'S GOOD FOR LUBBOCK NEEDS TO BE GOOD FOR EVERYBODY, AND MARK SHARES A PASSION FOR ALL OF LUBBOCK.
WE HAVE ALREADY HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS AND WE'RE WORKING ON SOME THINGS I THINK THAT GOING FORWARD THAT THE STATE CAN HAVE A LITTLE MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN.
WITH THAT, YOUR FRIEND, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR SERVICE, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE.
DON'T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED, THERE'S A LOT OF CITIES IN THIS STATE THAT DO NOT WORK WELL WITH THE STATE, AND YOU CAN POINT TO BOTH SIDES AS TO WHY THAT IS.
WE'RE LUCKY THAT LUBBOCK DOESN'T HAVE THAT BECAUSE IT TAKES BOTH TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE,
[00:35:04]
EFFICIENTLY RAN CITY WITH THE LEAST BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS.I PLEDGE TO YOU, YOU'VE GOT OUR SUPPORT ON A LOCAL LEVEL.
FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE SOME PULL-OUT DOWN IN AUSTIN RIGHT NOW FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND WE'LL SEIZE THE DAY, SO TO SPEAK, WHEN YOU GUYS CAN CALL AND WE'LL WORK IT OUT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR NEW COUNCIL.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVICE WITH YOU GUYS.
I KNOW MOST OF YOU PERSONALLY.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR LET ME SPEAK, BUT TEXAS IS BEHIND YOU, WHAT YOU NEED, AND WE'LL WORK OUT THE DIFFERENCES OVER TIME.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE CALL.
>> MR. MCBRAYER'S OATH OF OFFICE WILL BE NEXT.
IF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL PLEASE COME UP.
MARK'S OATH WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY RETIRED TEXAS SUPREME COURT, JUSTICE PHIL JOHNSON, AND HE'S ACCOMPANIED BY BRYANT, MEL, AUDREY, SISTER MAGGIE WILLIS, AND I DON'T GUESS DJ MADE IT. ALL RIGHT.
>> [LAUGHTER] HE WILL BE HERE.
>> EVEN WITHOUT HIM. IT IS BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT I WILL ADMINISTER THIS OATH TO YOU, MR. MCBRAYER, AND YOUR RIGHT HAND IS RAISED, IF YOU'LL REPEAT AFTER ME, PLEASE.
>> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE.
>> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE.
>> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR.
>> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR.
>> OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
>> THE CITY OF LUBBOCK OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
>> AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
>>AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
>> PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND.
>> PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND.
>> THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> CONGRATULATIONS, MR. MAYOR.
>> WELL, LIKE MAYOR PAYNE, OR FORMER MAYOR PAYNE NOW, MY WIFE IS NOT HERE EITHER.
MY WIFE IS MORE DEDICATED TO GOD THAN TO ME, AND THAT'S A BLESSING.
SHE'S FLEW IN ONE DAY FROM MY ELECTION, BUT SHE WAS GONE TWO WEEKS ON A MISSION TRIP WITH HER STUDENTS FROM TECH TO NEW YORK CITY, WORKING WITH IMMIGRANTS UP THERE WHO SPEAK FRENCH BECAUSE SHE WAS A FRENCH TEACHER FOR 29 YEARS AND FLEW OUT THE NEXT DAY, AND THEN FLEW IN YESTERDAY SUNDAY AT 2:15 AND OUT 4:30 MONDAY MORNING TO GO TAKE MY OTHER GRANDDAUGHTER, PRESLEY ON A CHURCH MISSION TRIP TO ATLANTA AND THE EAST COAST.
SO I MISS HER, I WISH SHE WERE HERE.
MY DAUGHTER IS IN ICELAND, A LONG-TIME PLAN, SO WE SHARE A LITTLE BIT THERE.
BUT WE ALL KNOW WE DON'T DO THIS ALONE AND THEY'RE WITH US HERE IN SPIRIT.
BUT I HAVE TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR SUPPORTING ME.
EVERYONE KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
WE ALL WOULD WISH THAT, IN MY CASE, THAT MY PARENTS COULD BE HERE, MY GRANDPARENTS, BUT LIFE MOVES ON.
BUT I KNOW THEY'RE HERE WITH ME IN SPIRIT.
I WANT TO THANK THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORTERS WHO SUPPORTED ME THROUGH THIS WHOLE JOURNEY TO BECOME YOUR MAYOR.
AN AMAZING TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO WORKED WITH ME AND GAVE SO MUCH TO ME, AND I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT HIM.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL PEOPLE I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE WITH AND LEARN FROM.
SHEILA, FOR HELPING ME KEEP WARM DOWN ON THAT END OF THE, THE WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE OF PEOPLE LIKE HER AND LATRELLE WAS AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO COUNT ON THAT.
TO SERVE WITH STEVE, WHO'S GIVEN A LOT OF HIS TIME TO THIS CITY AND A LOT OF EFFORT TO THIS CITY AND WHO LOVES THIS CITY, I BELIEVE, JUST LIKE I DO.
