City Controller Annise Parker is Houston’s
second-highest elected city official and
serves as the city's Chief Financial Officer.
She leads a team of highly competent and
motivated professionals – managing our
city finances and rooting out waste, fraud
and abuse so that our government can
afford to provide the essential services
every Houstonian deserves.
Houston’s Financial Watchdog
Annise was sworn in as the 14th City Controller for the City of Houston on January 2, 2004 – and she’s kept a close watch on the bottom line every since:
- Completing more than 100 audits of city contracts and programs and saving millions of tax dollars;
- Implementing new anti-fraud policies to safeguard our public funds and put Houston on the leading edge of bank fraud security;
- Playing a central role in the implementation of the city’s new financial management software system;
- Helping to manage the finances of Houston’s massive housing program for Katrina evacuees;
- Increasing oversight and working to strengthen the city's Municipal Pension System; and
- Keeping Houston’s credit rating among the strongest of any city in America.
Making Sure Government Works – For Everyone
During her first term as Controller, Annise led the fight to pass Proposition 3, which gives the Controller the independent authority to conduct performance reviews of all city departments, agencies and programs.
More than 85 percent of voters agreed the Controller should help reform city agencies. Since then, Annise has moved aggressively to recommend substantial improvements in the operation of the Houston Emergency Center, 3-1-1 Information System, Fire Code Inspection Division, Police Department’s overtime management systems, garbage collection, and animal welfare and control.
As the Mayor and City Council implement these recommendations, our residents will be safer, our streets will be cleaner and our government will be more responsive.
Improving Effectiveness and Efficiency
Annise holds herself to the same exacting
standards she expects of other government
officials. That’s why she has reorganized the
Controller’s Office to make sure that
policymakers and the public have access
to the most accurate and up-to-date financial
information for the city.
Annise has also cut the budget of the
Controller’s office, while improving the level
of the many services it provides to citizens,
neighborhood and community organizations,
and city government.
Serving Our Community
Annise served for six years as an at-large member of Houston City Council, winning key fights to improve our city government and our quality of life – creating the city’s $20 million Rainy Day Fund, a civic art program, tighter regulations for inner city development and the city's non-discrimination policy. She has been recognized as “Council Member of the Year” by the Houston Police Officers Union and earned the “Distinguished Local Elected Official Award” from the Texas Recreation and Park Society.
A lifelong community activist, Annise is currently working to improve our community on the Board of Directors of the Holocaust Museum Houston and the Advisory Boards of the Houston Zoo, the Montrose Counseling Center and Trees for Houston. Annise is also involved in historic preservation efforts in Houston, and received the “Good Brick Award” from the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance for her restoration of historic properties in the Old Sixth Ward.
Annise and her life partner, Kathy Hubbard, live in Houston with their two daughters.