Mayor-elect Parker announces transition co-chairs

HOUSTON In a press conference at City Hall Thursday morning, Parker named Gilbert Garcia, Garnet Coleman and Nancy Kinder as co-chairs of her transition effort. Garcia was Parker's campaign manager and also served on the city's pension board. Garnet Coleman is a current state senator. Nancy Kinder is a local philanthropist who worked on local projects such as Discovery Green.

Garcia, Coleman and Kinder are not going to serve on the transition team, but they'll consult with Parker on who should be on it.

Once those transition team members are named, they'll focus on eight different subjects in the city, such as neighborhood protection, density of buildings, transportation and more, as they work towards inauguration day. We asked the mayor-elect what her priorities are.

"I'm working closely with Mayor White and his staff and with my controller's staff, which is still scheduling me, and then my incoming team, which I'm not ready to announce today," said Parker.

During her press conference, Parker didn't mention the Houston Police Department. When asked about it, she said that that she's going to be hands on in selecting a new chief and currently doesn't have a short list of candidates. HPD Chief Harold Hurtt announced his resignation earlier this week.

Parker also said that the January 4 inauguration will be indoors.

The following are the committees Mayor-elect Parker and her team will establish:

METRO/Transportation

Housing and Community Development funding, contracts and personnel

Intergovernmental Relations, including opportunities for collaboration and cost efficiencies

Neighborhood protection involving everything from weeded lots to graffiti abatement

Permitting efficiency and procedures

Public works and infrastructure including streets, flooding and drainage

Density and development ordinances to help residential neighborhoods

Minority and women business enterprise contracting