Martha Castex-Tatum defeated eight other candidates in the special election for the District K seat formerly held by the late Councilman Larry Green. Castex-Tatum worked as Green’s director of Constituent Services for District K.
She received 3,292 votes in the election, about 65 percent. Her nearest competitor was Patricia “Pat” Frazier with 711 votes. She will join Councilmember Amanda Edwards as one of two African-American women on Houston City Council.
Castex-Tatum’s background includes being the first African-American woman elected to the San Marcos City Council and serving as deputy mayor pro tempore. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University).
Green, 52, was found dead in his home on March 6. His staff members alerted police when he missed a morning meeting and failed to answer phone calls.