Annise Parker Campaign

Who am I?

I am a neighborhood leader, community activist, and mother who entered public life twelve years ago as an at-large member of Houston City Council. I won a hard-fought campaign as the citys first openly gay or lesbian elected official by building a coalition of African Americans, Latinos, LGBT people and neighborhood activists to defeat a lobbyist backed by downtown financial interests.

Today I am completing my third term as City Controller, an independently elected watchdog on city finances.

I know it sounds trite, but I love this city. Im a Houston gal, through and through. I grew up in Houston and attended public schools. I worked my way through college at Rice University, then up the ladder in the energy industry for 20 years before I went into public service. This city has given me everything I have. I love it and want to give something back.

Read my full biography here: http://www.anniseparker.com/about/

Why am I running?

Like many cities in America, Houston faces tough choices ahead as we grapple with this recessionary economy. I believe my experience in both the legislative and financial side of local government, combined with my background in community work and business, makes me best qualified to lead our city in these challenging times.

I am the only candidate who has launched audits that rooted out fraud and waste, freeing up millions for priorities like public safety, after-school programs and job creation. Im the only one with a detailed Hire Houston First plan to create jobs for struggling families. Im the only one with a far-reaching energy plan to make Houston the center of the new energy economy with a focus on clean, renewable power. And I am the only candidate focusing on the citys role in supporting our education system.

My Goals

**Public Safety I have already used tough audits to free up millions of dollars for public safety and I will protect our police budget in this economic downturn and reprogram federal funds to put more officers on parole. Read my detailed plan at: http://www.anniseparker.com/issue/safe_streets_tough_choices/

**Economy and Jobs I will use my 20 years of experience in the energy industry to ensure Houstons place as the headquarters of the new energy economy, and my Hire Houston First policy will ensure that jobs created by city projects go to local families first. Read my detailed plans at: http://www.anniseparker.com/issue/houston_the_headquarters_for_new_energy_development/ and http://www.anniseparker.com/issue/hire_houston_first/

**Education As a parent with school-age kids, a leader focused on our economy and a homeowner invested in my neighborhood, I know we all have a stake in the health of our education system. Thats why I will create a Strong Schools Partnership with local school districts and a Chief Education Officer to oversee an aggressive effort to support strengthen public schools and prepare our young people for the jobs of the twenty first century. Read my detailed plan at: http://www.anniseparker.com/issue/stronger_schools_for_a_stronger_houston/

My DFA Values

This legacy campaign is missing this information

My Campaign is People Powered!

From my years as an activist and neighborhood leader, to my campaigns for City Council and Controller, I have always run grassroots campaigns that work to engage and empower all Houstonians---whether were knocking on doors, making phone calls or organizing neighbors via the internet. In fact, one of my favorite Houston Chronicle stories quoted a local political professional who said I am probably one of the scrappiest grass-roots fighters we've seen in Houston politics in recent years.

The proof is in the numbers. At the time of this writing, I have 9,068 supporters on Facebook, 1,975 followers on Twitter, 1,612 people who have volunteered at least once on the campaign and 5,481 donors all since February 1 of this year.

Inappropriate text or images on this page? Please click here to let us know.