Gerry Vander-Lyn

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

Gerry Vander-Lyn

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Bellaire High School

Bachelor's

University of Houston, 1973

Personal

Birthplace

Houston, Texas

Religion

Episcopalian

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Personal Facebook

Personal YouTube

Personal LinkedIn

Gerry Vander-Lyn (Republican Party) ran for election to the Harris County Commissioners Court to represent District 1 in Texas. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Vander-Lyn completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Gerry Vander-Lyn was born in Houston, Texas. Vander-Lyn earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston in 1973.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2024)

General election

General election for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1

Incumbent Rodney Ellis defeated Gerry Vander-Lyn in the general election for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rodney Ellis (D)	71.6	259,713
		Gerry Vander-Lyn (R)	28.4	102,842

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 362,555
= 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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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1

Incumbent Rodney Ellis advanced from the Democratic primary for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rodney Ellis	100.0	64,485

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 64,485
= 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1

Gerry Vander-Lyn advanced from the Republican primary for Harris County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Gerry Vander-Lyn	100.0	16,928

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,928
= 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 Vander-Lyn in this election.

2019

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

General election

General election for Houston City Council District K

Incumbent Martha Castex-Tatum defeated Kim Sauke and Gerry Vander-Lyn in the general election for Houston City Council District K on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Martha Castex-Tatum (Nonpartisan)	60.0	9,936
	Submit photo	Kim Sauke (Nonpartisan)	24.5	4,059
		Gerry Vander-Lyn (Nonpartisan)	15.6	2,577

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,572
= 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.

2018

See also: Municipal elections in Houston, Texas (2018)

General election

Special general election for Houston City Council District K

The following candidates ran in the special general election for Houston City Council District K on May 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Martha Castex-Tatum (Nonpartisan)	64.9	3,292
	Submit photo	Patricia Frazier (Nonpartisan)	14.2	720
		Larry Blackmon (Nonpartisan)	6.8	345
		Gerry Vander-Lyn (Nonpartisan)	5.2	262
	Submit photo	Carl David Evans (Nonpartisan)	3.1	159
		Elisabeth Johnson (Nonpartisan)	2.0	99
	Submit photo	Lawrence McGaffie (Nonpartisan)	1.4	69
	Submit photo	Anthony Freddie (Nonpartisan)	1.3	64
	Submit photo	Aisha Savoy (Nonpartisan)	1.2	61

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,071
= 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

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Gerry Vander-Lyn completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Vander-Lyn'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.

First, I connect well with people. I am usually the first to say hello, I never met a stranger, and I enjoy the diversity God has embedded in humanity. Second, I have spent decades helping people navigate all kinds of bureaucracies. I know how to make a bureaucracy function more efficiently. Third, I am a former, Series 7, Series 63 licensed Registered Representative. I am no longer licensed but I have the knowledge to manage a very large budget. I have a BA in History from the University of Houston, have run for Houston City Council twice, and have decades of experience as a Christian Education volunteer.

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?

• Taxes keep going up because the tax rate is pegged to inflation. The so-called cap is simply a certain percentage above the inflation rate. There has been talk of raising the rate. Due to inflation the county has more money than it has ever had but that is not enough; enough for what? There was enough to pay $1 million dollars to Judge Hidalgo’s friend for services never rendered. There is enough for the County’s appointed representative to HCAD to vote yes to sending out a $2 million dollar request for proposal to get bids on renovating the HCAD Board Room. That is a lot of money to renovate one room that 12 people sit in once a month. I could renovate a neighborhood with $2 million dollars. We need a budget hawk on Commissioners Court.
• We need to rethink law enforcement. HPD used to do a lot more. They showed up at auto accidents and performed traffic control in addition to catching the bad guys. Not any longer. Porch Pirates are robbing people blind, gangs are breaking car windows looking for stuff, and other gangs are stealing tires. Not only does this wreck the average budget, but the insurance companies are raising their rates, which adds insult to injury. I think our Constables would be a great Porch Pirate Prevention Program. We can think more creatively to reduce theft in our communities.
• We need to significantly implement changes in the County Jail. We need better mental health screening. The County Jail is not a hospital or a clinic or a doctor's office. We have had success with other programs like the Adult Star Drug Court and I believe we need a similar creative, collaborative approach to mental health issues as it impact the County Jail. This will separate the two populations giving better outcomes and helping law enforcement focus on correct detention of real criminals.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about mental health! In the 1990s I had severe depression and very few resources. One of the worst symptoms of depression is difficulty making decisions. In that condition I was trying to navigate the Harris County Hospital District bureaucracy. I clung fiercely to my faith during that time! In the 25 years since those struggles I have found many very helpful modalities. Some cost money and some do not. I believe that cooperation and collaboration of the Harris County Psychiatric Center, the Menninger Clinic, and our local churches can significantly reduce the spike in mental health disorders we are seeing post-Covid.

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

Dr. James Dobson is a man I greatly respect and admire. His books on relationships have helped me improve my character, weather many emotional difficulties, and connect the Bible's wisdom to my everyday struggles. His impact on my life is one I am hugely grateful for.

