District K Houston City Council Member Martha Castex-Tatum, whose district covers most of the 5 Corners Improvement District, is now also the city’s mayor pro tem.
According to the city code, the mayor pro tem “shall act as mayor” when the mayor is absent from the city or “sick or unable to perform the duties of his office.”
Newly elected Mayor John Whitmire picked Castex-Tatum for the position Tuesday (Jan. 2) and the City Council confirmed the appointment. She will continue to serve as a district council member and, among other things, will run city council meetings if and when Whitmire is out of town.
Castex-Tatum grew up in the 5 Corners area, but her first successful election experience came in San Marcos, Texas, where she earned a master’s degree in public administration from what is now called Texas State University. She was elected to the San Marcos City Council during that time.
Castex-Tatum worked for Houston Council Member Larry Green in 2018, when he died. She won a special election to become his successor, was elected to a full four-year term in 2019 and was re-elected without opposition in 2023.
She is the immediate past president of the Texas Municipal League, which provides services to more 1,150 member cities.
