In this task, you are given a text of many news articles seperated by special token "|||||". Your task is to summarize them.

Mayor of New Hope comes out as transgender News Mayor of New Hope comes out as transgender The appointed mayor of a small town in Collin County announced in an open letter to her citizens that she is transgender. 
  
 - The appointed mayor of a small town in Collin County announced in an open letter to her citizens that she is transgender. 
  
 Jess Herbst is the mayor of New Hope, Texas. It’s a town of 600 people east of McKinney. 
  
 Mayor Herbst posted a letter on the town’s website explaining her transition from Jeff to Jess and her decision to live her life as a female. 
  
 “I do hope that it helps people understand that we are just normal people like everyone else,” she said. 
  
 Herbst has served as city alderman since 2003 and was just appointed as mayor last May. She's now coming out as transgender, something she says she's known about her whole life. But until recently, most residents knew her as Jeff. 
  
 “For the last six months, the only time I've ever dressed as a man was at city council meetings,” she explained. 
  
 Herbst was appointed mayor in May because the previous mayor died and finally decided she wanted to tell the town what she says she's known most of her life. 
  
 Growing up as a young boy in Texas, she always knew she was transgender and started telling family members about eight years ago as more information on the transgender community came out. 
  
 “When I would go to school and I would see here's the girls, here's what they're doing, here's how they're dressing, here's how they're acting, I wanted to be in that group,” Herbst said. “But I wasn't allowed to be.” 
  
 While hundreds have showered her with emails of support, others are hesitant. 
  
 “For him, congratulations,” said Marry Ann Whitehead. “But in the role he plays in the community, I'm not sure how that would be a positive thing.” 
  
 “I'm a heterosexual, but I don't go running around telling everybody I'm a heterosexual or what I do with my wife,” said resident Steve Tittle. “It's just your personal business, so keep it personal.” 
  
 Herbst says while everyone is entitled to their opinions, she welcomes the opportunity to address anyone's questions or concerns. 
  
 “Just get to know me before you judge me,” the mayor said. 
  
 Although not everyone is on board with the mayor's decision to come out as transgender, many said they have no problems with Herbst as mayor as long as it doesn't affect her ability to do the job. 
  
 Herbst is up for re-election in 2018. She says as of right now she still plans to run. ||||| On the town website, she also invited the public to make comments in the town’s public meeting on Jan 31. 
  
 Ms. Herbst, 58, said in a telephone interview that after posting her statement on Jan. 23, she attended the council meeting for the first time dressed as a woman. 
  
 “It was phenomenally positive; everyone was supportive,” she said. “We had a fairly packed crowd for a tiny town — there were 15 or 20 people there. I explained to the people who had not just had a chance to see the website, and everybody said, ‘O.K.,' and we went on and had a meeting.” 
  
 But as an elected official who was later appointed as mayor, Ms. Herbst said that she was given a “very stern lecture” by the town attorney about laws that govern elections and canvassing, and that she was told not to change her name before the coming election cycle. 
  
 Ms. Herbst also said she has received thousands of messages of support, and three negative ones. 
  
 Replies to announcements on her Facebook page and the town’s website appear to be supportive, with residents praising her for coming forward in a state where, in most parts, it is legal to discriminate against people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. 
  
 In January, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, one of the most powerful Republican officials in the state, put Texas on the front lines of the nation’s culture wars when he announced the filing of a bill that would require people in government buildings and public schools to use the bathroom that corresponds with their “biological sex.” 
  
 Critics said the bill discriminated against transgender people. 
  
 Terri Burke, the executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said Mayor Herbst was showing “tremendous courage in discussing her identity with the public. ||||| Jess Herbst, who became mayor of tiny New Hope last May, came out in an open letter to the town’s residents. 
  
 The mayor of a small Collin County town has become the first known openly transgender elected official in Texas history. 
  
 Jess Herbst, who became mayor of New Hope last May, came out as trans in an open letter to residents on the town’s website. Herbst had been elected to the Town Council as an alderman and was appointed mayor after the previous mayor died. 
  
 “As your Mayor I must tell you about something that has been with me since my earliest memories. I am Transgender,” Herbst wrote, adding that two years ago, she began hormone replacement therapy. “At the time, I did not imagine I would hold the Mayor’s position, but here I am.” 
  
 Herbst couldn’t immediately be reached for further comment. New Hope is a suburb of McKinney with a population of 670, according to the 2010 census. And Collin County is considered one of the most conservative suburban areas in Texas, with President Donald Trump winning by 17 percentage points in the general election. 
  
 Herbst’s open letter comes as transgender rights have been thrust into the state and national spotlight thanks to a slew of so-called bathroom bills, including Texas’ Senate Bill 6, by Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham. In early January, Herbst took to Facebook to criticize Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for pushing SB 6, which he’s made one of his top priorities for the 2017 session. 
  
 “Mr. Patrick: Let me get this straight, are you saying that right now, without your bill being passed, anyone can assault someone in the bathroom without breaking the law?” Herbst wrote. “That [sic] some some kind of weird screwed-up loophole if so.” 
  
