Leading Houston Forward

Download Annise Parker’s full biography here.

Annise Parker has what it takes to lead our city through tough economic times. A businesswoman and neighborhood leader, Annise has served the people of Houston for the last 11 years – first on the City Council, and for the last five years as City Controller. She spent 20 years in the oil and gas industry before entering public service. Annise has worked closely with Mayor Bill White and many other leaders to keep our city moving forward – with sound economic policy, not divisive politics.

Fiscally Responsible Leadership

As our City Controller, Annise directs Houston’s financial investments and manages billions of tax dollars. Because of her fiscal responsibility and leadership, Houston is stronger today than other major cities that gambled their futures on risky investments and irresponsible budgets. Annise is using tough, independent audits to uncover millions of dollars in waste due to inefficiencies, redundancies and outright fraud. That money is now funding our police and fire departments, important after-school programs and senior centers – instead of being wasted and abused. Annise’s detailed performance assessments are not only saving tax dollars – they are also helping to make our city safer by bringing best practices to critical services like our 911 Emergency Center and the Fire Department’s Life Safety Bureau.

A Plan To Keep Houston Moving Forward

Annise has a plan to create jobs, secure Houston’s future as the headquarters for new energy development, and maintain fiscal responsibility. As Mayor, Annise will fight to create good-paying jobs using our share of the national stimulus program and local funds – and to make sure the paychecks go to Houston families. By making smart investments that create jobs, we can begin to bring our infrastructure into the 21st Century – in transit, flood prevention, and street and sidewalk construction. And Annise will work to make Houston the headquarters for new energy development, building partnerships with the city, oil and gas companies and local universities to make Houston a leader in alternative energy like wind and solar. Annise’s priorities will improve our environment, mean less dependence on foreign oil, and create good-paying jobs here in Houston.

Improving Neighborhoods and Our Quality of Life

Annise knows that good jobs and safe neighborhoods make Houston a great place to raise a family. That’s why she passed an ordinance cracking down on motels frequented by prostitutes near churches and neighborhoods and why she has a plan for getting tough on gangs on the streets and in our schools. As a City Councilmember and as Controller, Annise has set priorities with our tax dollars to strengthen neighborhoods by investing in parks and recreation, after-school programs, libraries, and police and firefighters. As Mayor, Annise will work for sensible controls to protect established neighborhoods, prevent out-of-scale development and provide certainty to neighborhoods and developers alike, so that we can avoid unnecessary controversies like the proposed Ashby high-rise development.

Houston Hometown Values

Annise’s roots in Houston run deep. She was born and raised here, as were her parents – who met as students at the University of Houston. She grew up in Spring Branch, and attended public schools. Annise’s mother worked as a bookkeeper, and her father worked for the Red Cross. He moved the family to the U. S. Army base in Mannheim, Germany for two years when Annise was 15. There, Annise earned a membership in the National Honor Society and served as president of the Red Cross youth service organization – volunteering as a candy-striper at the base hospital and working in the base library. Annise earned a National Merit scholarship to Rice University in 1974, and worked several jobs to pay for her room and board. She graduated in 1978, beginning a 20-year career in the oil and gas industry – 18 of them at Houston’s Mosbacher Energy.

A Lifetime of Service

At every step of the way, Annise has worked hard to make our city better and improve the quality of life for Houstonians. Annise served 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. Annise was 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. Houston Woman Magazine named Annise one of Houston's 50 Most Influential Women for 2008. A lifelong community servant, Annise serves on the Board of Directors of the Holocaust Museum Houston and Girls Inc. and the Advisory Boards of the Houston Zoo, the Montrose Counseling Center, Bering Omega Community Services and Trees for Houston. Annise is also involved in historic preservation efforts in Houston and has 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, have been together since 1990. They have two children.