Mayor

Profile

The mayor presides over the city council and is a voting member. Every ordinance, resolution or motion passed by the council must be approved and signed by the mayor before it is in effect. The mayor may veto any council measure, but the council can override the veto with a majority vote. However, the mayor does have line-item veto power. If the mayor neither signs nor vetoes legislation it becomes effective after the expiration time for its return to council. In presiding over the council, the mayor has the authority to add items to the council agenda with no other approval. A vote of at least five council members is required for a council member to add an item to the agenda. Most of the city boards and commissions are strictly advisory in nature to the city council. Some, however, do have authority. The mayor has sole authority for appointment to the following boards: Housing Authority, Human Relations Commission, Arts & Cultural Commission, Oil & Gas Advisory Committee, Museum of Science & History Advisory Committee and the Water Resources Advisory Committee. The mayor has the exclusive authority to represent and speak for the city and the city council in all situations, including testifying before the Texas State Legislature and the United States Congress. The mayor also has the authority to administer oaths.

Contacts

Joe Adame PO Box 9277 Corpus Christi, TX 78469 Work: 361-826-3100 Fax: 361-826-3103 Email: joea@cctexas.com Term Ends: April 2011

City Council

Profile

The city council includes eight council members and a mayor, all elected to two-year terms on the first Saturday in April, in odd-numbered years. Five council members are elected by majority vote from single districts. Three are elected at-large by plurality vote with winners receiving at least 12 percent of the total votes cast. The mayor is elected at large by majority vote. The five districts are required by law to represent approximately equal populations. No person can serve more than four two-year terms consecutively as a council member or as the mayor, or six two-year terms consecutively in any combination of offices. The mayor pro tem assumes the duties and responsibilities of the mayor during the mayor's absence from city council meetings. Rather than select one permanent member as mayor pro tem, the council rotates the job among all council members at three-month intervals. Council members receive a compensation of $6,000 a year and the mayor receives $9,000 a year. The city council determines the annual city budget and the tax rate, assumes financial responsibility for the city and establishes policies. The council passes all ordinances, resolutions and motions needed, and creates and funds departments and agencies needed to govern the city. The council appoints the city secretary, the city manager and the municipal court judges, who handle trial of misdemeanors. All other appointments are made by the city manager on the basis of merit within the civil service regulations.

Contacts

At Large Brent Chesney 500 N. Water St. Suite 530 Corpus Christi, TX 78471 Work: 361-993-2033 Fax: 361-887-9908 Term Ends: April 2011

At Large Mark Scott 5026 Holly Road Corpus Christi, TX 78411 Work: 361-985-2004 Email: mscott@sanjacintotitle.com Term Ends: April 2011

At Large Nelda Martinez PO Box 9277 Corpus Christi, TX 78469 Work: 361-826-3105 Fax: 361-883-1403 Email: nelda@neldamartinez.com Term Ends: April 2011

District 1 Kevin Kieschnick 1201 Leopard St. Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Work: 361-826-3105 Email: kkieschnick.cc@stx.rr.com Term Ends: April 2011

District 2 John E. Marez 1201 Leopard St. Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Work: 361-826-3105 Email: johnmarezdistrict2@yahoo.com Term Ends: April 2011

District 3 Priscilla Leal 4738 Cheryl Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78415 Work: 361-658-1302 Email: priscillalealdistrict3@yahoo.com Term Ends: April 2011

District 4 Chris Adler 3702 Agnes Corpus Christi, TX 78405 Work: 361-884-7781 Fax: 361-888-6491 Email: cadler106@gmail.com Term Ends: April 2011

District 5 Larry Elizondo PO Box 9277 Corpus Christi, TX 78469 Work: 361-826-3105 Email: lrelizondosr@hotmail.com Term Ends: April 2011

Corpus Christi City Council Biographies

John E. Marez, council member, District 2 About John Marez…born, raised and educated in District 2. John is one of the youngest City Council members ever elected in Corpus Christi and is the youngest elected to the Council since the adoption of the 5-3-1 Plan of 1983. Prior to being elected, John energetically served on many boards, committees and commissions in Corpus Christi and South Texas. John is the creator, producer and co-host of South Texas Politics political talk show and has served in that role for over 15 years. At the age of 18, John first ran for City Council and, since then, wanted to and has served his community. John received his education from W.B. Ray High School, Del Mar College, and received a Bachelor of Political Science & Master of Public Administration from Texas A&M - Corpus Christi. John is a Supervisor with the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services and is a life-long resident of District 2. John and his wife Gina are the parents of Bélla, age 3, and Jonathan, less than a year. City Council Committees: * Chair, City of CC Municipal Court Committee * Member, Memorial Coliseum Committee Goals: * Economic Development - More and better paying jobs * Re-develop - Older neighborhoods & downtown area * Home Owner's Incentive Package for competitive job fields (Teachers, Health Care, Police & Fire) * Fix - Aging infrastructure (water lines, waste water lines & streets) * Enhance - Public safety for city (increase numbers of Fire & Police Dept. personnel) * Reasonable Tax Use

Priscilla Leal, council member, District 3 Priscilla Leal is a native of Corpus Christi who was born to Abel and Refugia Gonzalez. Ms. Leal is the granddaughter of Joe Gonzalez, who was a local pioneer of the Corpus Christi area - digging the first artesian wells in and around Corpus Christi and operating a tin shop from 1919 until 1948. She graduated from Roy Miller High School. Ms. Leal is married to her husband of 38 years, Martin Leal, Jr. and they have three children: Dina, Martin and Michael. Ms. Leal is also a proud grandmother of three. Ms. Leal has a record of community involvement starting with her employment with the City of Corpus Christi. Ms. Leal served the City of Corpus Christi for approximately 20 years and held such positions as Executive Secretary. Ms. Leal has been a blood donor; and volunteered to aid community residents receiving medical care and assisting students, parents, residents and business owners who have had problems involving local, county and federal government. Ms. Leal has received citations for her work with the community from the City of Corpus Christi, Nueces County and the State of Texas. Ms. Leal's goals while serving on City Council are: * Open Government and Meaningful City Council Representation for District 3 * Better City Planning * Fair Use of Taxes * Economic Development * Health Care and Human Rights * Continued Support of Police in Lowering Crime Rate

Organizational Charts

Click Here for Corpus Christi City Council Districts

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