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Parker inaugurated as mayor
Annise Parker has taken over as Houston’s mayor, making her city the nation’s largest to be presided over by an openly gay person.
The 53-year-old Parker was sworn in during a private ceremony as chief executive of America’s fourth-biggest city. She repeated the oath of office Jan. 4 as part of public inaugural ceremonies and celebrations.
Parker received almost 54 percent of the vote in a December runoff, defeating former city attorney Gene Locke in a race to succeed term-limited Bill White. Democrat White is now running for Texas governor.
Parker, a three-term former city controller, has never made a secret or issue of her sexual orientation in her runs for office.
Her sexual orientation drew attention after anti-gay activists and some religious groups endorsed Locke and sent out mailers condemning her.
