Since Houston instituted term limits, turnover at City Hall has become the norm. Even Mayors, popular ones for that matter, are limited to only 6 years in office. With as much as 1/3 of City Council mandated to change every year, the base level of institutional knowledge has been sinking rapidly.

One person provided consistency through the tumultuous times and helped achieve calm. Marty Stein has served in the agenda office since 1995, beginning with Mayor Bob Lanier. She was elevated to Agenda Director with Mayor Lee Brown and has subsequently worked with Mayors Bill White and Annise Parker.

It takes an extra special person to remain in a highly politicized position through 4 Mayoral administrations. Why would they keep her? Her intelligence, her knowledge, her guidance all helped each of these leaders achieve their goals.

Not only was she an advisor to the Mayors but she held the hands of many Council Members, helping them to quickly grasp the complex process of local government. She also served as the liaison between Council Members and Mayors.

Of course, most of this has been reported in the media. What has not been discussed is the way that Marty always helped anyone. Her position is one that can easily cause a person to acquire a serious ego. Lots of power exists in the position alone and with Marty, especially.

However, she is one of the most well-balanced people in power I have ever met. She had time to help a civic club leader to understand the back-up for an agenda item. She always reaches out to those she thinks may need to understand an issue or know that action is moving forward on an agenda item. There were no “little people” or “unimportant people” to Marty. If you needed help, she had the time to explain the complex policy process to you. In some cases, she would even take up a cause and serve as the spokesperson to the Mayor in charge or the Council Members.

For it is this Marty we will miss most at City Hall. Not the powerbroker but the real person – the one who reached out, pulled up and helped others every single day.

Marty is too bright and too vital to ride off into the sunset. We wish her the best as she begins the next chapter of her career.

Fare thee well Marty Stein and THANK YOU!