Plummer launches transition team for Harris County government

Letitia Plummer held her first press conference on Wednesday, one day after winning the Harris County judge election. The former dentist and city council member announced she is meeting with county officials to begin her transition. She defeated Republican Orlando Sanchez to replace outgoing County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Plummer is the first Black person to win this office. She is also the first Muslim woman to hold the position.

Plummer said she has already spoken with Hidalgo. She also met with Democratic Commissioners Lesley Briones, Adrian Garcia, and Rodney Ellis. She plans to speak with Republican Commissioner Tom Ramsey next. The five-member court controls the county budget, public safety, and infrastructure. Plummer intends to serve all residents, including those who voted for her opponent. Her team opened a job portal to recruit staff for the new administration.

The judge elect will meet with representatives from Homeland Security and flood control agencies. She also plans to speak with law enforcement leaders and officials from the 34 cities in Harris County. These meetings aim to identify community needs. The goal is to find areas where county government can improve its operations.

Plummer said she has already talked to Houston Mayor John Whitmire. They discussed how the city and county can work together more closely. That cooperation matters for issues that cross borders, such as flooding and emergency management. Plummer previously served on the Houston City Council. She wants to strengthen the tie between the two governments.

During her campaign, Plummer promised to protect essential services while cutting costs. She proposed saving money by renegotiating employee health insurance. She also listed flood preparedness, health care access, housing affordability, and jail conditions as top priorities. Her opponent, Sanchez, campaigned on lowering the tax rate and reducing spending. The two candidates disagreed on the county's recent 7.6% tax rate increase.

Plummer said changes in state leadership may create new opportunities for the county. She hopes to work with new state leaders to remove barriers for local officials. She told reporters she will spend the next few days scheduling meetings with her transition team. She will also take time to rest and see her family after the campaign ended.