Hidalgo on appointment of Ramirez as interim county administrator: 'Thrilled to have an accomplished woman in this most important position'

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo named Diana Ramirez as the interim Harris County administrator on Tuesday. 

Ramirez fills the position following the resignation of the inaugural officeholder, David Berry, on Thursday, April 20.

“With 30 years of experience in government, two years with Harris County and a stellar reputation, Diana is poised to continue driving our county forward,” the county judge’s office said in a tweet. 

Hidalgo, a Democrat, congratulated Ramirez on her personal account. 

“Thrilled to have an accomplished woman in this most important position,” she tweeted.

According to Ramirez’s LinkedIn account, she has held key positions with the Harris and Travis county governments, as well as the State of Texas in the General Land Office (GLO) since 1999. 

Prior to Hidalgo tabbing her county administrator, she was the executive director of the Harris County Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity (DEEO). 

Ramirez holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin (UT) and a master’s degree from Princeton University.

A title created less than two years ago, the county administrator is tasked with overseeing the county’s financial health and day-to-day operations of departments which report up to the five-member Harris County Commissioners Court, per the Office of County Administration’s (OCA) website. 

The officeholder also acts as a “clear point of contact” between elected county officials and non-elected department heads. 

“[It’s] an opportunity to improve coordination with elected officials to achieve shared goals,” the website said.

El Paso County, Bexar County, Tarrant County and Dallas County have similar positions. 

Houston FOX affiliate KRIV reported that Ramirez’s predecessor told Hidalgo and the commissioners in writing that a renewable energy company recently extended an offer to him to serve as a senior executive. 

"After careful deliberation, I have decided to accept the opportunity,” Berry wrote. “As a result, I will be leaving my post as Harris County administrator." 

He added he was “deeply grateful” to work for the county.