Democrat Letitia Plummer defeated Republican Orlando Sanchez in the race for Harris County judge. If confirmed in office, Plummer would be the county's first Black county judge and the first Muslim county judge in the nation.
Plummer said Wednesday at a news conference that her transition has begun. She said she has met with outgoing County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor John Whitmire. In the coming weeks, she plans to meet with county department heads, emergency management officials, the Harris County Flood Control District and first responders.
Plummer said the county judge presides over Commissioners Court, helps oversee a budget of roughly $3 billion and serves as the county's chief emergency manager. She said her job is to make sure residents are more secure, more prepared and better able to recover from disasters. She also said she wants to work more closely with Houston and other Harris County cities on infrastructure and drainage projects.