Annise Parker

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Template:Pp Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". Annise Danette Parker (born May 17, 1956) is an American politician from the state of Texas. A Democrat, Parker served as the 61st Mayor of Houston, Texas, from 2010 until 2016. She also served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council from 1998 to 2003 and as city controller from 2004 to 2010.[1][2]

Parker is Houston's second female mayor (after Kathy Whitmire). She is also one of the first openly gay mayors of a major U.S. city, with Houston being the most populous U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor until Lori Lightfoot was elected mayor of Chicago in 2019.[3][4][5]

Early life and education

Parker was born in the Spring Branch community of Houston on May 17, 1956.[6] Her mother, Kay Parker,[7] was a bookkeeper.[6] Parker was adopted by her mother's second husband, Ivy Leslie Parker, who worked for the Red Cross.[7] She lived briefly in Mississippi and South Carolina.[8]Script error: No such module "Unsubst". In 1971, when Parker was 15, her family moved to a U.S. Army post in Mannheim, Germany for two years.[6] In Germany, she volunteered in the Red Cross youth service organization and worked at the post library.[9]

Growing up, Parker was shy and suffered from extreme anxiety; her family nicknamed her "Turtle". She has maintained a turtle collection.[8]Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Parker graduated from Stall High School in North Charleston, South Carolina in 1974 and was named a National Merit Scholar.[10] During her senior year of high school, Parker participated in the school’s National Honor Society, Ecology Club, and Christian Youth Fellowship and was a high jumper and long jumper on the track team.[11]

Parker began attending Rice University in 1974, working several jobs to pay for her room and board.[9] While at Rice, Parker founded a lesbian student group.[8]Script error: No such module "Unsubst". A member of Jones College (a residential college at Rice), she graduated from Rice in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in anthropology, psychology and sociology.[12] In 2005, Parker completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local GovernmentScript error: No such module "Unsubst". as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.[13]

Career

Prior to serving as an elected official, Parker worked in the oil and gas industry as a software analyst[6] for over 20 years, including 18 years at Mosbacher Energy. In addition, she co-owned Inklings Bookshop with business partner Pokey Anderson from 1989 until 1999, and served as president of the Neartown Civic Association from 1995 to 1997.[9]Template:Better source In 1986 and 1987, she was president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus.[14]

Houston City Council

Parker ran unsuccessfully for Houston City Council in District C in 1991.[15] In 1995, she ran for City Council again, finishing third in a special election for At-Large Position 4 after Sheila Jackson Lee vacated the seat upon her election to Congress.[16] In 1997, Parker prevailed in the runoff election for At-Large Position 1 to become Houston's first openly gay elected official.[17] She was re-elected twice to the same seat in 1999 and 2001 without being forced to a run-off.[18]

Houston City Controller

In 2003, Parker was elected City Controller.[2] She was re-elected in 2005 and 2007 unopposed. In addition, Parker also secured a seat for a controller's appointee on the Houston Municipal Pension System Board of Trustees, marking the first time the city's chief financial officer has had any involvement in the pension system."[19]

Mayor of Houston

2009 election

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". In 2009, Parker announced her candidacy for the office of Mayor of Houston in a video posted online to her campaign website.[20] She was endorsed by several organizations and campaigned on a platform of better city security and financial efficiency.[21] During the run-off election, Parker was endorsed by former rival Peter Hoyt Brown. The city's primary newspaper, the Houston Chronicle, endorsed Parker, citing her experience. Parker was elected mayor on December 12, 2009, and assumed office on January 2, 2010. Houston became the largest U.S. city ever to have an openly gay individual serve as mayor.[22][23] After the election, Parker declared that the top priorities of her administration would be improving transportation, balancing the city's budget, and selecting a new police chief.[24]

2011 election

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". In the 2011 election, Parker won a second term as Houston's mayor by defeating Fernando Herrera, Jack O'Connor, Dave Wilson, Kevin Simms, and Amanda Ulman without a runoff.[25]

2013 election

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". In November 2013, Parker won a third term as Houston's mayor by winning 57.22% of the vote, making a runoff unnecessary.[26]

Tenure

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Template:Expand-section On May 28, 2014, the Houston City Council passed the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) which was authored by Parker,[27] by a vote of 11 to 6. Mayor Parker had certified that "there exists a public emergency requiring that this Ordinance be passed finally on the date of its introduction".[28] The measure banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, family, marital, and military status. It applied to housing, businesses that serve the public, private employers, city employment, and city contracting.[29]

