Amanda Wolfe

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Amanda Wolfe

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2019

Education

Bachelor's

University of the South, Sewanee, 1997

Personal

Profession

Graphic designer

Amanda Wolfe ran for election to the Houston City Council to represent District C in Texas. Wolfe lost in the general election on November 5, 2019.

Wolfe completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Amanda Wolfe earned a bachelor's degree in film and television production from the University of the South, Sewanee in 1997. Wolfe's career experience includes working as a writer, graphic designer, and social media manager. Wolfe is a co-founder of the Women of Montrose Action Network, and has been affiliated with the Citizens Transit Coalition, the Avondale Association, Blue Bayou Democrats, and the GLBT Caucus.

Elections

2019

See also: City elections in Houston, Texas (2019)

General runoff election

General runoff election for Houston City Council District C

Abbie Kamin defeated Shelley Kennedy in the general runoff election for Houston City Council District C on December 14, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Abbie Kamin (Nonpartisan)	59.4	19,552
	Submit photo	Shelley Kennedy (Nonpartisan)	40.6	13,364

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 32,916
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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General election

General election for Houston City Council District C

The following candidates ran in the general election for Houston City Council District C on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Abbie Kamin (Nonpartisan)	31.8	11,971
✔	Submit photo	Shelley Kennedy (Nonpartisan)	14.5	5,458
		Greg Meyers (Nonpartisan)	13.5	5,098
	Submit photo	Mary Smith (Nonpartisan)	12.1	4,539
	Submit photo	Candelario Cervantez (Nonpartisan)	5.2	1,950
		Amanda Wolfe (Nonpartisan)	4.8	1,793
		Bob Nowak (Nonpartisan)	4.0	1,505
		Kevin Walker (Nonpartisan)	3.8	1,425
	Submit photo	Rodney Hill (Nonpartisan)	2.8	1,045
		Daphne Scarbrough (Nonpartisan)	2.2	811
	Submit photo	Sean Marshall (Nonpartisan)	1.9	718
		Ethan Michelle Ganz (Nonpartisan)	1.8	669
	Submit photo	Gladys House (Nonpartisan)	1.8	659
	Submit photo	Felix Cisneros (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	0.0	0

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 37,641
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Wolfe was endorsed by Our Revolution Harris County.

Campaign themes

2019

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Amanda Wolfe completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wolfe's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

1) Preventing unchecked development that overtaxes our infrastructure, encourages flooding, and destroys our roads, sidewalks, and sewers (while also driving up property taxes and all but eliminating affordable housing).

2) Better use of our public health resources, especially for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, and mental health.

3) Ensuring equality for all Houstonians, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, age, ability, socioeconomic status, or citizenship status.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Equal rights, criminal justice reform, environmental and social responsibility, safe and walkable communities, flood prevention and mitigation, mobilizing voters, workable public transit, historic preservation, and a host of others.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My childhood heroines were people like Ann Richards, Molly Ivins, and Barbara Jordan - but I had other, non-political heroes like Mister Rogers as well. Anyone who is brave enough to challenge the system to ensure that every person is treated fairly and equally is someone I admire.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

There are so many I don't even know where to begin, but "Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In" by Bernie Sanders is a good start, and inspired me to run.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Accessibility, accountability, humility, and reliability.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To put it simply, listening to constituents and speaking up for them. In the end, they are the ones that keep this city moving forward, not the lawmakers.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I'd just like to leave Houston better than I found it, and make sure that the people who are the most disenfranchised feel elevated and empowered.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

First, the 1980 election, when my mom took me into the voting booth with her and I thought it was the most exciting thing I'd ever experience. Soon after, when John Lennon was shot. I was four years old at the time, and remember both events like they were yesterday.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked for CNN as a Video Journalist and Tape Playback Operator for two years in the late 1990s.

What happened on your most awkward date?

Well now we're just getting hilarious. Does my first candidate forum count?

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

New Year's Eve. No matter what happened in the previous year, it holds the promise of new beginnings, and is often celebrated with loved ones (yet requires no gift-buying).

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Brothers Karamazov. It's complex, requires a real commitment to read, and contains so many tales of redemption.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Wonder Woman or Captain Marvel.

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

Besides the original artwork (my own and others'), a photo of my grandmother that hangs beside my front door. She was one of my biggest champions, and her mantra of "You Can Do It!" inspires me when I think I can't.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Heroes" by David Bowie.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Finding a balance between meaningful work and a steady paycheck.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

City council (at least the district representatives) have the ability to work with and be accessible to the people and neighborhoods they know best, and in a city that is really a collection of small towns, that's incredibly important.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Open ears, open eyes, an open mind, and an open mouth when it's called for.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?

Houston's city government is interesting in that, with a strong-mayor form of government, you have to have the ability to bend the ear of the person in charge.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessarily, but I believe a history of activism and volunteerism helps.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Ballotpedia biographical submission form

The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:

“	What is your political philosophy? I chose to run for office because too many people in too many local groups that I've worked with as an activist have been trying to get me to run for years. I hope to bring my knowledge and ability to negotiate and listen to the table so I can better serve the people I've worked with for the past 12 years, and ensure that each neighborhood and each constituent is heard and counted. Is there anything you would like to add? Although this is my first foray into politics, I will continue being an advocate and activist, speaking up for the people of District C, and for Houston in general. I was not lucky enough to be born here - I chose this city and this district, from 1,300 miles away, and it's the only real home I've ever known. That's why I fight so passionately for and with the people in it, because I'm one of them.	”
—Amanda Wolfe

See also

2019 Elections

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