February 13, 2004

Harris County

Harris County Judge Robert Eckels presented his annual State of the County speech to a crowd of over 900 people at a luncheon sponsored by the Greater Houston Partnership and the League of Women Voters on February 9.  

"We have come back from Tropical Storm Allison; we are healing from the Columbia Shuttle tragedy; and today I believe we are ready to break through and run to daylight, Eckels said.  "And so, ladies and gentlemen, I submit to you that the state of our County is strong."

Espousing the virtues of teamwork, Eckels reached out to Houston Mayor Bill White and other Houston officials to work with the county. He presented a full agenda for continued
and increasing cooperation between the City and the County: transportation, public safety, health care and storm water drainage. 

"We understand better than most that there is more that unites us than divides us - and together, we can do more than any of us could do on our own," Eckels said using the success of Super Bowl 38 as an example.  

Eckels also talked about the need to improve transportation with commuter rail, better communications between public safety officials and agencies, and improved health care services.

"Nowhere in America are there greater resources, yet nowhere are there greater needs,"  Eckels said of the health care system.

"Storm water drainage problems still plague the City and County,", said Eckels added, noting that Harris County maintains over 3,000 miles of primary drainage channels through the bayous, creeks and drainage facilities.

"Generation after generation, we see how the only things holding Houston and Harris County back are our ability to dream - and our willingness to work together," concluded Judge Eckels. "Speaking for my colleagues at the County, we stand ready to continue reaching out. We stand ready to work with Mayor White and the City, and all of our partners in the region, for sustained progress with a purpose."

Gulf Coast E-news is a publication of Guidry News Service, with offices at 926 Broadway in Galveston, covering posted public meetings in Galveston County, Jefferson County and Harris County.  For additional information, or to order a free, one-week complimentary subscription to Gulf Coast E-news, email News@guidrynews.com.   Telephone (409) 763-6397 (763-NEWS)

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