Ballotpedia: Gerry Vander-Lyn

Gerry is born and raised in Houston. She attended Bellaire High School and holds a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Houston. She is an Episcopalian and attends St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

Gerry has experience working as a health insurance salesperson. She previously worked for the Texas Department of Public Welfare and worked in the graphics department of an oil company.

Gerry Vander-Lyn ran for member of the Houston City Council in District K in 2018 and 2019, but she did not win either race. 

Believes increasing taxes are due to inflation.

Said "We need a budget hawk on Commissioners Court."

- Believes increasing taxes are due to inflation.
- Said "We need a budget hawk on Commissioners Court."

Economy

As of June 18, 2025, Gerry Vander-Lyn’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Candidate website

Believes law enforcement needs to be changed and the Houston Police Department (HPD) can be "used to do a lot more."

Wants to "significantly implement changes in the County Jail."

Believes law enforcement, the judicial system, and existing laws are essential for holding criminals accountable.

Supports greater transparency and accessibility to county public officials.

- Believes law enforcement needs to be changed and the Houston Police Department (HPD) can be "used to do a lot more."
- Wants to "significantly implement changes in the County Jail."
- Believes law enforcement, the judicial system, and existing laws are essential for holding criminals accountable.
- Supports greater transparency and accessibility to county public officials.

Public Safety

Believes Houston’s chronic homelessness problem must be addressed.

Supports addressing homelessness in Houston. 

Supports using a "community first" approach to housing, as demonstrated by Austin's Mobile Loaves & Fishes non-profit.

Supports using a "community first" approach to expand housing options rather than a  “housing first" approach. 

- Supports addressing homelessness in Houston. 
- Supports using a "community first" approach to expand housing options rather than a  “housing first" approach. 

Housing & Urban Development

Believes simplifying election processes will improve recruitment of election judges and clerks.

Believes simplifying election processes will help recruitment efforts for election judges and clerks.

Wants to simplify the election process to help voters and election workers.

- Believes simplifying election processes will help recruitment efforts for election judges and clerks.
- Wants to simplify the election process to help voters and election workers.

Public Services

Said she is "passionate about mental health!"

Believes collaboration between Harris County Psychiatric Center, Menninger Clinic, and local churches can reduce post-COVID mental health disorders.

Believes working with the Harris County Psychiatric Center, the Menninger Clinic, and local churches can "reduce the spike" in mental health disorders. 

- Said she is "passionate about mental health!"
- Believes working with the Harris County Psychiatric Center, the Menninger Clinic, and local churches can "reduce the spike" in mental health disorders. 

Public Health

Twitter

Facebook

Gerry Vander-Lyn

Wikipedia, Rodney Ellis

Rodney is from Houston’s Sunnyside neighborhood. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas Southern University, a master’s degree in public affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Rodney is married to Licia and has 4 children.

LinkedIn

Rodney previously worked as chief of staff to the late U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland and as law clerk to Chief Justice John C. Phillips on the Texas 3rd Court of Appeals

Rodney Ellis is a Harris County commissioner for Precinct 1 in Texas. He was first elected in 2016 and is serving his 2nd term. Rodney previously served as senator for the Texas State Senate District 13 from 1990 to 2016 where he chaired the Senate Finance, Jurisprudence, Government Organization, Intergovernmental Relations, and Open Government Committees throughout his tenure. He also served on the Houston City Council for 3 terms and was acting governor of Texas for 45 days in 1999-2000.

As a state representative, led efforts to reduce income inequality, create good-paying jobs, improve worker safety, and establish job training and apprenticeship programs.

- As a state representative, led efforts to reduce income inequality, create good-paying jobs, improve worker safety, and establish job training and apprenticeship programs.

As of June 18, 2025, Rodney Ellis’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Texas Tribune, Bail Reforms

Supports reforms aimed at reducing crime and mass incarceration, such as misdemeanor bail reform, public health strategies to reduce gun violence, targeted mental health interventions, and shelters for the homeless.

Believes in pursuing justice and righteousness, quoting Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "We are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."

Supports criminal justice system reform, and as commissioner, worked to pass a settlement that reformed the bail system to include automatic, no-cash pretrial release for about 85% of low-level defendants.

- Supports reforms aimed at reducing crime and mass incarceration, such as misdemeanor bail reform, public health strategies to reduce gun violence, targeted mental health interventions, and shelters for the homeless.
- Believes in pursuing justice and righteousness, quoting Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "We are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."
- Supports criminal justice system reform, and as commissioner, worked to pass a settlement that reformed the bail system to include automatic, no-cash pretrial release for about 85% of low-level defendants.

Supports increasing access to affordable housing and tax breaks for seniors and disabled individuals to prevent them from being "priced out of their homes."

Believes in making Harris County more affordable to provide residents with a "stable foundation" for improving their lives and families.

- Supports increasing access to affordable housing and tax breaks for seniors and disabled individuals to prevent them from being "priced out of their homes."
- Believes in making Harris County more affordable to provide residents with a "stable foundation" for improving their lives and families.

Supports investing in the future by expanding access to childcare, early education, and youth enrichment programs.

Believes in providing quality and accessible public services and programs to enhance the lives of Precinct One residents and advocating for reforms that benefit all Harris County residents.

- Supports investing in the future by expanding access to childcare, early education, and youth enrichment programs.
- Believes in providing quality and accessible public services and programs to enhance the lives of Precinct One residents and advocating for reforms that benefit all Harris County residents.

Rodney Ellis

- County commissioners vote on the budget and appropriations, which fund essential county services like road maintenance.
- They create and enforce civil and criminal laws that align with state regulations, including land use and construction codes.
- Commissioners implement state and federal mandates while overseeing county agencies and public buildings.
- They also set tax rates for the county and its subdivisions.
- Each Texas county has four commissioners and a county judge, forming the local governing body known as the Commissioners Court.