Politics of Houston
Founded in 1836 and incorporated in 1837, Houston is one of the fastest growing major cities in the United States and the largest without zoning laws. The city is the county seat of Harris County. A portion of southwest Houston extends into Fort Bend County and a small portion in the northeast extends into Montgomery County.
The city of Houston has a strong mayor-council government. The City's elected officials, serving concurrent two year terms, are: the mayor, the city controller and 14 members of the city council.
Under the strong mayor-council government, the mayor serves as the executive officer of the city. As the city's chief administrator and official representative, the mayor is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing that all laws and ordinances are enforced.
As of 2006, the mayor of Houston is Bill White, who is serving his second term. As the result of a 1991 referendum in Houston, a mayor is elected for a two-year term, and can be elected to as many as three consecutive terms. City council members, who also have a three-term limit, are elected from nine districts in the city, along with five at-large positions. Five at-large council members represent the entire city. The current city council lineup was based on a U.S. Justice Department mandate which took effect in 1979. Under the current city charter, if the population in the Houston City Limits goes past 2.1 million residents, the current nine-member city council districts will be expanded with the addition of two city council districts.[1] Houston is a home rule city and all municipal elections in the state of Texas are nonpartisan.
Many local lawmakers have been impacted by the city's term limits. Several former city officials—Anthony Hall, Rodney Ellis, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Sylvia Garcia, Martha Wong, Chris Bell, and Annise Parker—had to run for another elected position once their term expired.
Former mayor Lee P. Brown denounced the term limits, saying they prevented incumbents from gaining enough experience in city government. A proposal to double the current two-year term of office has been debated—as of 2005, several candidates for the city council have brought up the issue of whether term limits should be amended or eliminated.
Some elected officials from the Greater Houston area within the Texas Legislature—primarily Garnet Coleman and Sylvester Turner—have also spoken against term limits.
According to the 2005 Houston Area Survey, 67 percent of non-Hispanic whites in the city are declared or favor Republicans while 88 percent of non-Hispanic blacks in the city are declared or favor Democrats. About 58 percent Hispanics (of any race) in the city are declared or favor Democrats. Overall, the Houston area can be considered both politically and socially divided, with more conservatives residing in the suburbs and more liberals within the city. In 2005, 54 percent of Houston area residents oppose abortion and 49 percent believe "homosexuality is morally wrong."[2] Democratic candidate John Kerry won the city of Houston during the 2004 presidential election, while George W. Bush carried Harris county and the other surrounding counties in the Houston area.[3]
| Position | Name | Endorsed Party (council is nonpartisan) | First Elected | Areas Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Bill White | Democratic Party | 2003 | Citywide | |
| Controller | Annise Parker | Democratic Party | 2003 | Citywide | |
| At Large Position 1 | Peter Brown | Democratic Party | 2005 | Citywide | |
| At Large Position 2 | Sue Lovell | Democratic Party | 2005 | Citywide | |
| At Large Position 3 | Shelley Sekula-Gibbs | Republican Party | 2001 | Citywide | |
| At Large Position 4 | Ronald Green | Democratic Party | 2003 | Citywide | |
| At Large Position 5 | Michael Berry (Vice Mayor Pro-Tem) | Republican Party | 2003 | Citywide | |
