Sylvester Turns kicks off congressional campaign in Fifth Ward

Although Sabrina Guillory isn't 100% sure which candidate she'll support for Congress come November, she's certain she wants someone who'll strive to be bipartisan to get things done for the 18th district, namely, in the area of reproductive freedom. And Guillory was raised Catholic.

Sitting on the gymnasium bleachers at Sylvester Turner's first campaign kick-off event on Saturday, Guillory reflected on how losing a baby late in her life led her to reconcile her religious upbringing with the value of reproductive freedom. While she may still be finalizing her choice on the ballot, Guillory said she believes Turner would protect reproductive rights, so that no one would have to face what she went through in her pregnancy without proper healthcare.

"I lost a baby when I was older. I had the name picked out. I don't want anyone to be in that experience," Guillory said. "I'm not sure yet on voting, but I think he [Turner] could get people to be less divisive."

Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner hosted his first campaign kick-off event at the Julia C. Hester House community center in 5th ward Saturday afternoon. Enthusiastic local residents flooded the center along with Houston business owners and local politicians to show their support for Turner's run on the November ballot to replace late Congresswoman, Sheila Jackson Lee, in representing the primarily Democratic 18th Congressional District.

Speeches from notable Houston and Texas Democrats, including Texas Representative Ann Johnson, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Erica Lee Carter and Turner himself, focused heavily on Jackson Lee's impact on the district and the importance of carrying on her legacy by electing Turner for the next term and Erica Lee Carter, Jackson Lee's daughter, to finish out her mother's term. On top of pushing a goal to elect Democrats "up and down the ballot," as Turner told the crowd in his speech, Ellis, Turner and Carter rallied with an even greater reach that garnered multiple standing ovations from the crowd— turning Texas blue.

Ellis took the stage with an announcement about the importance of his clothing choice, a Kamala Harris T-shirt.

"I put this shirt on for a reason. The woman on the top of the ballot will make history," he said.

As his speech went on, Ellis made an emotional appeal to Jackson Lee's legacy and the ability of Turner and Carter's ability to carry it out should they be elected in November.

"When I see Sheila Lee on the other side, I can't wait to tell her daughter finished her term and Turner took over," Ellis said.

Carter, who is running to fill her late mother's term , said the event's packed turnout truly honored her mother.

If elected to finish Jackson Lee's term, Carter wants to finalize bills her mother's death left on the table, including H.R.40, which would develop reparation proposals for the Black community.

When former Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee died in July of this year, there was no time to hold an election to find a new candidate, and Turner had received endorsement from Lee's family. In early August, over 80 precinct chairs from the district selected a new nominee on behalf of voters, and Turner beat out former Council Member Amanda Edwards with 41 votes in the second round.

If elected to Congress, Turner told the Chronicle he plans to focus on affordable housing, access to quality healthcare, environmental justice , infrastructure investment and economic revitalization.

He chose to host his campaign kick off in the fifth ward because that's where his priorities lay.

"I didn't want to go to a hotel or anything. I wanted to come right here in Hester House," Turner said. "It represents my focus on communities that have been underserved and overlooked and in desperate need of huge investment and economic opportunities."

Shah Haleem, an investor for real estate company SMZJ Holdings, said he came to Turner's event Saturday to urge the former Mayor, if elected, to leverage his political connections to put federal money into "fixing" the fifth ward, after he's spent years tenants struggle with dilapidated housing, homelessness and limited access to grocery stores.

"Everything starts with housing, jobs and health care," Haleem said. "If you dry block by block, you'll notice it."

As the Biden administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and Inflation Reduction Act have already passed, Turner said he wants to bring resources back to the 18th district while the money is still flowing.

Turner is up against Republican Lana Centonze, an immigrant and former federal officer working at Houston's international airport in the district. When asked what he thinks makes him a better fit to represent the district, Turner noted his history and support from other Black Congressional leaders, like Hakeem Jeffries and Maxine Waters.

"I think I have a proven track record. I've been a state representative for 20-plus years and the Mayor of the fourth largest city for eight years," Turner said. "I have always lived in the 18th. There's a strong nexus between me, and the 18th and the work that needs to be done and the things I've already done."

"Many of the people in DC told me last week, 'Mayor, we already know you. You don't come in as an ordinary freshman."

While Turner supporters at Saturday's kick-off event cited a variety of political causes close to their heart, they echoed similar reasons as to why they plan to stake their vote on him: they believe in his political performance history and trust him to get the job done on investing in their district.

Ricci Fuller, a senior resident of Sunny Side, is putting her faith in Turner's stacked political career.

"He's really the best person to take over Sheila Jackson Lee's place because of his beliefs, because of his hard work [and] his history of everything that he's done for the city of Houston when he was mayor," Fuller said.

For Fuller, Turner's promises of affordable housing and reducing inequality in public schools pack a big punch.

"Schools have to be built so that we can educate all children the same way. They should have everything that River Oaks has. The 18th congressional district should have that same thing," she said.

Juanita Versher, a resident of Sunny Side, is also putting her faith in Turner's career turnout. She's also looking to Turner to fill the shadow left by Jackson Lee, and for members of the 18th district, it's a big one.

"Being associated with her [Jackson Lee], I feel that he [Turner] is going to do the same thing: Work for everybody to make sure that some of the needy people get the resources they need."