New T Board sworn in, gets off to choppy start

The Fort Worth T swore in its all-new board this afternoon,then immediately ran into choppy water. Member Jeff King nominated former City Councilman Carter Burdette as chair. That was quickly seconded. After several minutes of waiting for member Dennis Dunkins to show up and be sworn, member Jeff Davis noted he'd heard from two other new members who were interested in being chair: Neftali Ortiz and Scott Mahaffey. After some speeches, new member Sylvia Cervantes asked the board to put off a vote on new officers until right after today's joint meeting with the Fort Worth City Council. T Chief Dick Ruddell adjourned the board meeting - the second joint meeting was to follow - then was informed by the T's general counsel there was no posted board meeting following the joint meeting. So.the new.board will have to wait at least 72 hours to choose officers. - Scott Nishimura, Star-Telegram Fort Worth City Hall reporter