Harris County Commissioners Appoint Erica Lee Carter as New County Administrator

aframnews
March 2, 2026
in Local

Harris County Commissioners Court appointed Erica Lee Carter as the new County Administrator. Ms. Carter, a distinguished public servant, will be the first African American woman to hold this position.

“As the next Harris County Administrator, I am honored to work for the Commissioner’s Court to serve the people of our county,” said Erica Lee Carter, Harris County Administrator. “Our government should be responsive to every resident. And, I look forward to strengthening county operations, leading a transparent budget process, and ensuring we deliver effective government services to all communities.” “Commissioners Court created the County Administrator position in 2021 as part of a series of efforts to professionalize our local government. Before that, Harris County government had employees and a board of directors, but no CEO. It was simply illogical to have five elected officials giving direct instructions to 20 separate departments before. Now, Commissioners Court is able to act as a Board of Directors, with the County Administrator implementing the directives of the Board. I trust Erica Lee Carter, with her wide-ranging experience including experience in Harris County, is the right leader to continue this critical work. I look forward to working with Erica in the coming months,” said Judge Lina Hidalgo. “Harris County is in excellent hands with Erica Lee Carter as our new county administrator. She is a true public servant—dedicated to improving the lives of the people who live and work in Harris County. We will all benefit from her brilliant mind, strong character, experience at all levels of government, understanding of our community, and her lifelong commitment to making government a force for positive change. I look forward to working with her in this new chapter of her distinguished career in public service,” stated Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Harris County Precinct 1. “Congratulations to Erica on being selected as our County Administrator. I look forward to working with her to make OCA and Harris County Government more efficient and streamlined so we can find more ways to save taxpayer money,” said Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Harris County Precinct 2. “I’ve had the privilege of knowing the Hon. Lee Carter for many years, witnessing her dedicated service first-hand, stated Commissioner Lesley Briones, Harris County Precinct 4. “I am confident that she will carry out Commissioners Court’s policies to improve constituent services and to build a safer, stronger Harris County.” Ms. Carter brings extensive experience across federal, state, and local government, as well as the nonprofit sector. Her career reflects a longstanding commitment to children, families, and community empowerment: Local Policy Leadership: Since 2020, Ms. Carter has led policy initiatives for Commissioner Rodney Ellis’s Policy Division in Harris County Precinct One, with a focus on economic opportunity, voting access, and budget management. Her work includes launching the County’s first dedicated funding for afterschool programming through County Connections, helping establish the CROWN Act as a countywide employee policy, and contributing to the development of an $18 million Revolving Loan Program supporting minority- and women-owned businesses. Community Service: From 2013 to 2019, Ms. Carter served as an elected Trustee of the Harris County Department of Education, overseeing policy and budget decisions impacting students across the county. She began her career as a first-grade teacher in the Houston Independent School District. Federal and State Policy Experience: Her public service includes roles as a Budget Analyst for the Governor of New York and work in the Governor’s federal advocacy office, where she focused on federal tax policy. She also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2024 to 2025, elected by special election to represent Texas’s 18th Congressional District. In Texas, she held senior advocacy and business development roles with the Nurse-Family Partnership, helping expand the program statewide through legislative advocacy and increased state funding. Legacy of Service: The daughter of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who represented Texas’s 18th Congressional District from 1995 to 2024, and Dr. Ewlyn C. Lee, Ms. Carter continues her family’s longstanding commitment to public service. Born and raised in Harris County, Ms. Carter holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Public Policy from Duke University’s Terry Sanford School of Public Policy. She resides in Houston’s Greater Third Ward with her husband, Dr. Roy L. Carter, Jr., and their twins. Ms. Carter assumes her new role on March 9, 2026, overseeing county operations, implementing the strategic plan, and coordinating across departments to ensure effective and accountable governance.


About the Office of County Administration: Established by the Commissioners Court in June 2021, the Office of County Administration (OCA) is tasked with supervising day-to-day operations and implementing the Commissioners Court’s priorities and policies as well as guiding the long-term strategic efforts for Harris County. For more information, visit oca.harriscountytx.gov