Sue Lovell
Encyclopedia
Sue Lovell is a local Houston politician currently serving on the Houston City Council
, holding the at-large position 2, which she has held since 2005.
family in 1950 in Fresno, California
. During her childhood she excelled in athletics, which led to her playing semi-pro softball
during her teenage years. On January 31, 1970, when she was 19 years old, Lovell left California for Houston with "three suitcases and 35 dollars."
Lovell's first job in Houston was at Riviana Food, where she first learned how to operate a printing press. In 1975, Lovell bought Long Point Printing & Rubber Stamp in Spring Branch, Texas, assuming the company's $35,000 debt. She worked at Academy Sports and Outdoors
to supplement her income and help pay off the debt. She later sold the company to one of her first employees.
Following the sale of her printing company, Lovell worked at Federal Express. From 1994 to 1999, Lovell worked in the office of the Texas Comptroller in the Local Government Assistance Division. In 1999, she worked for the Mills Corporation
, where she created and implemented a job training and welfare-to-work program that later became the MATCH program (Mills Access to Training and Career Help).
Lovell currently lives in Houston with her two children and her partner.
when she printed their newsletter pro bono. During Lovell's early involvement, the Caucus gained significant political influence, seeing its first endorsement and victory with the election of Eleanor Tinsley to Houston City Council in 1979.
In 1981, Lovell was elected to the Caucus' board of directors. In 1982, she was elected vice president, and in fall 1984 she became the first female president of the Caucus when the then-president stepped down. She served as president through 1985, when she lost a runoff election against now-Mayor Annise Parker
by one vote.
.
Houston City Council
The Houston City Council is a city council for the city of Houston in the U.S. state of Texas.Currently, there are fourteen members, nine elected from council districts and five at-large. The members of the Council are elected every two years, in odd-numbered years...
, holding the at-large position 2, which she has held since 2005.
Background and Personal Life
Lovell was born into a large Irish CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
family in 1950 in Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
. During her childhood she excelled in athletics, which led to her playing semi-pro softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
during her teenage years. On January 31, 1970, when she was 19 years old, Lovell left California for Houston with "three suitcases and 35 dollars."
Lovell's first job in Houston was at Riviana Food, where she first learned how to operate a printing press. In 1975, Lovell bought Long Point Printing & Rubber Stamp in Spring Branch, Texas, assuming the company's $35,000 debt. She worked at Academy Sports and Outdoors
Academy Sports and Outdoors
Academy Sports + Outdoors is a sports goods discount store chain. For 74 years it was a privately held company owned by the Gochman family, until its May 2011 sale of majority ownership to the investment firm Kohlberg Kravis and Roberts LP. Academy is one of the largest sporting goods stores in the...
to supplement her income and help pay off the debt. She later sold the company to one of her first employees.
Following the sale of her printing company, Lovell worked at Federal Express. From 1994 to 1999, Lovell worked in the office of the Texas Comptroller in the Local Government Assistance Division. In 1999, she worked for the Mills Corporation
Mills Corporation
The Mills Corporation was a publicly traded real estate investment trust headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, United States, acquired on April 3, 2007 by an investment group composed of Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management. The company developed, owned, and operated major...
, where she created and implemented a job training and welfare-to-work program that later became the MATCH program (Mills Access to Training and Career Help).
Lovell currently lives in Houston with her two children and her partner.
Houston GLBT Political Caucus
Lovell became involved with the Houston GLBT Political CaucusHouston GLBT Political Caucus
The Houston GLBT Political Caucus is the South's oldest civil rights organization dedicated solely to the advancement of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights. Founded in 1975, it is the largest gay political organization in the city of Houston and Harris County...
when she printed their newsletter pro bono. During Lovell's early involvement, the Caucus gained significant political influence, seeing its first endorsement and victory with the election of Eleanor Tinsley to Houston City Council in 1979.
In 1981, Lovell was elected to the Caucus' board of directors. In 1982, she was elected vice president, and in fall 1984 she became the first female president of the Caucus when the then-president stepped down. She served as president through 1985, when she lost a runoff election against now-Mayor Annise Parker
Annise Parker
Annise Danette Parker is an American politician and the mayor of Houston since January 2, 2010. She served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council from 1998 to 2003 and city controller from 2004 to 2009...
by one vote.
Houston City Council
In 2005, Lovell was elected to Houston City Council At-Large Position 2, and she was re-elected in 2007 and 2009. In January 2008, Lovell was elected Vice Mayor Pro-tem. She chairs the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Aviation Committee and the Development and Regulatory Affairs Committee. Lovell also serves on the: Budget and Fiscal Affairs; Ethics; Technology and Human Services; Public Safety and Homeland Security; M/WBE and Small Contractor Development; and Water Resources Management Committees. She has also chairs the Historic Preservation Subcommittee. As chair of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Aviation Committee, Lovell spearheaded a consent agreement between the City of Houston and Houston METRO voted on by Council for the construction of the new light-rail lines in Houston. Lovell represents the City of Houston on the Transportation Policy Council of the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the 13-county regional association of municipalities that promotes orderly development of the region and the safety and welfare of its residents. She also serves as the alternate to Mayor Annise Parker on the H-GAC board of directors.Democratic National Committee
In 2000, Lovell was elected as a member of the Democratic National CommitteeDemocratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
.