Oak Ridge North Appoints Jim Kuykendall as Mayor

Long-range planning committee member tapped to take Joe Michael's place

OAK RIDGE NORTH, Texas -- The City of Oak Ridge North has tapped a member of its long-range planning committee, as its new mayor. James (Jim) Kuykendall, a resident of Oak Ridge North for thirteen years, will step into the mayoral position that newly elected Joe Michel’s recused himself of, when he was appointed to the Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees. The decision to appoint Kuykendall was made at the city council meeting on Monday night, August 22.

According to the official Oak Ridge North website, Kuykendall is the Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations for the Port Terminal Railroad Association in Houston, where he has served since 2007. He previously worked for Union Pacific Railroad for nearly 30 years in various positions. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas, and a Master’s Degree from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla.

The first openly public announcement of the appointment appeared late Monday night on the Facebook page of J.J. Kuykendall, the wife of Jim Kuykendall for 32 years. They have two adult daughters and two grandchildren. Kuykendall has served on a number of community and church volunteer positions.

Kuykendall will be sworn in as Mayor at the September 12 regular meeting of the City Council.