Cisneros for Dist. H
Incumbent’s work so far has earned her the right to continue to fight for her constituents.
Poverty and lack of academic achievement are problems that concern all of Houston, but they are particularly pressing in District H, an area that covers not only the growing Near Northside, Woodland Heights and East End, but also struggling neighborhoods north of Loop 610 and near Buffalo Bayou. It’s a place where only about 14 percent of adult residents have a college degree.
“If 70 percent of the kids are black and brown and most of them are in poverty, that is the most critical issue that I see before our city,” Councilwoman Karla Cisneros told the editorial board. “We cannot rely on bringing people in to fill the jobs that we want, we need to grow our own.”
Cisneros, 65, has used her first term on the council to advocate for education, call attention to poverty and address the problem of stray animals and pet overpopulation, all issues that many of her constituents grapple with every day.
She has earned the right to continue to fight on their behalf.
A former teacher, Cisneros has used council funds to support after-school and summer programs, invested in neighborhood parks and libraries and helped expand high-quality early child care centers. Her TechConnect Program hires older district students to promote literacy and expose kids to technology and STEM activities at community centers. She also established the city’s Economic Development Subcommittee on Education to explore how Houston can support the region’s education pipeline to the workforce.
If she is re-elected, she hopes to be a strong voice against the Interstate 45 project as it’s currently proposed. No other district is as affected by the highway expansion, so its representative must be an active force in working to minimize any adverse effects as the project moves forward.
The incumbent has drawn three challengers, all Latinas looking to make a change in the district: Cynthia Reyes-Revilla, a real estate broker; Gaby Salcedo, a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University; and Isabel Longoria, a community organizer.
All have shown a commitment to help the district and a passion for public service, but it is Longoria who stands out among the contenders. She is energetic, knowledgeable and has experience working within local and state government — and anyone who describes herself as “a wonk” and “a nerd” who loves Houston, warrants our attention.
But for District H, in this particular race, it is Cisneros who receives our support. Voters should support her as well.