...he's by far the best mayor we've ever had (in Houston).  He got alotta hate from the refineries when he passed a city code change that named certain types of air pollution as public nusiances subject to $10,000 or more in fines a day (they had to do somethin', since TCEQ is basically a lameduck).

He's also gave much support to the lightrail expansion, and led the push to stop all development in the floodplains, expand the park system, and de-channelize many of the bayous and return 'em to their natural state, usin' reconstructed wetlands and wide-scale retention ponds for flood control instead.

Shame this is his last term (term limits), but hopefully he'll go onto another position of even greater importance where his ideas can be applied.

incredibly sexist, IMHO.  i'd go back and edit to not detract from your overall point.