'We need a mayor who has a vision for Houston': Hollins announces candidacy

Former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins recently announced that he is running for mayor of Houston.

Hollins announced on Feb. 7 that he is throwing his hat in the ring to become the next mayor for the City of Houston, according to Texas Tribune.

Hollins is a Democratic Party official who previously served in a temporary role as Harris County clerk during 2020.

"The challenges that we’re facing as Houstonians are becoming more and more complex," Hollins, 35, said in an interview with the Texas Tribune. "And to overcome those challenges, that job demands innovation, that job demands effective leadership. And so we need a mayor who has a vision for Houston, but who also has the skills and attributes necessary to achieve that vision."

Hollins, whose father was a police officer, wants to increase the number of officers in the city and invest more heavily in crime fighting technology to ensure the security of Houston residents.

"Our community at large cannot thrive unless we’re safe and, just as important, we feel safe in our city," Hollins said on the matter of safety. "So whether that means addressing issues of crime, flooding, housing or the pandemic, Houstonians have to be able to trust that our mayor is committed to protecting residents and to fostering a safe community."

Harris previously tried to implement drive-in voting in Harris County, and made an effort to send mail-in ballots to more than 2 million registered voters from the county. Both measures were struck down in legal battles, and the debate eventually culminated in these measures being made illegal in the state of Texas.

Should he be elected, he would replace Mayor Sylvester Turner, who is stepping down after serving the city-maximum of two four-year terms.

As mayor, Hollins would oversee a $5.1 billion budget and 23,000 municipal employees.

Sen. John Whitmire, a longtime Houston Democrat, has also previously announced his candidacy for mayor.