License to Thrive

A New Frontier

Houston voters made history, becoming the largets city in the United States to elect the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city. Annise Parker, 53, takes the oath of office on Jan. 1 to lead the nation's fourth largest metropolis, with some 2.2 million residents.  On her road to victory, Parker gained support and endorsements from labor, police, women's, gay rights and other groups as well as the Houston Chronicle, the city's major daily newspaper.