City secretary now permanent

Pat Jefferson Daniel, a longtime city employee who was named interim city secretary in 2018, has been appointed to lead the office on a permanent basis, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Tuesday.

Daniel, who has worked at the city for 36 years, is Houston’s first Black city secretary.

She succeeds former city secretary Anna Russell, who worked at the city for nearly 70 years, including as secretary from 1972 until her death in February 2020.

The city secretary maintains all city records, including council agendas, meeting minutes, ordinances, motions, candidates filings, campaign finance reports and lobbyist registration.