 Herbst also railed against “transphobic” bathroom bills in a post on her personal website last year. 
  
 Although gay and lesbian elected officials have held public office across Texas for decades, no transgender person has done so. In 2010, Houston’s Phyllis Frye became the nation’s first transgender judge, after being appointed to the position by then-Mayor Annise Parker. Last year, Houston’s Jenifer Poole became the first transgender candidate to win a party primary in Texas, but she was defeated in the general election. 
  
 Nell Gaither, president of Trans Pride initiative, a Dallas nonprofit, said she doesn’t know Herbst personally but was proud of her decision. 
  
 “I’m happy that our society is progressing to the point that she can feel empowered to come out and be her true self in public office, knowing that she will continue to be welcomed and valued for her skills and capabilities,” Gaither said. 
  
 In her open letter, Herbst said she has lived in New Hope with her wife and two daughters since 1999 and previously served as alderman, road commissioner and mayor pro-tem. 
  
 Herbst noted that trans people “have made great strides in the last few years,” adding that thanks to celebrities like Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox, “society finally has a chance to see and learn about who we are.” 
  
 “It is gender identity not sexual preference that applies to me,” she wrote. “I love my wife, and she loves me, we have no intention of change. My daughters have been adamant supporters of me and are proud to tell people their father is transgender.” 
  
 Herbst invited residents to email her, visit her website, or speak at a Town Council meeting if they have concerns. The council was scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, and meets on the last Tuesday of every month. 
  
 Correction: The story originally stated that Herbst was elected mayor last May. Herbst, who had served as mayor pro tem, was elected alderman and appointed mayor after the previous mayor died. The Observer regrets the error. ||||| An open letter to the citizens of New Hope. 
  
 As the new mayor of New Hope, I would like to tell you all what a privilege it is to serve you. Since 2003 I have had the privilege of being an alderman, road commissioner and mayor pro-tem. In May of 2016, I became your mayor. 
  
 My wife has lived in New Hope since she was 2 years old. Along with our 2 daughters, we have lived here since 1999, on the same farm my wife was raised. I was born and raised in Greenville, Texas. 
  
 As your Mayor I must tell you about something that has been with me since my earliest memories. I am Transgender. Twoyears ago, with the support of my wife, daughters and son-in-law, I began Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). At the time, I did not imagine I would hold the Mayors position, but here I am. 
  
 I know that transgender people are just coming to light in our society, and we have made great strides in the last few years. Celebrities like olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner, Laverne Cox from the show ‘Orange is the new Black’ and popular shows like ‘Transparent’ , society finally has a chance to see and learn about who we are. It is gender identity not sexual preference that applies to me. I love my wife, and she loves me, we have no intention of change. My daughters have been adamant supporters of me and are proud to tell people their father is transgender. 
  
 I am self employed and all of my customers have been understanding and supportive. 
  
 I live my life as a female now, and I will be performing my duties to the town as such. I have written a blog documenting my decision process and experiences as transgender and I think you would find it contains much insight. The site is JessHerbst.Com 
  
 I’m not especially sensitive to the pronoun I’m called, and I expect people to take time to make the change. I use the name Jess, a simple change from Jeff. 
  
 I will continue as Mayor and hope to do the very best for the town. Please feel free to email me questions or comments, my email is jess@Herbst.com. The Monthly Town Council meetings are on the last Tuesday of every month, at Town hall on Rockcrest. The meeting begins at 7:30pm. There is a spot for public comment at the beginning of each meeting if you wish to address me, or the council about this or any other town matter. I encourage you to do so, it really is the best way for the council to know what issues need addressing. 
  
 Thank you for your attention. 
  
 Jess Herbst 
  
 Mayor, Town of New Hope |||||
Eight months after taking office, the mayor of a North Texas town has announced that she is transgender. Jess Herbst of tiny New Hope is believed to be the first openly transgender mayor in Texas, reports the New York Times. In an open letter posted Jan. 23 on the town website, she writes, "As your mayor I must tell you about something that has been with me since my earliest memories. I am Transgender." She says she began hormone replacement therapy two years ago "with the support of my wife, daughters and son-in-law." The former Jeff Herbst, 58, adds that she had no idea she would become mayor when she began her gender conversion, which she chronicled on her website. Herbst served in local government for years before being appointed to her current post last May, after the mayor died. The announcement came as a bill is wending its way through the state legislature that would force people to use bathrooms in government buildings according to "biological sex." Herbst has called such measures "transphobic" on her website, per the Texas Observer. Herbst began living as "Jess" last September and dressed as a woman at a town council meeting for the first time on Tuesday. Reaction was "phenomenally positive," she tells the Times. Some residents interviewed by Fox4 had doubts. "In the role he plays in the community, I'm not sure how that would be a positive thing," says one, using a male pronoun to refer to Herbst. Herbst says she hopes stepping forward "helps people understand that we are just normal people like everyone else."