Gene Locke was sworn in Friday morning to replace the late El Franco Lee as Harris County Precinct 1 commissioner.
Lee died Jan. 3 after more than 30 years in office. He was 66 years old. Under state law, Locke will serve through Dec. 31, 2016.
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Locke, 68, is a partner at the Andrews Kurth law firm and a former Houston mayoral candidate. He was a longtime friend and counsel to Lee, and said he does not intend to run for election after the current term expires.
Locke said he did not seek the position, but was talked into it by a lot of people close to him. He said his love and respect for Lee, and dedicated commitment to community service, encouraged him to graciously accept.
"My heart was warm when he [Harris County Judge Ed Emmett] talked about the criteria. This precinct belongs to El Franco Lee, and anything that I do over the next several months is dedicated to him," Locke said.
"I think that Commissioner Lee was a person who believed that government belonged to the people and government should be taken to the people, and people should be served by government. I hope that in the next 11 months, that will be the motto of the Precinct 1 staff, the workers of Precinct 1 and as your commissioner."
Locke said part of his mission is to ensure that every senior enjoys all the programs that they need, that young people are afforded all opportunities available and the county continues to thrive with improvements. He will also focus on continuing fights in the areas of criminal justice, mental health and other issues in the community.
"We all should take pride in what the county has accomplished over the past several years and the things that we can accomplish working together. The cooperative spirit that Harris County has allowed it to become one of the great governmental institutions in the nation," Locke said.
"There are county issues that will be tough and difficult, but it will be fun working with it and I really look forward to working with each one of the commissioners and the other members of the Harris County family."
Locke has a long history of activism and public service, including stints as city attorney from 1995-1998, general counsel to the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority and special counsel to the Metropolitan Transit Authority. He also represented Commissioners Court during the court's most recent redistricting efforts.
He said he plans on being a "hands-on, on the ground, let's get with the program commissioner," following in Lee's footsteps.
"I will take great pride and satisfaction in knowing that I can carry his legacy forward," Locke said.