Why I Want to be Mayor
- By Annise Parker
- Published 02/3/2009
- Political
- Unrated
This week I announced my candidacy for Mayor of Houston – and I began my campaign the same way I will end it – by asking simply, and respectfully, for your vote.
I’m proud to have served the people of Houston for the last 11 years – first on the City Council, and for the last five years as your City Controller. I’ve worked closely with Mayor Bill White and many other leaders to keep our city moving forward with sound economic policy, not divisive politics.
I’m a Houstonian, through and through. I grew up in this city and attended public schools. I worked my way through college, then up the ladder in our oil and gas industry for 20 years before I went into public service. This city has given me everything I have. I love it and want to give something back.
I’m running because I believe we need a Mayor who can manage our city through tough economic times and still keep Houston moving ahead.
As City Controller, I’ve managed billions of Houston’s tax dollars – and today, Houston is in much better shape than other cities that gambled their futures on risky investments and irresponsible budgets. Our local economy has created more jobs than any other city in America.
I’ve used 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.
I’m proud that we’re making our city safer by improving critical services like our 911 Emergency Center and the Fire Department’s Life Safety Bureau.
Even as the national economy slides backward, we can keep Houston moving ahead.
I have a plan to create jobs, secure Houston’s future as the headquarters for new energy development and maintain fiscal responsibility.
We can bring our infrastructure into the 21st Century – in transit, flood prevention, building streets and sidewalks – using our share of the national stimulus program to create good-paying jobs, and making sure the paychecks go to Houston families.
We can build partnerships with our universities and energy companies – to make Houston a headquarters for new energy development and a leader in alternative energy, like wind and solar.
We can make sure that Houston is always the best place in America to live and raise a family – by investing in stronger neighborhoods, parks and libraries.
We’ve had many successes in recent years. But there are important things we have to do even better – like fighting crime and gangs on our streets and in our schools by putting more police officers on the beat, improving training, and using up-to-date technology to prevent crime before it happens.
I want to know what you think. Please go to www.AnniseParker.com – or to my Facebook page and other networking sites – and let me know what we’re doing right, and what we need to do better.
Somebody once said that this city was built on dreams – but what makes Houston great is that Houstonians are the kind of dreamers who work hard and have a lot of common sense. If tough times are coming, those are the qualities that will carry us forward, and those are the qualities that will make us succeed.
I can promise you this: No one will work harder; no one will work longer; and no one will care more for this city that we all love. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to earn your support.
I’m proud to have served the people of Houston for the last 11 years – first on the City Council, and for the last five years as your City Controller. I’ve worked closely with Mayor Bill White and many other leaders to keep our city moving forward with sound economic policy, not divisive politics.
I’m a Houstonian, through and through. I grew up in this city and attended public schools. I worked my way through college, then up the ladder in our oil and gas industry for 20 years before I went into public service. This city has given me everything I have. I love it and want to give something back.
I’m running because I believe we need a Mayor who can manage our city through tough economic times and still keep Houston moving ahead.
As City Controller, I’ve managed billions of Houston’s tax dollars – and today, Houston is in much better shape than other cities that gambled their futures on risky investments and irresponsible budgets. Our local economy has created more jobs than any other city in America.
I’ve used 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.
I’m proud that we’re making our city safer by improving critical services like our 911 Emergency Center and the Fire Department’s Life Safety Bureau.
Even as the national economy slides backward, we can keep Houston moving ahead.
I have a plan to create jobs, secure Houston’s future as the headquarters for new energy development and maintain fiscal responsibility.
We can bring our infrastructure into the 21st Century – in transit, flood prevention, building streets and sidewalks – using our share of the national stimulus program to create good-paying jobs, and making sure the paychecks go to Houston families.
We can build partnerships with our universities and energy companies – to make Houston a headquarters for new energy development and a leader in alternative energy, like wind and solar.
We can make sure that Houston is always the best place in America to live and raise a family – by investing in stronger neighborhoods, parks and libraries.
We’ve had many successes in recent years. But there are important things we have to do even better – like fighting crime and gangs on our streets and in our schools by putting more police officers on the beat, improving training, and using up-to-date technology to prevent crime before it happens.
I want to know what you think. Please go to www.AnniseParker.com – or to my Facebook page and other networking sites – and let me know what we’re doing right, and what we need to do better.
Somebody once said that this city was built on dreams – but what makes Houston great is that Houstonians are the kind of dreamers who work hard and have a lot of common sense. If tough times are coming, those are the qualities that will carry us forward, and those are the qualities that will make us succeed.
I can promise you this: No one will work harder; no one will work longer; and no one will care more for this city that we all love. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to earn your support.