Mayor’s appointee Angel Ponce Chavizo confirmed to Metro board; vows to advance accessibility

The Houston City Council unanimously confirmed Angel Ponce Chavizo to the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County board during its Nov. 6 meeting.

Angel Ponce Chavizo, the mayor’s nominee, thanked Mayor Whitmire and council members after the council moved and seconded the appointment. In remarks to the council, Ponce described becoming disabled in 2004 and relying on Metro and MetroLift to attend college and work, saying those experiences inform his approach to transit policy. “Metro gave me something that I needed at the time,” he said, and he pledged to work on “equal, safe, clean, viable and accessible public transportation for all Houstonians.”

Council members who spoke in support highlighted Ponce’s lived experience with disability and his service in city government. The mayor described the appointment as “one of the more exciting things I’ve been able to do,” and council members said they expect Ponce to bring practical knowledge of riders’ needs to board deliberations.

The appointment took place as part of the consent/appointments portion of the agenda; the motion to confirm passed by voice vote. No council member recorded opposition during the confirmation.

Ponce referenced family members and city staff who attended the ceremony and acknowledged the broader goal of improving Metro service, including for riders with disabilities. Council members noted the administration supports diversifying lived experience on boards and expressed confidence Ponce would add value to the Metro board.

Next steps: Ponce’s seat on the Metro board will be filled per the authority’s onboarding procedures; council did not identify additional immediate actions tied to the confirmation at the Nov. 6 meeting.