Ethan Michelle Ganz

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

Ethan Michelle Ganz

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 7, 2023

Personal

Profession

Community organizer

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Ethan Michelle Ganz ran for election to the Houston City Council to represent At-large Position 3 in Texas. Ganz lost in the general election on November 7, 2023.

Ganz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Ethan Michelle Ganz's career experience includes working as a community organizer and National Center for Construction Education and Research pipefitter.

As of 2023, Ganz was affiliated with the following organizations:

• Pure Justice
• Equality Texas
• Rothko Chapel
• Montrose Resident's Coalition
• ActOutHTX
• Transgender Education Network of Texas
• Texas Advocates for Justice

Elections

2023

See also: City elections in Houston, Texas (2023)

General runoff election

General runoff election for Houston City Council At-large Position 3

Twila Carter defeated Richard Cantu in the general runoff election for Houston City Council At-large Position 3 on December 9, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Twila Carter (Nonpartisan)	51.0	88,570
		Richard Cantu (Nonpartisan)	49.0	85,012

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 173,582
= 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 At-large Position 3

The following candidates ran in the general election for Houston City Council At-large Position 3 on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Cantu (Nonpartisan)	21.9	43,514
✔		Twila Carter (Nonpartisan)	20.6	40,964
		Donnell Cooper (Nonpartisan)	13.4	26,683
		Ericka McCrutcheon (Nonpartisan)	13.1	26,094
		Richard Nguyen (Nonpartisan)	10.1	20,012
	Submit photo	Casey Curry (Nonpartisan)	9.0	17,868
		James Joseph (Nonpartisan)	6.5	12,839
		Ethan Michelle Ganz (Nonpartisan)	3.2	6,324
	Submit photo	Bernard Amadi (Nonpartisan)	2.1	4,230

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 198,528
= 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

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Ganz in this election.

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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

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

---

	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.

Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Ethan Michelle Ganz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ganz's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Ethan Michelle Ganz and I am a trans nonbinary community organizer, advocate, activist, public speaker, and poet. I am also a pipefitter by trade, but left the field in 2017. In 2021, I graduated from the University of St. Thomas in Houston with my degree in political science and a minor in international studies. Since graduation I have worked with a nonprofit named Pure Justice. We work with justice impacted folks and marginalized groups of all types. In 2021, we worked to bring Covid vaccinations to historically excluded and underfunded neighborhoods. Last year I worked as a voter engagement organizer. My team registered over 1500 voters, 90% of them were justice impacted folks. This year I went to Austin to fight for us. The state has attacked HISD, women, the LGBTQ community, immigrants, Black folks, voting rights, Houston, and Harris County directly. We need city leaders who have the courage to stand up to the state level bullies. I am running for Houston City Council At Large 3 because our city needs change. I believe that representation matters. I have lived paycheck to paycheck and have faced systemic oppression and hate. I understand the struggles of not having healthcare access and relying on public transportation in a car-centric city. We need leaders who are forward-thinking and courageous. It is time to stand together for a brighter and more inclusive future. We can with Ganz!

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Defending Democracy- This year the state legislature attacked cities, counties, and marginalized communities. The state’s power grab against local governments and individual residents is very concerning. We will want someone sitting at the table who is willing to stand against the big government bullies. We will want someone to speak truth to power. We will want someone with the courage and integrity to defend our democracy and stand with the will of the people.
• Housing Accessibility- This city has a housing crisis. Our leaders have sold us out to the highest bidder. It does not matter if you live in 3rd Ward, 2cd Ward, 5th Ward, Montrose, Freedmen’s Town, or many other neighborhoods, the housing costs are out of control. We need to protect the common folk from the predatorial actions of greedy corporations and irresponsible builders, who displace people for higher profits.
• Resourcing Communities/ Public Safety- Scarcity breeds conflict. If we want a safer city, with less crime, we need to ensure that historically excluded and underfunded neighborhoods have the resources they need. This is a proactive and humane approach to public safety. Police deal with crimes, after they have been committed. Resourcing communities prevents crimes and help keep families together. ​ I also support RISE Coalitions 3 Demands

Community Question Featured local question

How important is it to involve residents in the government’s decision-making process? What plans do you have regarding resident involvement in this process?

It is the most important thing to include community in the decisions that affect them. I plan on going to community events, block walking, and generally being out in the community because I am a community organizer and that is what I do.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you address crime and public safety? Do you have a different stance than current city council policy?

Scarcity breeds conflict. If we want a safer city, with less crime, we need to ensure that historically excluded and underfunded neighborhoods have the resources they need. This is a proactive and humane approach to public safety. Police deal with crimes, after they have been committed. Resourcing communities prevents crimes and help keep families together.