TO DR. JENNIFER WILSON AND LATRELLE JOY, AND TO MAYOR PAYNE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE NEW COUNCIL, GORDON, WITH YOU, AND DAVID, I KNOW YOU'RE HERE, BRADEN,
[00:40:02]
ALL OF YOU AND WORKING WITH EVERYBODY, AND TIM, THERE YOU GO.THANK YOU, TIM. I'M LOOKING FOR TIM THERE.
THESE SPEECHES USUALLY START WITH TALKING ABOUT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF BEING A MAYOR, BEING ELECTED A MAYOR, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY TRUE, BUT THE WORD THAT COMES TO ME ARE WORDS THAT WERE FOUND ON MY FATHER'S LIPS A LOT.
MY FATHER WAS IN A MARINE WHO SERVED IN IWO JIMA, AND BIG WORDS FOR HIM WERE RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTY.
THOSE ARE THE MORE IMPORTANT WORDS, NOT PRIVILEGE, NOT HONOR, BUT RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTY.
ALONG WITH THAT COMES A PROFOUND AWARENESS THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE TO YOU, THE CITIZENS OF LUBBOCK.
I RAN ON A CAMPAIGN TO REBUILD YOUR TRUST IN CITY HALL AND IN A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT KNOWS IT REPRESENTS YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT I REPRESENT YOU.
HAVING SAID THAT, LET ME SAY THAT LUBBOCK IS FORTUNATE, VERY FORTUNATE, INDEED TO HAVE SOME OF THE SMARTEST AND MOST DEDICATED CITY EMPLOYEES, I THINK CAN BE FOUND ANYWHERE.
[APPLAUSE] IT HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH THEM FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.
I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THEY SHARE A LOVE FOR LUBBOCK TOO.
I WAS AT THE CITY EMPLOYEE PICNIC THIS LAST WEEKEND.
I SAT DOWN WITH A WOMAN WORKING IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT, AND I ASKED HER ABOUT HER JOB, AND SHE SAYS, I LOVE MY JOB, I LOVE THIS CITY, I LOVE WHAT I DO.
I LOVED HEARING THAT. I SEE THAT ON THE FACES OF THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH.
I BELIEVE THEY TRULY DO LOVE SERVING THIS CITY JUST AS I DO.
I LOVE LUBBOCK. BUT LET ME RETURN TO THE WORD RESPONSIBILITY.
THE VERSE I PUT MY HAND ON IN THIS BIBLE.
THIS WAS THE BIBLE MY GRANDMOTHER GAVE ME WHEN I WAS 11, I CHOSE TO USE IT, AND IT'S THE OLD KING JIMMY VERSION.
[LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO INTERPRET IT JUST A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT COMES FROM JEREMIAH 29:7, WHERE GOD SAYS, "GO AND SEEK THE WELFARE OF THE CITY WHERE YOU ARE PLACED AND PRAY TO THE LORD ON ITS BEHALF.
FOR IN ITS WELFARE, YOU WILL FIND YOUR WELFARE AND PEACE." THAT IS THE VERSE THAT WILL SUSTAIN ME AND LEAD ME AS I ATTEMPT TO BE YOUR MAYOR AND SERVE THIS CITY.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELFARE OF THIS CITY? IS IT ME? IS IT THE STAFF? IS IT CITY HALL? IT'S MY FIRM AND LIFELONG BELIEF THAT THE WELFARE OF PEOPLE GROWS OUT OF A HEALTHY SOIL OF EACH OF OUR CITIZENS' DREAMS AND EFFORTS FOR THE GOOD OF THEMSELVES AND THE COMMON GOOD.
FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR SCHOOLS, AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, THROUGH THEIR CHURCHES, AND THEIR CIVIC GROUPS, AND BY BUSINESSES WE HAVE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS A BETTER AND A GREATER CITY.
I TRUST MY INSTINCT ON THIS BECAUSE I'VE LIVED IN LUBBOCK MOST OF MY LIFE.
I KNOW THAT WE REPRESENT THE VERY BEST OF TEXAS VALUES.
WE VALUE FAITH IN GOD, COMMITMENT TO FAMILY, HARD WORK, WE'RE RESILIENT PEOPLE, AND WE RESPECT LIFE AND THE DIGNITY OF EACH AND EVERY PERSON.
I TRUST MY INSTINCT ON THIS ALSO BECAUSE OF MY DAILY EXPERIENCE WITH THE RICH, VERY RICH ETHNIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF THE CITY THAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING PLACES IN THE WORLD.
IT'S TRULY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BEST OF THE PEOPLE IN TEXAS, ANYWHERE, BAR NONE.
I TRUST MY INSTINCTS ALSO BECAUSE I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE INCREDIBLE ECONOMIC FOUNDATION ON WHICH THIS CITY HAS BEEN BUILT, BASED ON AGRICULTURAL, EDUCATION, MEDICINE, BUSINESSES, SMALL AND LARGE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, IT'S A FOUNDATION OF THIS CITY AND'S WHAT MAKES IT GREAT.
