City Paychecks
Yesterday, I was having computer problems. Turns out the problem was right under my nose so to speak. I felt like a dummy yesterday afternoon. Lucky for me it was just a dumb inconvenience, and I didn’t lose any info. I think.
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Today is National Pi Day. I did.
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This was posted by the Chron yesterday. The top 10 City of H-Town earners over at City Hall. Only one of the ten is female. Certainly, the next mayor can improve on this. Here is from the Chron:
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner is the city’s second-highest-paid city employee while Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is the tenth-highest so far in 2023, according to data provided to a public information request filed by the Chronicle.
The highest-paid employee listed this year is Arturo Michel, the city attorney. Michel is serving his second stint as the city’s top lawyer, after previously serving under then-Mayor Bill White. He also was last year’s highest-paid city employee.
The city provided each employee’s base salary for a pay period, which covers two weeks. The Chronicle multiplied that by 26 to get an annual salary estimate.
- Arturo Michel
Estimated annual salary: $318,270
Job title & department: City Attorney – Legal Department - Troy Finner
Estimated annual salary: $297,052
Job title & department: Police Chief – Houston Police Department - Mario Diaz
Estimated annual salary: $291,747
Job title & department: Director of Aviation – Houston Airport System - Carol Haddock
Estimated annual salary: $291,747
Job title & department: Public Works Director – Houston Public Works - David Persse
Estimated annual salary: $284,543
Job title & department: EMS Physician Director – Fire Department - James Szczesniak
Estimated annual salary: $242,050
Job title & department: Chief Operating Officer – Houston Airport System - Mathew Slinkard
Estimated annual salary: $240,000
Job title & department: Deputy Executive Assistant Police Chief – Houston Police Department - Samuel Peña
Estimated annual salary: $238,703
Job title & department: Chief – Fire Department - Chris Souders
Estimated annual salary: $237,065
Job title & department: Associate EMS Physician Director – Fire Department - Sylvester Turner
Estimated annual salary: $236,188
Job title & department: Mayor – Mayor’s Office
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Commentary doesn’t do NCAA March Madness bracket predictions. I have only seen glimpses of a few – not more than ten – college basketball games this season. Certainly not one from start to finish.
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From Jasper Scherer of the Chron:
Crime and infrastructure are top of mind for Houston voters in this year’s race to decide who will succeed Mayor Sylvester Turner, according to a new poll.
In a survey conducted last month by Republican-aligned Ragnar Research Partners, 29 percent of voters listed crime as the “single biggest issue” they want Houston mayoral candidates to address. Fifteen percent cited infrastructure, roads and highways, while another 10 percent named homelessness and housing as their top issue.
The poll also found that more than half of likely Houston voters have yet to settle on a preferred candidate in the November mayoral election. In the first public measure of the race, state Sen. John Whitmire led the field with 22 percent of the vote, trailed by former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins at 8 percent and former City Councilmember Amanda Edwards at 7 percent.
Councilmember Robert Gallegos received 4 percent support, while attorney Lee Kaplan and Missouri City police officer Robin Williams combined for 3 percent.
Bond investor and former Metro chairman Gilbert Garcia, who announced his candidacy on Friday, had yet to join the race when the poll was conducted.
Oh, well.
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Former Astro Marwin Gonzalez is 34 today. Happy Birthday, Marwin!
