The Houston City Council announced Friday that it has fired Mark Campbell, city administrator, effective immediately.
“The city of Houston has decided to pursue a different direction of leadership to better suit our community and our citizens,” said city officials.
The council has yet to appoint an interim. Currently, Viki Narancich, mayor; Kevin Stilley, mayor pro tem; and Don Romines, alderman; are working together to help make sure the city continues to move forward.
Campbell, 51, was hired in September 2022, based on the recommendation of former Mayor Willy Walker and a 5-0 vote of the council (Councilman Kevin Stilley was unable to attend the meeting but expressed support of the hiring).
Campbell immigrated to America from Northern Ireland in the 1990s, attained a bachelor’s degree in America and helped managed several communities in Missouri, Colorado, Montana and Kansas.
Apparently this is a high turnover position. The city owes it to prospective future candidates to make them aware of this.
I’ve attended many a council meeting here and in suburban Chicago. I’ve worked on countless boards, advisory committees and teams in education, small government groups, and charities.
I can honestly say that Mark Campbell is one the most professional people I’ve seen in this type of position. He also presented information in clear, concise and easy to understand language. I have attended many city council meetings with him present. He knew the city’s numbers inside and out and was well versed in rules and regulations regarding small government. Several times he presented information at meetings without needing to look it up. I’ve fact checked some of these items and all were correct.
When, at public council meetings, Campbell contradicted board members in a clear, firm, and professional manner, they would simply outright ignore him or allow their anger to flare. It is sad that the long stagnant cesspool of the Houston City political machine can’t be pried open and cleaned out. This was something this gentleman could have helped us to do. He was helping us to clean out our city’s closets and move us toward a transparent city government.
Some people say that it is inappropriate to correct council members during public meetings. I completely disagree – council members and city employees work for the constituents. If you can’t handle being corrected when you are incorrect, especially on very important issues such as tax payer’s money, contracts, and grant money/obligations, your ego is getting in the way of doing your job.
It was apparent to me that as soon as his willingness to stay steadfast in his position, not bow to political pressure, not be beholden to long ago forged familial and political ties, nor bow to the blatant threats of retaliation from certain board members became clear, his days were numbered.
So much for cleaning up the pirate ship of politics here in good ‘ole Houston. Perhaps when the old guard’s long established strangle hold on this small town dissipates and the old dominant political families lose their self-serving influence, the constituents will actually have true choice at the polls to elect brave, fresh, independent thinkers that cannot be bullied into compliance.