Sarah Grunau/Houston Public Media
Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker introduced Wednesday she is going to run for Harris County Choose subsequent yr, organising a possible conflict with incumbent Lina Hidalgo within the Democratic main.
Parker served as town’s mayor from 2010 to 2016. She led the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, a D.C. primarily based political motion committee. Parker additionally served as a Houston Metropolis Council member and metropolis controller.
“I used to be born right here, spent my whole grownup life right here, I care deeply about what occurs on this area and I’m frightened,” Parker stated. “Harris County authorities is about legislation enforcement. It’s about public well being. It’s about motion of water, notably flood prevention. It’s about site visitors and transportation, and it’s about making it attainable for individuals to stay right here safely.”
The previous mayor — who stated she has the skillsets to each serve and lead the county — expects to win her bid within the Democratic main election subsequent March and stay on the poll for the November election to find out the place.
“Now, greater than ever, we’d like robust, confirmed management to information our county by means of robust occasions,” Parker stated.
Hidalgo, a two-term county decide who first was elected in 2018, beat Republican incumbent Ed Emmett to develop into the primary girl and first Latina to function the county’s high elected official. She has not stated whether or not or not she plans to hunt a 3rd time period.
Marketing campaign finance experiences present Hidalgo has the smallest quantity of funds in her marketing campaign amongst her political counterparts — about $41,000 to some commissioners’ tens of millions. Then again, main the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund provides Parker entry to a nationwide community of potential donors.
However Parker, talking on Whats up Houston Wednesday, stated she expects the majority of her marketing campaign funds to come back proper from Harris County.
“However sure, I even have a nationwide fundraising community,” Parker stated. “It supported me in my runs for mayor and it’ll help me once more. But when most of your cash comes from exterior the area, I believe that’s an issue.”
Hidalgo, who left for a commerce mission to Paris earlier this week, didn’t instantly touch upon Parker’s bid on Wednesday.
Republican Aliza Dutt, the mayor of Piney Level Village — a west Harris County neighborhood with simply over 3,000 residents — additionally introduced her bid for the county decide’s place final month.
Dutt’s marketing campaign targets focus on backing legislation enforcement, sensible spending and bringing a planner’s mindset to infrastructure. Parker goals to sort out lingering flooding and infrastructure points.
Parker, acknowledged as town’s first brazenly homosexual mayor, first hinted about her political return final yr as a supply near Parker confirmed she was contemplating difficult Hidalgo.
Michael O. Adams, a professor of political science and public administration at Texas Southern College, informed Houston Public Media final yr {that a} political competitors between Hidalgo and Parker may form as much as be a really tight race.
“I believe Annise Parker has some historical past of getting cast good relationships with the Black neighborhood,” Adams stated. “That has been one of many criticisms in some circles, that Lina Hidalgo has uncared for constructing relationships throughout the Black neighborhood. It will be attention-grabbing for these two candidates. I believe they may cut up some votes.”
