She served Houston for more than 11 years on the city council, then as Houston’s controller. Now Annise Parker makes history as she steps into the biggest job in local politics. But our new mayor is more than a humble civil servant and devoted mother of two adopted children. This Montrose resident, who has a passion for restoring historical properties (such as the one she resides in), also takes in orphan orchids and nurses prickly cacti, reads voraciously and has a fondness for the great outdoors — especially desert climes. Laurann Claridge sits down with Miz Parker to learn what lies on the other side of that calm, cool and collected persona.
Credit: Jenny Antill
What's on your nightstand?
These are the two things I’m reading right now, a little bit at a time. Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive Through the Dangers of Leading by Ronald Heifetz and Martin Linsky (to help me focus on my duties at the mayor’s office) and Touch: Pressing Against the Wounds of a Broken World by Pastor Rudy Rasmus. He’s the pastor of St. John’s Church downtown. Personally, I’m a science fiction reader. The last great book I read was by Elizabeth Moon, who is another Rice University grad. It was a series of short stories. I’m drawn to work like that, where I don’t have to follow a plot line.
Reading is fundamental:
We’re bibliophiles. Both of us (partner Kathy Hubbard and I) have serious book addictions. We have books all over the house and bookcases everywhere filled with all different kinds of books. We’re omnivorous readers.
Credit: Jenny Antill
Restaurants you haunt?
For comfort food, it’s Niko Niko’s, Rivas and Sorrento Ristorante for a white-tablecloth experience. I love Spanish Flower for Mexican food, and I’m a big Goode Co. Barbeque fan. And Frenchy’s fried chicken — I’ll drive across town for it!
Image: Lafayette 148 at Tootsies
Describe your style.
I am very tailored. Because of the needs of the campaign and the office, I had to invest in expanding my wardrobe. I sat down with the staff of Tootsies. I’m hard to fit, so we worked with a good tailor. I don’t wear skirts very much, mostly pants. I went to a couple of trunk shows at Tootsies and picked out separates to create several complete outfits. I gravitate to Lafayette 148.
Shopping weakness?
I’ve
always been a consignment and resale shopper. You can find wonderful
things and bring them to your tailor. The Blue Bird Circle Resale Shop
is within walking distance of my house.
Image: Tumi
Fashion versus style:
I am not particularly fashion conscious. I’m very picky about my clothes, but I don’t follow fashion. I try to dress appropriately for the occasion. I don’t carry a purse; I haven’t in years. I carry a briefcase. And I do not wear high heels. I’m into comfortable shoes.
What room do you spend the most time in?
My living room. We’ve been in the house two years, so it’s still a work in process, but that’s where we go to curl up and read on the couch.
What do you amass?
I’m something of a collector. This is where the nerd comes out. I have a collection of adding machines and Comptometers. I probably have about 15 of them. I also have a collection of turtles. Ceramic turtles, figurines of all sorts … I probably have 50 to 60.
Do friends bring you turtles?
It started when I was in high school, so it’s been going on for years. When you go to Rice, you tend to accumulate owls, but I’ve gradually given away all my owls and been given turtles.
Image: Dominic Walsh in "Sleeping Beauty"; Credit: Amitava Sarkar, Photography InSight
Dance fan?
We used to have season tickets to the Houston Ballet before I was elected to public office. Now we go as my schedule allows. Our favorite performing art is dance. We absolutely love it all, from Dominic Walsh and Sandra Organ to Dance Salad and Stanton Welch with the Houston Ballet.
Image: Big Bend
Ideal getaway?
My favorite place in the world is Big Bend … I like to hike, I like to camp, I have all the backpacking gear. Unfortunately, for the last 20 years I’ve been sharing my life with someone who believes camping is staying at a Holiday Inn.
Play time?
If I had the time, I would spend it exploring more artistic endeavors. I do read and write a lot of poetry. I like craft and have taken art-welding classes. I’d like to do more of that.
Image: Jenny Antill
What's on your iPod?
I have pretty eclectic tastes in music. I like folk and Celtic music, new age stuff to mellow out and a lot of country western. I’m a huge Patsy Cline fan. I have a lot of Willie Nelson, too. Even old pop like Kris Kristofferson and Neil Diamond.
What single word best describes you?
Centered. I know my own mind. I know who I am, and I know generally where I want to go.
Do you seek spirutal guidance or something outside yourself to keep you in that realm?
I have to have quiet time.
What subject would you like to learn more about?
The problem for me is that I’m the ultimate generalist. I will spend hours researching the care and feeding of orchids and then do that for a while. The same with cactus. I catalog them all, too, detailing how long they lived, what color their blooms are. The adding machines … It’s not that I just want to collect addingmachines. [I want to] take them apart to see how they work.
Green thumb?
I have orchids here at work, because they require more attention, but I’ve been a member of the Houston Cactus & Succulent Society for 25 years or so. I have a container garden full of them. The orchids come to work, and the cactus stays home.
Do you collect art?
Not particularly. I was on the board of the Contemporary Arts Museum for two terms. I collect what I like — not as a collector, per se. I think art should be about something you want to look at. I prefer very tactile objects, like small sculptures.
Tell me about your fondness for fountain pens.
I went all the way through college writing with fountain pens. The roller balls weren’t common then. These pens were my grandmother’s, and these mechanical pencils belonged to my grandfather. But this Parker pen is my favorite. It was an anniversary present from Kathy to celebrate our first year together 18 years ago.
Credit: Jenny Antill
What makes you laugh?
Just about everything. I laugh easily. I find the world very interesting. I’m fairly mellow. I think people are born with their thermostat set. I think I’m pretty even, more so as I get older.
In what way are you the most humble?
I’m so grateful that for the last 12 years I’ve enjoyed going to work everyday. I feel blessed to be able to come to a job that I love. Even though council member and controller were completely different jobs, they both allowed me to serve the city in different ways. The mayor’s office combines the best aspects of both.
Image: Laurann Claridge right, interviews Annise Parker in her office. Credit: Jenny Antill
What do you want to be most remembered for?
I want to be a great mayor for Houston. I don’t much care that I’m remembered that way, but I want to know I did my very best. I’m very internally motivated. I want to know I’ve accomplished things for Houston. While I appreciate acknowledgment from the outside, I want to know I did what I needed to.