HARRIS COUNTY — Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis released the following statement on the passing of the first Latino Houston City Council Member and former Texas State Representative Ben Reyes:
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my longtime friend Ben Reyes. A towering figure in Houston’s Latino community, Ben helped open doors to political power and economic opportunity for people too often excluded from both, inspiring generations to see a place for themselves in shaping our city’s future. His public life also included serious missteps for which he was held accountable, and his story carries both those difficult chapters and his lasting contributions to Houston. I extend my deepest condolences to the Reyes family and all who loved him. Today, I join them in mourning a friend and community pioneer.”
A longtime civil rights leader with more than four decades of public service, Commissioner Rodney Ellis represents Harris County Precinct One, a diverse, 365-square-mile region in the nation’s third-largest county. Under Commissioner Ellis’ leadership, the office champions purpose-driven public service to improve quality of life, build thriving communities, and advance opportunity, equity, and justice for all. Precinct One is home to more than 1.2 million residents, over 8,500 acres of greenspace, and major regional assets including the Texas Medical Center, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, leading sports and entertainment venues, several Fortune 500 headquarters, and all of Houston’s major institutions of higher learning. For more information, visit www.hcp1.net.