Scheduling conflicts postpone swearing-in ceremony for new Harris County ESD 11 commissioners

Harris County Emergency Services District No. 11 commissioners postponed the ceremony to swear in two new board members during their May 18 meeting due to scheduling conflicts cited by the incoming commissioners.

Dorothy Dalton and Zach Dunlap, who won two at-large seats on the HCESD 11’s board of commissioners in the May 7 election, will instead be sworn in during the board’s May 19 meeting.

Dalton and Dunlap, who campaigned against what they believed to be excessive spending by the district, each said they had previously scheduled engagements prior to learning the ceremony would be held May 18.

“We didn’t find out about the meeting today until last week, and I already had an out-of-town work commitment,” Dunlap said.

Dalton noted she also made a prior business commitment before learning the date of the ceremony.

Dalton and Dunlap will be taking over for Commissioners Kevin Brost and Fred Grundmeyer. Brost trailed Dunlap by a final tally of 1,429 to 1,513 votes, while Dalton led all candidates with 1,708 votes. Grundmeyer did not seek re-election.

During the May 18 meeting, Spring resident Lin Fish praised Grundmeyer for his work on the board.

“On behalf of my neighbors and friends, thank you for your years of service to the people of our northwest Houston community,” Fish said. “You have served us well and faithfully, and we truly appreciate your efforts to improve our community.”