Newly sworn-in Pasadena councilman: 'There's a lot of work to be done moving forward'

New Pasadena City Councilman Emmanuel Guerrero acknowledged “a lot of work to be done moving forward” as he took his place at the horseshoe for the first time on Wednesday and earned the distinction of being the eight-member body’s youngest Latino representative. Houston FOX affiliate KRIV reported Guerrero defeated longtime officeholder Don Harrison two months ago for the right to represent District C.

"There's a lot of work to be done moving forward," Guerrero said, the station reported. "My goal for my district going forward is to listen to the needs, wants and desires of my community, and fight for them every day in city council."

According to a report from Houston NPR affiliate Houston Public Media (HPM), at the age of 26, Guerrero is a graduate of the University of Houston (UH) who has worked in the Harris County Appraisal District. HPM reported that Guerrero’s victory over Harrison, who sat on Pasadena City Council for 30 years, marks the second time in the Houston suburb’s history that an established incumbent failed to secure reelection. UH political science professor Dr. Jeronimo Cortina said Guerrero is proof of a demographic shift in the U.S., per HPM.

According to KRIV, Guerrero, the son of immigrant parents, recalled his visits to Pasadena to see his father, saying “Pasadena needs change” as “the same people [were] getting elected.” Guerrero vowed to be his constituents’ voice even if he couldn’t get everything they need, the station reported. Houston CW affiliate KIAH reported that Guerrero was the first person in his family to obtain a college education.

According to HPM, Guerrero’s district takes up a lot of Pasadena’s north side. Cortina said in the report that Pasadena, which the 2020 Census showed is home to at least 150,000 people, has a sizable Latino population. HPM reported that the U.S. Census Bureau released data last month which indicated Latinos to be the majority in Texas since last summer.