After 4 years of service to the District, Mike Ledbetter retired at the end of October as the Director of Services. In this position, in the District offices at the Sheriffs Storefront on Aldine Mail Route, he was the contact for all citizens who had business with the District.
He is being replaced this month by Richard Cantu, hired by the EAMD after an exhaustive search of a field of 30 candidates.
Cantu is quite familiar with East Aldine, and lives in the Melrose Park area near Hardy Toll Road, and serves as the Hawthorne Place Civic Club president.
Previous to his work with East Aldine, Cantu was with the Neighborhood Centers Inc., as manager of their youth department and the Harbach Ripley community Center. This organization was involved in meals for seniors, Head Start education program, and a charter school.
Before that he spent eight years with the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department, and six years with the Citizens Assistance Office.
Cantu is a graduate of Jeff Davis High School, where he was class president, probably the start of his public service career. He went on to HCC for an associate degree in Government, and to the University of Houston for Political Science.
He has served as a Precinct Chair in Pct. 105 for 16 years, and has even run for office, City Council, in 2003.
Cantu has been married for 20 years, and he and his wife have 3 daughters. His wife is a graduate of Sam Houston HS. Cantu coaches basketball, and has been active also in the TMO, or Metropolitan Organization, and the Holy Name Catholic Church. He helped develop the Community Center and Park known as Clark Park, off W. Tidwell.
While in college, he was honored with a national Truman Scholarship, in 1992, a scholarship for those interested in Public Service, of which only two per state are awarded annually.
Cantu will be available daily in his office at 5202 Aldine Mail Route for those who want to contact the East Aldine Management District. His phone is 281-449-1800. He welcomes your visit.