Annise Parker kicks off her mayoral campaign
The Chron's Alan Bernstein does a mini-profile of Houston Controller Annise Parker in preparation for her announcement today that she's entering the mayoral race:
“Houstonians want a mayor who can lead the city through tough economic times, and a mayor who can continue our forward progress with jobs and neighborhoods,” she said in an interview last week.
“I have the skill set to do these things,” she added as she prepared her announcement — an e-mail blast referring voters to an online video of her speaking to voters.
Parker, 52, started thinking about running for mayor long before the nation’s economic picture grew dark. But now that, in her words, “the No. 1 issue is going to be the economy and jobs,” Parker is touting the ways she can cut city expenses. She’s also worked as an engineering technologist for an oil company and as co-owner several years ago of a feminist bookstore.
Of the four or five others being mentioned as potential candidates in the Nov. 3 election, Parker easily has the most experience running for and serving in office citywide. After losing two City Council races, she won an at-large seat in 1997, 1999 and 2001. She was elected controller in 2003 and was re-elected with no opponents in 2005 and 2007.
And as mayor what will she focus on?
As mayor, she would foster partnerships among energy companies, government and researchers to put Houston in the forefront of developing alternative energy sources, she said.
She cited neighborhood protection and preservation as a top concern, pointing out that on City Council, she spurred ordinances on minimum lot sizes and setback requirements for buildings.
She's also not in favor of HPD identifying illegal immigrants, same as her presumed opponents.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/02/09 05:04 AM | Print | Comments (12)
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