Houston City Council to get two new seats

Based on census counts

Marci Gilbert, Mar 09, 11.

The Houston City Council voted on Wednesday to declare that the city’s population is 2.1 million, according to a story in the Houston Chronicle:

The number was a trigger point that mandates the city add a 15th and 16th council seat by the city charter.

The vote concludes a sharp debate in which several council members had pushed back against expansion, arguing that the 2010 Census showed Houston had not reached 2.1 million, that adding two council members would cost money during a budget crisis and that the city’s residents are well represented under the current configuration.

After much debate that included a special meeting yesterday, the council voted 13-1 to expand. Only Council Member Mike Sullivan voted against the item.

Council’s action means a District K and District J will be added to Houston this summer, and elections for those new seats will be held in November.

Source: Houston Chronicle