Whitmire Names Sims Human Resources Director
Mayor John Whitmire has appointed Herbert C. Sims, Jr. to lead the city's Human Resources department, replacing retiring director Jane Cheeks.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in People
Mayor John Whitmire's office announced Friday that Herbert C. Sims, Jr. will become Director of Human Resources, succeeding Jane Cheeks, who is retiring. Sims most recently led the Department of Neighborhoods, and Rebekah Williams has been appointed to replace him there.
Why it matters
The Human Resources department handles recruitment and services for 20,000 municipal employees, making its leadership central to city workforce operations in Houston. The changes also reshape the Department of Neighborhoods, which runs city task forces on gang violence, human trafficking and domestic abuse prevention.
The city's Human Resources department serves 20,000 municipal employees, and Sims has worked in city roles since 2002, including sixteen years in the gang violence prevention unit. The announcement does not specify start dates for either appointment.
The players
John Whitmire
John Whitmire is the mayor of Houston who made the appointments announced this week.
Herbert C. Sims, Jr.
Herbert C. Sims, Jr. is a longtime city official who spent sixteen years in the city's gang violence prevention unit before leading the Department of Neighborhoods.
Rebekah Williams
Rebekah Williams is a former communications supervisor to Mayor Sylvester Turner and a senior advisor to Mayor Whitmire who has also served as a city liaison to faith leaders and communities.
The details
Whitmire's office announced the appointments on Friday, with Sims replacing retiring director Jane Cheeks at Human Resources. Williams, who has served as a senior advisor to Whitmire and as a communications supervisor to former Mayor Sylvester Turner, will replace Sims at the Department of Neighborhoods, which oversees the city's civic club system known as Super Neighborhoods.
Timeline
2002: Sims began working in various city roles.
2022: Human Resources created a parental leave program.
Friday: Whitmire's office announced the new director appointments.
Ledger Context
The appointments move leadership of the Department of Neighborhoods, which oversees the Super Neighborhoods civic club system, from Sims to Williams. Sims's sixteen years in the gang violence prevention unit link his new Human Resources role to the department's existing task forces.
Houston city employees who rely on Human Resources for recruitment and services will work with new leadership under Sims. Residents involved with neighborhood civic clubs or the city's violence and trafficking task forces will see Williams take over the Department of Neighborhoods.
The takeaway
Leadership changes in city departments can shift priorities on workforce services and neighborhood safety programs. Readers following Houston government should watch for announced start dates and any policy updates from the new directors.
Further reading
For more on local leadership changes, see People coverage in Houston.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Houston Chronicle.
