Houston City Council censures Mayor George Carr and reassigns his committee seats

The Houston City Council voted May 26 to adopt Resolution 2026-11, formally censuring Mayor George Carr for conduct the city's independent investigator sustained in a February 4, 2026 report, and then adopted Resolution 2026-12 to reassign four committee and board seats the mayor previously held.

Mayor Pro Tem Prom Croker, who presided over both items after Mayor Carr recused himself, framed the action as a matter of public trust and process. "The conduct found by the independent investigator must always be treated seriously," she said, adding that allegations also need to be handled "carefully, professionally, and through the proper channels" to protect all parties and maintain public confidence.

City Attorney Panasco presented the staff report and explained the investigator used the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard; Panasco clarified that a "sustained" finding is a factual determination by the investigator and not a legal judgment. The council opened both items for public comment before deliberating.

Mayor George Carr addressed the council during public comment, acknowledged "poor judgment" and said he had taken responsibility for mistakes. "I admit I have made mistakes. I've owned up to them and I have corrected my actions," he said, while disputing some allegations about the handling of confidential information and urging the council to consider whether others should also be sanctioned.

Council Member Susanna Vasquez, who was recused from the votes as the complainant in the underlying investigation, also spoke during public comment. "You do not get to decide how I handle my experience," she said, describing the episode as "very difficult" and asserting she spoke publicly for transparency.

With both Mayor Carr and Council Member Vasquez recused from deliberations on these items, the effective voting membership for the matters was three; the city attorney confirmed that unanimous approval of the three participating members was required for adoption. On the roll call for Resolution 2026-11, Mayor Pro Tem Prom Croker, Council Member Julie Strain and Council Member Alan McFeden each voted "I," and the resolution was adopted.

The council then considered Resolution 2026-12, which reassigns Mayor Carr's council-appointed seats. Mayor Pro Tem Prom Croker read the replacement assignments on the record: she and Council Member Strain as co-primaries for the two-plus-two fire district committees; Strain to replace Mayor Carr on the League of California Cities executive committee; and Council Member McFeden to move from alternate to primary on the Stanislaus Council of Governments board, with Council Member Vasquez named as alternate. The motion to adopt was seconded and carried on a 3-0 roll-call vote.

The council directed the city manager to transmit written notice of the committee-seat changes to affected external agencies by the next business day. The meeting then continued with other business.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2026-11 (censure of Mayor George Carr): Moved by Council Member Alan McFeden; seconded by Council Member Julie Strain. Vote: Mayor Pro Tem Prom Croker: I; Council Member Julie Strain: I; Council Member Alan McFeden: I. Outcome: adopted (3-0). Legal threshold: unanimous approval of three participating members, requirement met.

- Resolution 2026-12 (reassignment of Mayor Carr's committee seats): Motion moved (mover not specified on the record); seconded by Council Member Alan McFeden. Vote: Mayor Pro Tem Prom Croker: I; Council Member Julie Strain: I; Council Member Alan McFeden: I. Outcome: adopted (3-0). City manager instructed to notify external agencies.

What happens next

Because the council recorded sustained findings in the investigator's report and adopted a formal censure, the action is an official expression of the council's view of the mayor's conduct; the censure itself is a political remedy and does not impose criminal or civil penalties. The reassignment of committee seats takes effect immediately and staff were directed to notify outside agencies of the changes.