PRESS RELEASE
City of Houston Announces Leadership Transition in the Office of the Mayor
June 6, 2025 -- This morning, during a meeting with City of Houston department directors and senior staff, Mayor John Whitmire announced a leadership transition with the departure of Chief of Staff Chris Newport, who has played a pivotal role in helping build a stronger foundation for Mayor John Whitmire’s administration and the future of the city.
Brought in at the start of Mayor Whitmire’s administration to help lay the groundwork for long-term success, Newport stepped in during a critical time with a clear charge to focus on early-stage priorities. He was instrumental in leading efforts to stabilize the city’s budget and financial strategy, assess operational efficiencies, eliminate duplications, and put systems in place that will benefit Houston for years to come.
In addition, Newport provided critical support on major priorities including the renewal of Police, Fire, and Municipal Employees contracts, responses to major storms, HPD suspended cases, and more.
While stepping away from his official role at City Hall, Newport will continue to serve as a trusted partner to Mayor Whitmire and the City of Houston.
“It has been an absolute honor to serve Mayor Whitmire and the City of Houston. I continue to believe in the mayor’s vision for the city, and in its unmatched potential for this organization to be a force for good,” said Newport. “I thank the wonderful team, colleagues, and employees of the city for allowing me to serve alongside them. My responsibilities to my family require me to serve in a different capacity, but the mayor knows that I will answer his or the city’s call -- day or night.”
“On behalf of the city, I want to thank Chris for his service -- and extend a sincere thank you to his family for their support during his time with us,” said Mayor Whitmire. “The long hours, late nights, and early mornings didn’t go unnoticed, and we are truly appreciative of the sacrifices they made alongside him.”
As Newport transitions out of City Hall, Mayor Whitmire has appointed Cynthia Wilson as the next Chief of Staff.
Since day one of the administration, Wilson has served as the mayor's Senior Advisor for operations and quality of life issues. As a trusted advisor to the mayor, Cynthia brings extensive experience leading large organizations and overseeing workplace performance management.
She previously served as District Superintendent for the Houston Independent School District, Superintendent of Schools in the Orangeburg Consolidated School District in South Carolina, and Chief of Staff and Chief Human Capital Management Officer for the Dallas Independent School District.
“Cynthia and I have worked together for years, dating back to her time as a school administrator in my Texas Senate District,” said Mayor Whitmire. “She came out of retirement to join my mayoral administration and has been in my office for every major decision. I have complete confidence in her leadership and trust her ability to manage our municipal operations and challenges while advancing my priorities. She brings a wealth of experience and passion needed to get the job done.”
“This is a pivotal moment in the mayor’s administration, and we will continue the momentum to fix Houston with robust policies that strengthen public safety, improve infrastructure, stabilize the city’s finances, and enhance quality-of-life issues,” said Wilson. “Mayor Whitmire’s priorities are clear, and I look forward to building on the success of his administration.”
Wilson’s appointment is effective immediately.
Cynthia Wilson
Chris Newport