Edwards on Houston mayoral run: 'We need big dreamers, but people who can execute on those visions'

A former member of Houston City Council has entered her name into the race to succeed Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that Amanda Edwards announced her candidacy for the city's highest office Wednesday (March 23).

Edwards, who also ran in the Texas Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in 2020, joins a field that includes State Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston), former interim Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, and U.S. Marine veteran Robin Williams. Either Edwards or Williams could become Houston's first African American female mayor.

The Houston mayoral contest isn't for another year, according to KTRK.

"We need big thinkers," Edwards told the station. "We need big dreamers, but people who can execute on those visions. I've had an extensive amount of experience as a municipal finance lawyer and as a public service and a servant in elected office. And then, of course, with nonprofits across the city, working alongside them or leading in those areas, and I bring a lot of those experiences with me to the table, which I think are assets."

KTRK reported that Edwards, an attorney by profession, occupied the seat for Houston City Council At-Large District Four from 2016 to 2020.

A native Houstonian, she graduated from Eisenhower High School on the city's northwest side, the station reported.

Both her parents were health care professionals. Her father died from cancer when she was a teenager, according to KTRK.

Edwards told KTRK that crime is a big concern for her.

She's a supporter of bond reform and believes police officers should receive a boost in their paychecks, according to the station. She also applauded Turner's anti-crime initiative. 

"I think his plan is important, and we definitely need to look at his plan as a starting point," Edwards told KTRK. "We can modify and adjust and add to that."

Public transportation is another matter Edwards is passionate about, the station reported.

She also acknowledges that not everyone shares that same passion.

"I think we need to go bold on this," Edwards said, according to KTRK. "I served on the Transportation Policy Council for our eight-county region. And in that service, what I learned is that we're anticipating about 4 million people coming into our region within the next 20 years. So what does that mean for our region? We've got to be making large investments today in order to manage what is to come tomorrow."