Port Arthur council certifies runoff, swears in Charlotte Moses as mayor

The Port Arthur City Council on Wednesday approved an ordinance canvassing the returns of the June 7 mayoral runoff and then administered the oath of office to Charlotte Moses, who took office as mayor and used her swearing-in remarks to outline a policy agenda that includes streets and infrastructure repairs, housing affordability, public safety, parks and youth retention.

The council considered and approved PO No. 7343, described on the meeting agenda as “an ordinance canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the runoff election held on 06/07/2025 for the purpose of electing a mayor in the City of Port Arthur, Texas in accordance with the Texas Election Code.” Council members moved and seconded the ordinance and approved it by voice vote. The mayor then administered the oath to Moses, who affirmed she had not paid or promised money or other things of value to secure her election, as recited in the oath language read during the meeting.

Why it matters: The ordinance formalized the results of the runoff and cleared the way for the mayoral transition. Moses’s remarks after taking the oath laid out priorities the new administration identified as immediate concerns for the city.

Details of the action A motion to “pass PO number 7343” was made and seconded during the council meeting. The ordinance was approved by voice vote; the presiding mayor announced the item was approved and read. The council did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript; the approval was announced from the dais.

After the ordinance was adopted, Charlotte Moses took the oath of office. During her remarks she thanked campaign volunteers and supporters and listed areas she said would be priorities for her administration, saying, “This campaign was never about one person. It was about all of us, our families, our neighborhoods, our future.” She added that the work ahead includes “clearing and cleaning our communities, repairing streets and infrastructure, addressing housing and affordability, public safety, parks and recreation upgrades, and to our youth and retaining our youth and young adults in our city.”

Outgoing Mayor Thurman Bill Barty, who presided over the meeting and led the ceremonial remarks before the oath, encouraged civic participation, telling the audience to “go and vote.” The meeting also included a short presentation of flowers from a group identified as the Pioneer Women; Georgine Gillard, commissioner for the Port of Beaumont, spoke and presented flowers to Moses.

What the record shows and what it does not The ordinance language on the agenda cites the Texas Election Code; the transcript records a motion, a second and a voice vote but does not record individual named votes. The oath includes the standard affirmation that the officeholder did not pay or promise money or other things of value to influence the election, and Moses repeated that affirmation during the ceremony. The council did not take any other formal policy votes at this meeting.

Looking ahead Moses closed by urging unity and calling for city residents and council members to work together. The council adjourned after a short reception was announced.