Early voting has begun in Harris County for town controller race in Houston. Voters are anticipated to make choices based mostly on title recognition and political leanings somewhat than monetary experience. The controller serves as town’s chief monetary officer and is chargeable for reporting on town’s monetary outlook to Metropolis Council.
Early voting is underway in Harris County. Arguably an important race on the poll for Houston voters after the mayor’s race is the one for metropolis controller. The controller serves as town’s chief monetary officer, however most voters seem set to base their choices about whom they need for the job on title recognition and partisan leanings somewhat than on perceptions of monetary or accounting experience.
Thought of town’s independently elected monetary watchdog, the controller is chargeable for reporting on town’s monetary outlook to Metropolis Council. The controller doesn’t have the facility to enact insurance policies, however that particular person can audit metropolis departments and applications.
The Defender requested every of the candidates to reply three questions in 200 phrases or much less because it pertains to the Black group.
Chris Hollins
A marketing consultant with a Harvard MBA, Hollins labored as vice chair of finance for the Texas Democratic Occasion. He served as interim Harris County clerk and led the 2020 elections effort in Harris County, implementing drive-thru voting, 24-hour voting, on-line mail poll monitoring, and tripling the variety of early voting facilities through the international pandemic.
Why ought to Black voters vote for you?
I’m asking for the votes of Black Houstonians as a result of I’m essentially the most certified candidate to function Metropolis Controller. As a Black man, I additionally perceive the struggles our households undergo. I keep in mind getting “the discuss” – the conversations Black dad and mom have with their youngsters about how they need to behave in the event that they get stopped by the police. My discuss was a bit completely different as a result of my dad was a Houston police officer for 34 years, and I keep in mind nights when my household would maintain arms on the dinner desk and pray for his security. I pray for a day once I received’t need to have that very same discuss with my very own son.
Extra just lately, I’m very pleased with our work once I led the County Clerk’s workplace through the 2020 elections. I used to be instantly chargeable for rising voter participation in Black (and all) communities through the pandemic. I stood as much as Gov. Greg Abbott and received – in truth, I’m the one candidate for Metropolis Controller who has ever taken on Abbott, and I’ll proceed to take action to guard Houstonians because the Metropolis Controller.
What can be your prime 3 points that instantly have an effect on the Black group?
I’m working for Metropolis Controller to offer a sound monetary and coverage basis for a well-run, fashionable and environment friendly metropolis authorities. I’ll work arduous to safeguard our tax {dollars} from fraud, waste and abuse, to speculate our metropolis funds safely and properly, and to advocate finest practices from main cities across the globe to make our authorities work for each Houstonian.
We are able to make actual progress on points that instantly have an effect on the Black group, together with:
Public Security / Prison Justice Reform- With a focused strategy and interventions that tackle the foundation causes of crime earlier than violence itself rears its head, I do know we will make Houston the most secure main metropolis in America.
Financial Alternative- We should work to safe the financial way forward for our group by supporting households and people, investing in schooling and job coaching, and in combating for good public insurance policies equivalent to a dwelling wage and paid go away.
Variety, Fairness, and Inclusion- I’ll work to offer correct knowledge and well-researched finest practices for advocates and policymakers to scale back discrimination and boundaries to employment, housing and medical care; reform our legal justice system; and get rid of systemic racism in all features of metropolis authorities.
If elected, how will you measure success in addressing your prime 3 points?
The Metropolis Controller is uniquely capable of measure success by making knowledge/data far more accessible and simpler to grasp. The general public can see if their tax {dollars} are being protected as a result of our monetary audits and public funding studies will all be public. And I intend to make use of the efficiency audit powers of the Metropolis Controller to measure the success of metropolis departments and city-funded tasks in assembly their said targets, together with by benchmarking our insurance policies and practices towards these of main cities from across the nation.
Some instance metrics:
Public Security / Prison Justice Reform
-Violent crime charges
-# of credible complaints filed towards law enforcement officials
-% of price range spent on preventive vs. reactive measures
Financial Alternative
-Job progress (notably in goal sectors)
-% of jobs that supply a dwelling wage
-% of households which have banking relationships
-% of households with high-speed web entry
Variety, Fairness, and Inclusion
-% of presidency contracts awarded to women- and minority-owned companies
-Progress towards passing equal rights ordinance
David Martin
Martin at present serves as Houston Mayor Professional-Tem and metropolis councilmember for District E. A graduate of Louisiana State College, he has served as chair of the Price range and Fiscal Affairs Committee and a member of the Financial Improvement Committee; Ethics, Elections and Council Governance Committee; and Transportation, Know-how and Infrastructure Committee. He spent 40 years within the personal sector, working for Huge 4 accounting corporations.
Why ought to Black voters vote for you?