| District A | Toni Lawrence | Republican Party | 2003 | Willowbrook, Carverdale, Fairbanks/Northwest Crossing, Greater Inwood (part), Acres Homes (part), Westbranch, Addicks/Park Ten (including the Addicks Reservoir), Spring Branch West, Langwood, Oak Forest/Garden Oaks, Lazy Brook/Timbergrove (part), Memorial (part), Washington Ave./Memorial (part), Spring Shadows, Spring Branch Central, Spring Branch East (part) | |
| District B | Jarvis Johnson | Democratic Party | 2005 | Greenspoint, Greater Inwood (part), Acres Homes (part), Hidden Valley, Bush IAH, Northside/Northline (part), Eastex/Jensen (part), East Little York/Homestead, Trinity/Houston Gardens, East Houston, Settegast, Kashmere Gardens (part), Fifth Ward (part), Denver Harbor/Port Houston (part), Pleasantville Area (part), Clinton Park/Tri-Community (part) | |
| District C | Anne Clutterbuck | Republican Party | 2005 | Woodlake/Briar Meadow (part), Uptown/Post Oak (part), Sharpstown (part), Gulfton (part), University Place, Braeburn (part), Meyerland, Braeswood Place, Texas Medical Center (part), Fondren Southwest (part), Westbury, Willow Meadows/Willow Bend, Fondren Gardens, Greenway/Upper Kirby | |
| District D | Ada Edwards | Democratic Party | 2001 | Neartown/Montrose, Texas Medical Center (part), Reliant Park, South Main, Central Southwest, Fort Bend county portion, Midtown, Binz, Third Ward (part), OST/South Union, Sunnyside, South Park (part), South Acres/Crestmont Park (part), Minnetex (part), MacGregor | |
| District E | Addie Wiseman | Republican Party | 2001 | Kingwood (including Montgomery County portion), Lake Houston, North Shore (part), South Park (part), Meadowbrook/Allendale (part), South Acres/Crestmont Park (part), Minnetex (part), Hobby Airport (part), Edgebrook, South Belt/Ellington Field, Clear Lake City | |
| District F | M.J. Khan | Republican Party | 2003 | Alief, Sharpstown (part), Gulfton (part), Westwood, Braeburn (part), Fondren Southwest (part) | |
| District G | Pam Holm | Republican Party | 2003 | Memorial (part), Eldridge/West Oaks (including the Barker Reservoir), Briar Forest, Westchase, Woodlake/Briar Meadow (part), Uptown/Post Oak (part), Washington Ave./Memorial (part), Afton Oaks/River Oaks | |
| District H | Adrian Garcia | Democratic Party | 2003 | Independence Heights, Lazy Brook/Timbergrove (part), Houston Heights, Washington Ave./Memorial (part), Northside/Northline (part), Eastex/Jensen (part), Northside Village, Kashmere Gardens (part), Fifth Ward (part), Downtown (part), Second Ward (part), Eastwood (part), Spring Branch East (part) | |
| District I | Carol Alvarado | Democratic Party | 2001 | El Dorado/Oates Prairie, Hunterwood, Denver Harbor/Port Houston (part), Pleasantville Area (part), North Shore (part), Clinton Park/Tri-Community (part), Fourth Ward, Downtown (part), Second Ward (part), Eastwood (part), Harrisburg-Manchester/Magnolia Park, Third Ward (part), Gulfgate/Pine Valley, Pecan Park, Golfcrest, Park Place, Meadowbrook/Allendale (part), Hobby Airport (part), Magnolia Park, Lawndale/Wayside | |
Notes
- ^ City Council may grow by two seats. Houston Chronicle.
- ^ The Houston Area Survey: 1982–Present. The Houston Area Survey
- ^ Election 2004. USA Today
See also
 | v • • e</div> </b> History | Geography | Politics | Economy | Education | Culture | Architecture | Transportation | Houstonians |
|---|---|
| Areas | Downtown | Uptown | Texas Medical Center | Midtown | Neartown | Museum District | Upper Kirby | Greenway Plaza | Rice Village | Westchase | Greenspoint |
| Communities | Acres Homes | Addicks | Aldine | Alief | Braeburn | Braeswood Place | Clear Lake City | Genoa Township | Harrisburg | Houston Heights | Independence Heights | Inwood Forest | Kingwood | Maplewood | Memorial | Meyerland | Northshore | Oak Forest | River Oaks | Sharpstown | South Park | Spring Branch | Sunnyside</font>
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| "Island" cities | Bellaire | Bunker Hill Village | Hedwig Village | Hilshire Village | Hunters Creek Village | Piney Point Village | Southside Place | Spring Valley | West University Place |
Categories
Politics of Texas | Houston, Texas