Leadership shuffle at Houston Housing Authority, Sports Authority, after pressure from Whitmire – Houston Public Media

The Houston Housing Authority (HHA) has a new interim CEO, and the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority's interim CEO was joined this week by a new board chair. The shakeups came after pressure from Houston Mayor John Whitmire, continuing a trend in leadership changes at the top of local agencies and city departments.

In early October, Whitmire argued the sports authority was "away from their core mission." By the end of the month, sports authority CEO Janis Burke was ousted by the authority's board, and Whitmire had pushed out the previous board chair Kent Friedman. The authority's board appointed Chris Canetti as interim CEO. This week the Houston City Council also confirmed Juan Garcia as the new board chair.

At issue was a perceived lack of communication with key stakeholders ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will feature seven matches in Houston. Garcia said he's already been in touch with FIFA officials.

"I told them when we're done, they're gonna beg us to come back; that's our goal," Garcia told the city council Wednesday. "They're gonna beg us to come back and the women's FIFA championship is right around the corner. It is our goal that we're hosting, if not as many games, then even more games of that, to highlight the city of Houston."

In October, Whitmire said he was "not happy with the lack of transparency at the Housing Authority," adding "there's decisions and work that will improve the administration." By the end of the month, CEO David Northern was placed on administrative leave by the HHA board, which was overhauled by Whitmire earlier in the year.

Northern blasted the move in a statement.

"I'm confident this warrantless investigation to try to remove me from my position will turn up nothing," he wrote. "The Board has taken this step to try and fabricate a reason to remove me because they do not have one. This decision stems from the coordinated opposition from anti-affordable housing and special interest groups who view affordable housing as a threat to their pocketbooks."

The HHA board, which operates independently of the city, confirmed Jennine Hovell-Cox as interim CEO on Wednesday.

In Whitmire's first year in office, there have been leadership shuffles at the top of multiple departments, including police, fire, public works, airport system, and libraries.