After an unsuccessful senate run, she will look to succeed Mayor Sylvester Turner in next year’s election.
“As a native Houstonian, attorney, and former at-large Houston city council member, I know firsthand the challenges our residents have faced from crime and flooding to an unprecedented pandemic,” Edwards said in her announcement video. “However, I also know our resilience, our strength, and the potential of our great city, and now is the time for our city to be the best Houston it can be.”
She served on city council from 2016 to 2020, and led the mayor’s technology and innovation task force. Currently, she sits on the Houston Exponential Board of Directors.
In an announcement video released Wednesday, she said her top issues would be flood prevention, public safety and infrastructure.
“Houstonians deserve better roadways, better drainage, safer neighborhoods, better housing and better schools,” she said. “Yet and still, we must dream boldly to be the city of bold innovation to be the city of inclusion, a city with a robust economy, a city with access to green space and transportation, a city with safe strong neighborhoods where everyone can thrive no matter where they live.”
Edwards joins former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins and state Sen. John Whitmire in the race to be Democratic candidate for mayor. All three candidates are attorneys.
Turner can not run for the office again because of term limits.
In an interview with Houston Public Media, Edwards spoke about the city’s property tax revenue cap, and how it would affect her ability to carry out her campaign promises.
“What we need to be thinking about as good stewards of the tax resources is this – we need to be able to take in the amounts, resources and property taxes that are appropriate for a city of our size and to sustain the quality of life people expect to have in our city,” she said.
The three will face off in the March 2023 Democratic primary.