The Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce hosted its Harris County Judge Candidate Forum on Monday, August 24, at The Junior League of Houston, bringing together Dr. Letitia Plummer and Orlando Sanchez for an informative and substantive discussion about the future of Harris County.
The event marked the first forum to bring both candidates together, giving business owners, executives and community leaders an opportunity to hear directly from each candidate about their leadership philosophies, priorities and visions for one of the largest and most diverse counties in the nation.
“We were especially proud to host the first forum bringing both Harris County Judge candidates together,” said Suzan Deison, CEO, President and Founder of the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce. “The thoughtful dialogue and tremendous feedback we received reaffirmed how important it is to create opportunities for informed civic engagement.”
Throughout the forum, the candidates shared how they would approach the dual responsibilities of the Harris County Judge as the county’s chief executive and the presiding officer of Commissioners Court. They discussed leadership under pressure, building consensus among independently elected commissioners, restoring public trust, strengthening accountability and establishing priorities during their first 100 days in office.
The candidates also shared their perspectives on some of the most pressing issues facing Harris County, including public safety, flooding, aging infrastructure, disaster preparedness, fiscal responsibility and mental health. They discussed how residents should measure the effectiveness of county government and what accountability should look like for taxpayers.
Economic development and quality of life were also central to the conversation. The candidates addressed opportunities for small businesses, workforce development, affordable housing and the importance of collaboration among Harris County, the City of Houston, municipalities, school districts and neighboring counties.
Three respected Houston leaders guided the conversation: Dr. Jacquie Baly of BalyProjects, Nancy Sims of Nancy Sims, LLC, and Grant Trammell of the Houston Association of Realtors. Their careful preparation and thoughtful questions encouraged the candidates to move beyond campaign talking points and provide meaningful responses about how they would lead Harris County.
Intriguing questions from audience members added another important dimension to the forum, bringing the priorities and concerns of the broader community directly into the conversation.
“The decisions made at the county level touch nearly every aspect of our daily lives, including public safety, infrastructure, economic development, small business opportunities and quality of life,” said Martha Castex Tatum, Deputy CEO and President of the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce. “This forum gave our community an opportunity to move beyond sound bites and hear substantive answers about how each candidate would lead. That kind of informed conversation is essential to the continued strength and success of Harris County.”
Candidates were also challenged to look beyond individual policies and consider the broader responsibility of public leadership. The forum concluded with a compelling question about legacy: Years from now, when people remember their service as Harris County Judge, what would they hope people remember, not simply about what they accomplished, but about how they led?
For GHWCC, creating opportunities for informed civic engagement is an important part of strengthening our region. As a nonpartisan organization, the Chamber does not endorse candidates or political parties. Instead, GHWCC provides its members and the broader community with opportunities to hear directly from those seeking public office, better understand the issues affecting our businesses and communities, and make informed decisions.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Dr. Letitia Plummer and Orlando Sanchez for participating in a respectful and informative exchange. We also thank Dr. Jacquie Baly, Nancy Sims and Grant Trammell for skillfully guiding the conversation, and every attendee who joined us, submitted questions and demonstrated the importance of being informed and involved.
This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors.
Our appreciation goes to Presenting Sponsor HAR, the Houston Association of Realtors; Gold Sponsors Dana Kervin, Beth Wolff Realtors, IMS Engineers, Reytec Construction Resources, Inc., Union Pacific and Friends of Orlando Sanchez; and Silver Sponsors TPC Group and Unicorn Service Solutions.
We also thank our VIP Sponsors: Astoundz, CenterPoint Energy, the City of Houston Mayor’s Office, Joseph Colangelo, Halff Associates Inc., the Harris County District Clerk’s Office, Houston Style Magazine and Memorial Hermann Health System.
GHWCC is proud to provide a platform where business owners, executives and community leaders can engage with those seeking public office, raise issues that matter to their businesses and neighborhoods, ask meaningful questions and become more informed participants in the civic process.
By bringing candidates and community leaders together, the Chamber helps ensure that the voices of business owners are included in the conversations and decisions shaping the future of Harris County.
An informed and engaged business community strengthens Houston, Harris County and the entire region we call home.