​I also support RISE Coalitions 3 Demands, which are:

​Freeze HPD Budget- We demand that the City of Houston freeze HPD budget and invest in the kinds of community infrastructure and support that actually makes us safer.

HPD Out of Traffic- We demand that the City of Houston protect Black and Brown drivers from harassment and violence by prohibiting police from making stops for minor traffic violations inside the city limits.

End Shotspotter- We demand that the City of Houston end its wasteful $3.5 million contract with ShotSpotter, Inc. (now rebranded as “Soundthinking”) for bogus and harmful surveillance technology.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you set priorities and develop plans in a way that will reflect community values and goals?

By uplifting community voices and concerns, bringing folks together, and finding realistic solutions.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's current approach to public safety? Would you take any different positions?

We need to resource communities and find out why 1.6 Billion dollars isn't enough for HPD.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's environmental health? Would you make any changes to current policy?

We need to hold polluters accountable.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding infrastructure?

We have aging infrastructure. We need to invest in this and upgrade, so we are prepared before the next storm, drought, or winter storm.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Defending Democracy

Housing Accessibility
Improving our Infrastructure
Effective and Reliable Transportation
Resourcing Communities and Public Safety

Rescuing Loose Dogs

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Our Revolution

Secular Houston

The Alliance Party

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.

Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.

2019

Ethan Michelle Ganz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ganz'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?

Housing, homelessness, loss of diversity and culture

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Housing: It is my vision to create multi-economic neighborhoods, so that we can live economically inclusively. Houston is the most diverse city in this country, yet my district continues to lose diversity and become culturally homogenized. I believe my vision will promote diversity, culture, unity, community, local entrepreneurship and civic involvement.

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

Harvey Milk. Harvey Milk is my hero and I hope that I am able to help people as much as he did.

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

The Mayor of Castro Street is a great book about Harvey Milk. My political philosophy is that our politicians work for the people.

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

Integrity is the most important. There is so much corruption in politics on every level. We need everyday people that care about their communities to run for office. We need to stop electing politicians and start electing the citizenry.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have integrity, courage, empathy, and cultural education. I think it is important that we elect people that will represent the communities and not only their personal interests. Moreover, I am a working-class person that understands the daily struggles of everyday people because I am one. We need representatives that reflect the people they represent.

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

The core responsibilities are voting on and crafting ordinances, budgeting, and access to city services.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to show people that I am for them. It is time we take our power back. Power to the people.

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

I remember before this time, but the historical event that sticks in my head the most is when the Challenger blew up. I was in the 5th grade and they brought us all to the library to watch the takeoff live. They rolled the t.v. in there and we all sat on the floor waiting for the first teacher to enter space. The Challenger never made it into space and blew up. The teachers started rushing us out of the room and did not know what to do.

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

I was a lifeguard. I worked as a lifeguard for 3 years. I gave up this line of work because the last person I saved almost died on me. I had pulled out people before, but this was the first time someone almost died on me. He was in ICU for 3 weeks. I have a lot of respect for the EMS, because it is a difficult job to save people's lives on a daily basis. It is physically and emotionally difficult to do that type of job everyday for years.

What happened on your most awkward date?

I have had awkward dates before, but none that stand out in my mind. I have been married since 2016 to my beautiful wife.

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

My favorite holiday is Gay Pride because the elders of my community struggled much more than I have, and they blazed a path for me to help the next generation. Also, because even although we have not accomplished equality, we have come a long way since Stonewall.

What is your favorite book? Why?

There are many different books that I love. It is hard to pick just one favorite. The Celestine Prophecy is one of my favorites.

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

She-Ra

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

My wife and dogs are my favorite things in my home. I do not care much about objects. I care more about people and animals.

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

McDonald Trump by Lowkey. It is very catchy.

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

I am a member of the LGBTQIA community. I have been discriminated against my whole life. I have lost family, friends, and jobs because of who I am. I was a victim of a hate crime on November 19, 2004, and couldn't work for two years afterwards because of the injuries I sustained.

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

Houston has a strong mayor type of government, so officially the powers of this position are limited, but with alliances one can affect more change. Also, this position can be used as a way to advocate for issues publicly.

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

I believe it is important to have emotional intelligence, active listening skills and cultural understanding. We are here to represent the people.

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

Being a district seat means that it will give a chance for the neighborhoods within it to be heard, and have their issues addressed. The problem is that as a member of this district I have not felt represented or heard in a long time. I want to change that. I am for the people because I am of the people.

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

I will not discount that experience can be a very good asset, but many of our experienced politicians are corrupt and out of touch with the people that they represent.

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.

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