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

I would recommend the movie "Clarence Thomas: In His Own Words".

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

Passionate pursuit of truth, strict adherence to the Rule by Law concept, and accountability.

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

I like to encourage people, catch them doing things well, and praise them for it. This makes it easier to run a tight ship because your people self-correct frequently and receive outside correction more easily. In addition, I create good structure. People have more freedom to be creative when there is good structure that avoids chaos.

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

You need to be a budget hawk, you need to spend more time with constituents than sitting on Commissioner's Court, you need to know how to hold a bureaucracy accountable the mission of serving the community.

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

I remember going to the polls with my Daddy when I was 5 0r 6. He would lift me up and let me turn the red lever that closed the curtains to the booth. It was so exciting! The next historical event was the assassination of John F. Kennedy. I was 13.

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

For many years I struggled with depression. Navigating that situation was very difficult and required patience, tenacity, and courage to advocate for yourself.

Tell us your favorite joke.

I don't have a favorite joke but my favorite humorist is Jeanne Robertson. She has died, but you can find her routines online. I do remember one humorous event in my life. I was teaching an older friend to do water aerobics and every day at some point he would scratch his nose. Eventually I asked him why? "Well I saw you do it and thought it was part of the exercise." I burst out laughing and said "Paul, how long have you been waiting to say that?" He replied, "About 3 weeks." He liked a good joke and was willing to wait for the punch line!

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Harris County Republican Party

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Without financial transparency and government accountability you do not have a free Democratic Republic. Instead you have tyranny, poverty, and misery.

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.

2019

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

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Houston, Texas in 1950, am 5'3'' tall, weigh 140 pounds, never married, and have no children or grandchildren. I currently work for 3 tax accountants, am a former Series 7 licensed Registered Representative, and a former social worker for the State of Texas. Without grandchildren to mop up my time I go to 3 Bible Studies a week and the rest of my time is devoted to conservative grassroots activism. I am passionate about faith, healthy families, and freedom.

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?

• I believe in common sense solutions that fix problems, not political slogans that ignore reality.
• Municipal government is administrative. There is nothing controversial about picking up the trash, repairing streets, or paying first-responders, unless these basic services are not happening.
• Hold everyone, from politicians to the homeless, accountable for bad behavior.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about accountability, transparency, and integrity in government, the public sector, and private business.

Small is beautiful. Therefore I believe passionately in limited government and very limited bureaucracies.
I love connecting individuals, non-profits, churches, and elected officials together to find common sense solutions to current problems.

Balance the budget!

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

Ask anyone what happens when the Mom in the family gets sick. Municipal government is all about basic core services. When municipal government gets sick everyone starts getting sick, sometimes literally. Six weeks after hurricane Harvey there was a period of time when 75% of the city was sick. Hospitals were understaffed, schools were understaffed, first-responders were understaffed. When, on any one day, 75% of the city is sick in bed or should be in bed you have a real problem. We lived through it, but it was tough. It would have been easier if the administration at that time had kept the trash trucks repaired and let the drivers work overtime and hired part time drivers the city would have fared far better. This office requires a willingness to do the simple common sense things. It is not about political speeches or strutting around like a big shot. There is not a lot of legislating to do. This is basic service to humanity 101. If the residents know the name of the trash truck drivers but not yours then you are probably doing a pretty good job!

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

I have always looked up to Caleb. He and Joshua were 40 when they went to check out Canaan. They both came back with positive reports. When the other 10 investigators presented a negative report it was Caleb that preached a powerful sermon that should have knocked the socks off of every Israelite. When it didn't, Caleb did not whine or rebel. He could have gone off on his own or with a few like minded men. No way. God said to move when the pillar moved and stay put when the pillar stopped. If God was going to lead the people in circles, so be it. The day came when God instructed Joshua to lead the people into Canaan. Caleb followed Joshua as he had followed Moses and for 5 years he helped his fellow Israelites to secure their land. Finally, at age 85, he demanded his land that had been promised to him 45 years earlier. Joshua asked him what he wanted. He wanted the mountain with giants on it. He then proceeded to fight Giants uphill at the age of 85 and he won!

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

Honesty, integrity, and transparency.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to see neighbors knowing each other, helping each other, and collaborating with each other to improve their communities.

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

Assassination of President Kennedy. I was 13 at the time.

What is your favorite book? Why?

At the moment it is Zera Shimshon. There are currently two volumes and both are excellent. Each chapter is a teaching on some part of the first 5 books of the Old Testament. However, each chapter has true life stories of people who struggled to remain faithful to God, family, and friends in difficult times. These books are inspiring and uplifting and I highly recommend them.

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

Overcoming clinical depression and the aftermath of breast cancer treatment were both very difficult and quite character enhancing. I am stronger and more resilient. My faith in God's love and protection and guidance is deeper. My friendships are deeper and stronger.

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

No. This is municipal government. A person with good business experience is better qualified than someone that has held legislative office. For that matter a Mom is better qualified than a politician!

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

Common sense, problem solving skills, ability to think outside the box, and ability to pull people together to accomplish common goals.

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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