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Thursday, September 2, 2010

Annise Parker

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Annise Parker

Annise Danette Parker, born 1956, is a Democratic politician and Houston's elected City Controller, a position she's held since 2004. Parker defeated lawyer Gene Locke in the Dec. 12th runoff for mayor.

Parker, who takes office Jan. 4,will be among the most-prominent openly gay officials.

Previously, Parker served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council from 1998 to 2004.

Parker moved often with her family as a child, according to a profile in the Houston Chronicle, living Houston, Mississippi, Germany and South Carolina. She returned to Houston in 1974 to attend Rice University, where she graduated in 1978 and helped organize a gay student group.

Before being elected to office, Parker worked in the oil and gas industry and was an active community volunteer, serving on boards and civic clubs in and around Houston's Montrose neighborhood. She won election as president of the Gay Political Caucus in Houston in 1986.

Parker and life partner Kathy Hubbard have been together since 1990. They have two children.

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