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Welcome to the 2027 Route.

John Whitmire, the former Dean of the Texas Senate, was sworn into office as Houston's 63rd Mayor on January 2, 2024. He has served his community his entire adult life.

As a young boy, John worked odd jobs and learned the value of hard work, even shining shoes at a Harrisburg Beer Hall. He also witnessed domestic abuse and moved frequently as a child. When a fire burned down his family home, the community wrapped their arms around him, donating clothes and providing shelter. That lesson in compassion and empathy would guide him as a public servant.

In his teenage years, Whitmire settled into a more stable life in Houston with his mother, a nurse, and his stepfather, a social worker. Watching his parents help people steered John towards a career path of public service. After graduating from Waltrip High School, he began working for the Texas “Food Stamp” office, where home visits connected policy to real human faces.

At age 22, a chance meeting with his UH professor, Richard Murray, led Whitmire to run for a newly drawn Texas House District. Throughout his career as a State Representative for 10 years and State Senator for 40, Whitmire fought tirelessly for district representation across Houston. He played a key role in establishing the first Latino state senate district in Harris County, expanded early voting in African American and Latino communities, earned the Harvey Milk Award for LGBTQ+ civil rights, supported the DREAM Act, and maintained a 100% women's rights voting record.

As long-serving chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, Whitmire authored the landmark Sandra Bland Act, spearheaded grand jury panel diversity reform, decriminalized minor school behavior, and expunged thousands of class C misdemeanors for young Texans.

With an extraordinary wealth of experience working alongside nine mayors and seven governors, Mayor Whitmire brings deep dedication, public safety focus, and proven leadership to the people of Houston.

Representative Ron Reynolds was sworn in on January 10, 2011 as State Representative for Texas House District 27. Ron is currently serving his eighth term in the Texas House, standing as the first African American State Representative in Fort Bend County since Reconstruction.

Reynolds was named “2021 87th Session Legislator of the Year” by Fort Bend United and The Young & the Politics. He was voted by his House colleagues as “Freshman Legislator of the Year” and “Public Servant of the Year” by the Houston Minority Contractors Association, and served as House Minority Whip during the 83rd & 84th Legislative sessions.

Representative Reynolds currently serves as Chair of the Texas HBCU Legislative Caucus, Vice Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, Chair Emeritus of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, and Co-Founder and Chair Emeritus of the Texas House Progressive Caucus. He serves on the National Board of Directors for the NAACP and Texas Black Expo, as Vice President of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats (Fort Bend Chapter), and as Legislative Leader for the Texas State NAACP.

Reynolds serves as ranking member on the House Committee on Environmental Regulation and Energy Resources, and is a frequent commentator on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox 26 Houston. Prior to his legislative service, he was an Associate Municipal Judge for the City of Houston, Past President of the Houston Lawyers Association, and Past President of the Missouri City & Vicinity NAACP.

He graduated from Texas Southern University and Texas Tech University School of Law, and holds three Honorary Doctorates in Humanities, Divinity, and Philosophy in Humanitarianism. Rep. Reynolds is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the 100 Black Men of America, a devout Christian, small business owner, and father of three wonderful children.

Mrs. Beatrice Foots-Duncantell serves as the Executive Director of the historic MLK Grande Parade Committee, co-hosting the 2027 MLK Unity Parade alongside the MLK Grande Parade and the City of Houston.

As a steadfast community pillar, Mrs. Foots-Duncantell continues the foundational legacy of Houston's original MLK Day celebrations—ensuring Dr. King's vision of unity, equity, and civic empowerment thrives across generations of young Houstonians.

Official comprehensive biographical dossier coming soon as leadership tributes are finalized.