It's official: Mark McBrayer is Lubbock's mayor.
McBrayer and new District 2 City Councilman Gordon Harris took their oaths of office during a special ceremony Tuesday afternoon, seating the final members of the new Lubbock City Council.
Three other new members of the council — David Glasheen, Brayden Rose and Tim Collins — were sworn in May 14 for city council districts 3, 4 and 6, respectively.
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Two members from the previous council will remain: councilwomen Christy Martinez-Garcia and Jennifer Wilson.
McBrayer, Harris sworn in
McBrayer, who replaces outgoing Mayor Tray Payne, emphasized in his remarks his "responsibility and duty" to Lubbock's people.
"These speeches usually start with talking about the honor and privilege of being elected mayor, and that's certainly true," McBrayer said. "But the words that come to me are words that were found on my father's lips a lot — my father was a Marine who served in Iwo Jima — and big words for him were responsibility and duty."
"Along with that comes a profound awareness that I am responsible to you, the citizens of Lubbock."
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While taking his oath, McBrayer placed his hand on a Bible his grandmother gave him, open to Jeremiah 29:7.
"God says, 'Go and seek the welfare of the city where you are placed, and pray to the Lord on its behalf. For in its welfare, you will find your welfare and peace,'" McBrayer said, paraphrasing the passage. "That is the verse that will sustain me and lead me as I attempt to be your mayor and serve this city."
"I love this city, and I hope to serve it with all my heart, so long as God gives me the strength to do so, and the people give me the opportunity to do so, and I believe that I can," he continued. "May God richly bless Lubbock, Texas, and the welfare and peace of God be upon this city."
Harris, who succeeds outgoing Councilwoman Shelia Patterson Harris (no relation), said his service will be oriented toward making Lubbock a better place to be.
"Holding this position is not for myself. It's for the people," Harris said. "I'm always trying to do something to make (the city) better. Lubbock is a great city, but I want to make it greater for the next generations that are coming up."
Harris asked for prayer and cooperation and said he's always open to conversations and suggestions from constituents.
Payne, Patterson Harris, Massengale say goodbye
Outgoing Mayor Tray Payne and councilmembers Shelia Patterson Harris and Steve Massengale gave their final addresses as members of the city council Tuesday. The members were presented with gifts and memorabilia, and they reflected on their time in office and thanked supporters and constituents in their sometimes-tearful remarks.
Massengale's last day in office was May 14, but he was still campaigning against McBrayer in the mayoral runoff for another month. He served District 4 for eight years.
"We were able to get a lot of things done, a couple of years in the face of great adversity with a pandemic, so I'll always cherish that," Massengale said. "It's been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve the City of Lubbock, and I'm thankful that the citizens allowed me to do it for eight years."
Patterson Harris served in East Lubbock's District 2 for eight years and decided not to run for a third term.
"I am kind of happy, but I am so sad," Patterson Harris said. "It has been eight years of my life. That's a whole lot of time, and I have enjoyed so much of it. The thing that has made me happy more than anything is folks like y'all, people in the community."
Patterson Harris encouraged the city council and Councilman Harris to press on, even through adversity.
"I just encourage you, as you continue on, to listen above the noise and make the best decision that you can," she said. "To Gordon Harris, I encourage you tenfold so that you'll have something to grasp onto on those days when it don't go quite like you want it. Don't you quit."
Payne, who served one two-year term, reflected on his time leading the city with gratitude.
"I learned so much. I met so many incredible people, I met so many new friends that will be friends for life, and I could not be more grateful for the opportunity," Payne said. "It is an opportunity to serve. That's what this is. It's not about us. It's not about pats on the back, and pomp and circ*mstance, and recognizing the mayor, and getting some free lunches.
"It's about serving, because that's where God places you. You grow where you are planted, and that's where He planted me for the last few years."