On July 3, 2014, opponents of HERO submitted 50,000 signatures to the city to force the ordinance to a vote of the public.[30][31][32][33] The city announced that the opponents were 2,022 signatures short of the 17,269 needed to put the matter to a vote.[34][31][35] HERO opponents filed a lawsuit[36] against Mayor Parker and the city on August 5, 2014.[27] In response, city attorneys defending the law filed subpoenas for sermons from local Christian pastors.[31] Attorneys for the pastors called the subpoenas retaliation against Christians for opposing the ordinance. Parker maintained that the attorneys who dealt with the lawsuit for the city were outside lawyers (i.e., not city employees) and that she and City Attorney David Feldman had been unaware of the subpoenas.[33] After what some news organizations called a "firestorm"[37][38] of criticism over the subpoenas (Parker said that she had been "vilified coast to coast"[38]), Parker directed the city's attorneys on October 29, 2014, to withdraw the subpoenas.[39] After the subpoenas were withdrawn, local city pastors filed a civil rights lawsuit against Parker.[32][40]

On November 3, 2015, Houston voters overturned HERO by a 61%-39% margin.[41]

As mayor, Parker enacted an ordinance making it illegal to share food with the homeless in public spaces.[42] Lawsuits continue over the ordinance, with a judge ruling in 2024 that local organization Food Not Bombs Houston could sue the city over it.[43]

Due to term limits, Parker was not eligible to run for a fourth term in 2015.[44]

Post-mayoral career

After leaving the office of Mayor in 2016, Parker has worked for nonprofit organizations in Houston. She was Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for community development nonprofit BakerRipley. From December 2017 to March 2025, Parker served as CEO and President of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and Leadership Institute.[45][46] She is also a professor at the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University.[47]

Media reports in May 2024 indicated that Parker was considering a candidacy for Harris County judge in 2026.[48][49]

Personal life

Parker and her wife, Kathy Hubbard, have been together since 1990.[9] On January 16, 2014, Parker and Hubbard were married in Palm Springs, California.[50][51] They have two adopted children together. In addition, the couple provided a home to a teenaged boy; they consider him their son as well.[52][53]

Awards and honors

In June 2020, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ Pride parade, Queerty named Parker among the fifty heroes "leading the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people."[54][55]

Electoral history

2003

Houston Controller Election 2003[56]
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Annise Parker 109,393 42%
✓ Bruce Tatro 52,366 20%
Mark Lee 40,103 15%
Gabriel Vasquez 30,784 12%
Steve Jones 26,303 10%

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Houston Controller Election 2003, Runoff[57]
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Annise Parker 127,280 62.05%
Bruce Tatro 77,849 37.95%

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2005

Houston Controller Election 2005
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Annise Parker

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2007

Houston Controller Election 2007
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Annise Parker

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2009

Houston mayoral election, 2009[58]
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Annise Parker 53,919 30.82%
✓ Gene Locke 43,974 25.14%
Peter Brown 39,456 22.56%
Roy Morales 35,802 20.47%

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Houston mayoral runoff election, 2009[59]
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Annise Parker 81,971 52.8%
Gene Locke 73,331 47.2%

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2011

Houston mayoral election, 2011[25]
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Annise Parker (Inc.) 59,156 50.83%
Jack O'Connor 17,237 14.81%
Fernando Herrera 16,712 14.36%
Dave Wilson 13,648 11.73%
Kevin Simms 7,797 6.70%
Amanda Ulman 1,835 1.58%
Turnout 116,385 Script error: No such module "String".

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2013

Houston mayoral election, 2013

Candidate Vote Number Vote Percentage[60]
Annise D. Parker 97,009 57.22%
Ben Hall 46,775 27.59%
Eric B. Dick 18,302 10.79%
Victoria Lane 1,782 1.05%
Don Cook 1,720 1.01%
Keryl Burgess Douglas 1,192 0.70%
Michael Fitzsimmons 1,179 0.70%
Derek A. Jenkins 823 0.49%
Charyl L. Drab 767 0.45%

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". (i.e., upon its first reading before the City Council rather than its second reading as per the normal procedure.)
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Aisha C. Moodie-Mills Leaves Victory Fund, Succeeded by Annise Parker, Dec 08 2017, The Advocate
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Template:Sister project

Political offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Mayor of Houston
2010–2016 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

Template:Mayors of Houston

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