I’m endorsed by a number of African People who admire my ethics and my historic votes for minority companies to acquire metropolis contracts. I’m endorsed by Mayor Sylvester Turner. I’m the one candidate with personal sector accounting and finance expertise (Huge 4 Accounting Companies, Ernst & Younger, PricewaterhouseCoopers)
What can be your prime 3 points that instantly have an effect on the Black group?
MWBE (Minority and Girls Owned Enterprise) alternatives. Fairness is nice, however we want inclusion to make fairness work. I’ll advocate for inclusion.
If elected, how will you measure success in addressing your prime 3 points?
Double-digit will increase in metropolis contracts. Twenty p.c extra African American Controller Workplace workers and my prime two Deputy Controllers can be minorities and ladies of colour.
Shannon Nobles
Nobles is at present Chief Deputy Metropolis Controller for the Metropolis of Houston. Her group service contains managing Financial institution On Houston, a nationwide program that brings the unbanked and underbanked into the monetary mainstream and offering accessible data to varied communities and excessive faculties. She is a graduate of M.B. Smiley Excessive Faculty, with a BA in Enterprise Administration and an MBA in Finance from the College of Houston – Downtown.
Why ought to Black voters vote for you?
Competent – I do know the job. I’ve over 14 years of expertise within the Controller’s Workplace, with the final eight years as Deputy Chief Controller. I’ve managed the Operations and Technical Providers Division and second in command in a well-run workplace. I’ve a BA in Enterprise Administration and an MBA with a spotlight in Finance from the College of Houston – Downtown. I’m the one candidate on this race with expertise within the Controller’s Workplace.
Relatable – I grew up in Lakewood and attended Tidwell Elementary, Kirby Center Faculty and M.B. Smiley. I grew up in a low-income space and perceive firsthand many financial inequities. So, when points like monetary literacy are mentioned – given my background – I perceive firsthand how that impacts the Black group, which is why I’ll proceed to actively help the Higher Banking program to deliver the unbanked and underbanked into the monetary mainstream and efforts to show our youth and residents of Houston how one can construct wealth.
Historic – If elected, I might be the primary Black feminine to carry this place and can work my hardest to teach and advocate for the residents of Houston relating to the monetary well being of town.
What can be your prime 3 points that instantly have an effect on the Black group?
Price range – The Metropolis of Houston has a structurally imbalanced price range, which implies our expenditures exceed our revenues and we have now relied on federal help. With out it town can not pay its payments. If left unresolved these points will result in layoffs and lowered companies for years to come back. If the previous is any indication of the longer term on this atmosphere, Black households often see essentially the most damaging impacts.
Water Charges – The difficulty that appears to be prime of thoughts to most Houstonians is extreme water charges. Years of neglect of infrastructure and deferred upkeep are systemic causes of this concern. Whereas the Controller doesn’t vote on town’s weekly agenda, I’ll absolutely use my place to advocate for folks, to lift the vital concern.
Monetary Literacy – Enhancing monetary literacy is crucial to assist Black people and households construct wealth and financial safety. Schooling relating to private finance, budgeting, and investing can empower the Black group to make knowledgeable monetary choices. Financial institution on Houston provides Houstonians the chance to open low-cost financial institution accounts which can be freed from extreme charges and necessities. This is step one to monetary literacy.
If elected, how will you measure success in addressing your prime 3 points?
Price range & Water Charges – As soon as once more, I’m not chargeable for producing the price range and/or passing ordinances. What I can do is use my voice to advocate for the folks. A superb measure of my advocacy is what number of occasions per yr I current these vital subjects to council.
Monetary Literacy – The variety of new residents of Houston linked to Financial institution on Houston is a good measure of success for this system in a calendar yr.
Orlando Sanchez
Served six years on Houston Metropolis Council. Chaired the Price range Committee. Beforehand served as Harris County treasurer. Narrowly misplaced the 2019 election for incumbent Houston Metropolis Controller to Controller Chris Brown.
Why ought to black voters vote for you?
I’m the one candidate who will tackle points which can be vital to the black group. I grew up within the Hiram Clark, Brentwood and Windsor Village space. 4 years in the past, once I ran for Controller, I earned the endorsement of my buddies from metropolis council days, Michael Yarbrough and Jew Don Boney.
What can be your prime 3 points that instantly have an effect on the Black group?
Crime 2) Unlawful dumping 3) Inexpensive housing
If elected, how will you measure success in addressing your prime 3 points?
Success is all the time measured by outcomes, if you take a look at my report as county treasurer, you will notice my Assistant County Treasurer was a Black lady. Together with her management, we received nationwide and state transparency awards, saved Harris County financially sound, and labored tirelessly for the folks.
NEXT WEEK: Hear from the Mayoral candidates
