Christy Landriault

With 64% of revenue tied to cruise ships, Galveston’s port is betting big on one industry. Guest columnist, and Council Member for District 2, David Finklea calls for mobility planning, economic diversification, and a waterfront designed for people — not just parking lots and ships.

When you think about the person steering Galveston’s day-to-day operations and planning for its future, you might picture closed-door meetings and stacks of policy reports. But in this unfiltered conversation, City Manager Brian Maxwell opens up about the challenges and rewards of leading the island, his vision for the next decade, the reality of drainage issues, and the community projects that make Galveston unique—including the beloved Turtles About Town. Along the way, he proves that even serious civic leadership can come with a laugh or two.