Government

As the seat of Ector County, Odessa and its governing bodies are recognized for being "business-friendly." With a focus on tomorrow without forgetting our storied past, the city and county have worked side-by-side in putting a new face on the downtown area while preserving the historic look and feel that is Odessa–both in terms of newly constructed facilities and in planning for the future.

With extremely accessible governing officials, Odessa operates under a charter that provides for a Council-Manager form of government. The council consists of a mayor and five council members serving three-year staggered terms. The Council is responsible for the appointment of the city manager, municipal judges, city attorney, city secretary and boards and legislative policy making. The city manager serves as chief administrative officer of the city government.

City and Government

City Government - City Council-City Manager System

County Government - County Judge-Commissioners Court

Police Personnel - 230

Fire Personnel - 170 Paid; 4-Volunteer Depts.