BECAUSE OF THIS ONE OF MY STRONG PRINCIPLES IS A BELIEF IN LIMITED GOVERNMENT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT NOT A SINGLE ONE OF US POSSESSES THE WISDOM NECESSARY TO IMPOSE WELFARE ON THE CITY FROM THE TOP DOWN, BY THOSE OF US WHO HAVE OFFICES UP ON THE 11TH FLOOR, IT COMES FROM YOU.
I SEE IT THEN AS MY RESPONSIBILITY, FIRST TO FIND THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY FOR THE CITY TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT PROVIDE THE BEST WAY, THE BEST POSSIBLE CONDITIONS FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR CITIZENS.
THAT'S FIRST. TO PROVIDE THE OTHER RESOURCES, IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR OUR CITY TO PROVIDE TO TAKE CARE OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHERE WE LIVE, WHERE WE RAISE OUR FAMILIES, WHERE WE WORK.
THREE, TO DO THAT WITHOUT TAKING MORE RESOURCES OUT OF YOUR POCKETS THAN IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO DO THAT.
I WANT YOU TO TRUST THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHERE OUR BUDGET MONEY COMES FROM TO DO THESE THINGS,
[00:45:01]
IT COMES FROM YOUR HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS, AND I TAKE THAT TRUST VERY SOLEMNLY.FROM THE FIRST DAY I ANNOUNCED UNTIL I WAS ELECTED, I RAN VERY CLEARLY ON THESE THREE PRINCIPLES.
I WASN'T RUNNING ON MY NAME OR MY EXPERIENCE, OR MY RESUME, I WAS RUNNING ON THESE PRINCIPLES, AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO WORK WITH THIS COUNCIL AND OUR STAFF.
IT'S CLEAR AT LEAST TO ME FROM THE RESULTS OF THIS ELECTION THAT THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT, AND I CERTAINLY WANT CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS; I WANT GREATER CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN OUR ELECTIONS.
BUT THE BEST WAY I KNOW TO ENCOURAGE THAT AND TO SEE THAT HAPPEN IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO VOTE FOR US SEE THAT WE DO WHAT WE TOLD THEM WE WOULD DO AND THAT WE TRULY HEARD THEM.
[APPLAUSE] AS INSPIRING AS I MIGHT TRY TO BE AND WOULD LIKE TO BE, AS I BEGAN, I UNDERSTAND LEADERSHIP AS A RESPONSIBILITY AND A DUTY, AND IT INVOLVES COOPERATING IN AN OFTEN DIFFICULT AND MESSY ENTERPRISE BECAUSE IT'S OUR JOB AS A MAYOR AND A COUNCIL TO SET POLICIES FOR OUR CITY GOVERNMENT, AND THAT MEANS SETTING PRIORITIES, SOME OF WHICH WE MAY NOT ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE ON, BUT WE CAN'T SHRINK FROM THE TASK OF MAKING CHOICES, ESPECIALLY IN WHAT I STILL THINK ARE SOME DIFFICULT TIMES MANY OF OUR CITIZENS FACE.
LET ME SAY SOMETHING NOW EQUALLY IMPORTANT THOUGH.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND CLEARLY THAT WE ARE ONE CITY, AND I WILL ALWAYS ACT WITH THE WELFARE OF THE WHOLE CITY IN MY HEART AND ON MY MIND.
I HOPE TO BECOME A VERY FAMILIAR FIXTURE IN ALL YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I LIKE TO BE.
I LOVE THIS CITY, AND I HOPE TO SERVE IT WITH ALL MY HEART SO LONG AS GOD GIVES ME THE STRENGTH TO DO SO AND THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO, AND I BELIEVE THAT I CAN.
THANK YOU. MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS LUBBOCK, TEXAS AND THE WELFARE AND PEACE OF GOD BE UPON THIS CITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>> WITH THAT, THE 58TH LUBBOCK CITY COUNCIL IS NOW ALL SWORN IN.
MAYOR MCBRAYER, COUNCIL MEMBERS MARTINEZ-GARCIA.
CHRISTY, THANK YOU FOR SERVING WITH US THE LAST TWO YEARS, POSSIBLY FUTURE MAYOR PRO TEM, CHRISTY MARTINEZ-GARCIA.
MR. HARRIS, MR. GLASHEEN, MR. ROSE.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM SUPPORTS YOU.
I PRAY THAT EVERYONE PRAYS FOR YOU AS YOU MOVE FORWARD IN THIS VERY DIFFICULT JOB.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WILL BE THERE FOR YOU, I BELIEVE, IF YOU CALL AND REACH OUT AND NEED ANYTHING.
I KNOW THAT'S FOR ME, I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE FOR ALL OF YOU.
HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING CAKE, PUNCH, AND COOKIES.
WITH THAT, I BID YOU GOODNIGHT.
[APPLAUSE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.