METRO chair plans to resign

Parker has been critical

Steve Hawley, Dec 18, 09.

METRO chairman David Wolff, who has served for six years under Mayor Bill White’s administration, plans to step aside around the time Annise Parker takes office, according to ABC Channel 13 and KUHF radio. Wolff said that if Parker asks, he will stay in office for an additional month or two to help with the transition.

Parker was critical of METRO’s leadership during the mayoral race, singling out Wolff and METRO President & CEO Frank Wilson for what she called a lack of transparency. She also expressed concern that METRO might not have enough funding to complete its 30-mile light rail expansion.

Parker told the Houston Chronicle in October that she would have replaced Wolff, and that she might replace Wilson. Parker is responsible for appointing five of the nine board members.

According to ABC Channel 13, Parker said that she will rely on Wolff’s leadership and experience, even though she has chosen to go in a different direction. While she does not yet have a replacement in mind, she said that she expects to appoint a new chair within the first few weeks of her term. Parker takes office on January 1.

Wolff plans to stay involved in the issues facing Houston, expressing concern in the ABC Channel 13 interview that Houston faces increasing competition from cities around the world. According to KUHF, Mayor White said that Wolff is well-respected in planning circles, and that he dealt well with many transportation challenges during his tenure. White told the radio station, “Like all of us, he has his strengths and weaknesses, but he had a vision for what he wanted to accomplish for Houston to get light rail built. If you’ve observed his conduct at public sessions and public meetings, Mr. Wolff is polite but firm and sticks by facts and he’s been a fearless warrior to try to get federal funds.”