Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Appointments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commerce council appoints Stephanie Lawrence mayor, fills council and pro tem posts
Summary
The Commerce City Council on Dec. 16 appointed Stephanie Lawrence as mayor to serve until the May 2, 2026 election, named Daniel Starks to the open Place 3 seat and appointed Tony Henry as mayor pro tem. City staff explained the appointments under Texas constitutional and local charter rules.
Stephanie Lawrence was appointed mayor by the Commerce City Council on Dec. 16 and sworn into office during the meeting. City Manager Javi Lisenby explained the legal framework for filling the vacancy, saying, "This is a unique situation, in which we are appointing a new mayor in the middle of an existing term." The council voted to appoint Lawrence, and she took the oath of office during the meeting.
The council also appointed Daniel Starks to serve as the city council member for Place 3 and selected Tony Henry to serve as mayor pro tem. Each appointment was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. City staff and the mayor noted that appointees serve only until the next regular city election on May 2, 2026, at which point voters will elect someone to serve the remainder of the term.
Lisenby reviewed that the Texas Constitution, common-law incompatibility rules and the Commerce City Charter govern midterm appointments and limits on holding multiple offices; the council relied on those authorities as it made the appointments. The council offered brief remarks thanking the outgoing mayor for his service and welcoming the newly appointed members. The formal actions carried with council voice votes and were followed by the administration of the oath to Lawrence at the meeting's podium.
The council did not record a roll-call tally in the public transcript; minutes and the official resolution will provide the formal vote record and effective dates for each appointment.
