Councilman’s ‘legacy moves forward’
Special election set for May 5 to decide District K council seat
Flowers mark the City Council seat of Larry V. Green, who died Tuesday. An election to choose his replacement takes place May 5.
Voters in southwest Houston will select a replacement for the late City Councilman Larry Green in a May 5 special election, Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday.
Green, who was found dead at his home Tuesday morning, remains the only councilman ever to lead District K, which was created after the 2010 Census prompted the council to expand from nine to 11 districts, plus five at-large seats.
No cause has been announced in the 52-year-old’s death, but police do not suspect foul play.
Turner said state law dictates that City Council call a special election by March 20 and that candidates file for the office by March 26. The district stretches from the NRG Park area to Fort Bend Houston and Westbury.
Large portions of Wednesday’s regularly scheduled council meeting focused on honoring Green.
Council members, their employees and other city staffers wore green in his honor, and Councilman Robert Gallegos coordinated the purchase of a bountiful bouquet — including 16 red roses and one white rose — that was placed in front of Green’s chair.
Several council members and others were visibly moved throughout the meeting, including when Green’s chief of staff, Donald Perkins, and colleague Martha Tatum addressed the council.
“Council Member Green will be missed by all, but he won’t be forgotten,” Perkins said. “His spirit will continue to live in all of us and his legacy will continue to move forward.”
Turner echoed those comments, and referenced Green’s meticulous attention to constituents’ complaints about service delivery.
“The reality is he does live on
because you all represent a part of that legacy. Be very proud of that,” Turner told Perkins and Tatum. “Yes, we’ll miss him, but quite frankly he’s walking with us right now. And from where he’s is, he’s still telling you, ‘Answer the phones, answer the emails.’ ”
And, Tatum added, “And get those people’s trash picked up!”