Commissioners appointed Marcus Stuckett, a six-year veteran of the flood control district who departed for private practice in 2022, to replace former Executive Director Tina Petersen, who resigned in June. Stuckett began with the district in 2017 as a project manager. He was named director of engineering in 2019, a position he held until his departure, according to his LinkedIn profile.
“With over 20 years of experience delivering large flood control projects across the region, he is prepared to lead,” said Commissioner Lesley Briones in a prepared statement issued after the vote. “Nothing is more important than keeping our families safe from flooding, and I look forward to working with Stuckett and our dedicated team to do just that.”
Stuckett was at the forefront of the county’s response to Hurricane Harvey after voters approved a $2.5 billion bond for flood mitigation and resiliency improvements in 2018. He was among the officials who provided project updates and heard residents’ concerns at community meetings held across the county in the years immediately following the storm.
Missing the deadlines could force the county to repay the federal government and cancel dozens of projects. The county has spent just a fraction of the more than $800 million it must spend by the current deadline of March 31, 2028. Less than half that amount — roughly $322 million — must be spent by February 2027, but officials hope to secure an extension on the earlier deadline.
“If it’s such a brilliant idea, I wonder why we didn’t come up with it years ago,” Ellis said at a June 11 meeting.
Hidalgo said in a statement that she hoped Stuckett would bring greater transparency to the district.
“We’re making a bet that a change in Flood Control leadership will result in clearer communication with both Commissioners Court and the residents, so this is the best path forward for us to be able to get these projects back on track. I look forward to working with Director Stuckett to get these projects done as soon as possible for the community,” said Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.
Although Hidalgo, along with Ellis and Commissioner Tom Ramsey, had voiced concerns about Petersen’s leadership, Briones and Commissioner Adrian Garcia did not publicly criticize the former flood control director. Garcia attempted to invoke a rule on Thursday that would have delayed Stuckett’s appointment until the court meets again in late July, but commissioners overruled it.
Thursday’s meeting was a truncated session intended only to address procedural and non-controversial items. Stuckett, whose appointment takes effect June 29, did not immediately address the court.