Robin Williams (Texas)

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

Robin Williams

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 7, 2023

Education

High school

Corliss High School

Graduate

Bellevue University, 2017

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Marine Corps

Years of service

2011 - 2015

Personal

Birthplace

Chicago, Ill.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Law enforcement officer

Contact

Campaign website

Robin Williams ran for election for Mayor of Houston in Texas. She lost as a write-in in the general election on November 7, 2023.

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

Biography

Robin Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois. Williams' professional experience includes working as a law enforcement officer and as a manager with the American Red Cross. She served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2011 to 2015. Williams earned a graduate degree from Bellevue University in 2017.

Elections

2023

See also: Mayoral election in Houston, Texas (2023)

General runoff election

General runoff election for Mayor of Houston

John Whitmire defeated Sheila Jackson Lee in the general runoff election for Mayor of Houston on December 9, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Whitmire (Nonpartisan)	64.4	129,809
		Sheila Jackson Lee (Nonpartisan)	35.6	71,719

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 201,528
= 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.
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General election

General election for Mayor of Houston

The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Houston on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Whitmire (Nonpartisan)	42.5	107,411
✔		Sheila Jackson Lee (Nonpartisan)	35.6	90,098
	Submit photo	Gilbert Garcia (Nonpartisan)	7.2	18,220
		Jack Christie (Nonpartisan)	6.9	17,364
		Lee Kaplan (Nonpartisan)	2.6	6,645
		Robert Gallegos (Nonpartisan)	1.1	2,680
	Submit photo	M.J. Khan (Nonpartisan)	1.0	2,478
		Annie Garcia (Nonpartisan)	0.8	1,972
		Julian Martinez (Nonpartisan)	0.7	1,813
		Roy Vasquez (Nonpartisan)	0.4	1,083
		M. Griffin (Nonpartisan)	0.3	674
		Kathy Lee Tatum (Nonpartisan)	0.2	532
	Submit photo	David Lowy (Nonpartisan)	0.1	368
	Submit photo	Chanel Mbala (Nonpartisan)	0.1	356
		Naoufal Houjami (Nonpartisan)	0.1	352
		Gaylon Caldwell (Nonpartisan)	0.1	331
	Submit photo	B. Ivy (Nonpartisan)	0.1	287
		Robin Williams (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	0.0	101

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 252,765
= 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 Williams in this election.

Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Robin Williams completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Williams' 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.

Robin Williams got to Texas as soon as she could and fell in love with Houston. This proud Houstonian, respected Texas Police Officer and Marine is a college graduate who also earned a master’s degree in Criminal Management and justice Administration, and she is well-positioned to become the next Mayor of the City of Houston.

Robin served in the United States Marine Corps on Active Duty from 2011-2015, and continued her honorable service to this country as a USMC reservist until 2018, when she joined the American Red Cross-International Social Services Department. There she worked as an advocate who reconnected families displaced by war providing support resources to Active Duty members of the military while also managing the veteran’s program at Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center.

Williams’ “heart-work” at American Red Cross motivated her to become the founder of the, “A Hero Needs a Story” organization, where she provides a platform for individuals to share powerful testimonies with other veterans around the world. The program is also a source of resources to non-veterans in need, for example, sponsoring economically disadvantaged teens who wish to attend proms in minority communities. Her “heart-work” and philanthropy is tangible, as she donated over 500 books to veterans suffering from spinal cord injuries at Debakey VA Medical Center, and provided Middle Eastern women sewing machines, fabrics, and a sewing course, so they obtain the tools and knowledge to sustain

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?

• Mental health is a crisis not only in Houston but all over the world. It is imperative that the residents of Houston struggling with mental illnesses receive adequate care. Mental illness does not discriminate against race, creed, social status, or gender. Several Houstonian’s suffer from undiagnosed or under treated mental illnesses. Police Officers must receive adequate training on how to respond to mental health calls. Also, Officers need to be well versed on how to identify when a Houstonian is in a mental health crisis. When subjects are in a state of psychosis, individuals can lose contact with external reality. Which can result in crimes being committed. Instead of arresting Houstonians that commit petty crimes (Class-C Misdemeanors
• As a community we must address the “elephant in the room.” Police Officers and Houstonians do not trust each other. The residents of Houston are afraid of Police Officers and believe some Officers abuse their authority. The media has grouped all Officers into one bad image. This is not true and good Officers do exist. However, we cannot be oblivious to the actions of wayward Officers that are deemed “bad apples.” The safety of our Officers and the residents of Houston are extremely important. The goal is to publicly address the problem and render a sincere solution. Bring back “beat cops” and establish a healthy patrol presence in the community. Beat cops were Officers that literally had boots on the ground and got to personally know the r
• Houston is a very beautiful city, but flooding is a major problem. Flooding has left our communities riddled by destruction. Historical homes have been ruined by the flooding. We have to protect and restore the integrity of our communities. The flooding situation has to be addressed and a solution must be rendered. Historical flooding that occurred approximately 100 years ago are occurring often in Houston. Roads immediately flood after 30 minutes of heavy rain. Several years ago, Houstonian’s voted to implement the drainage fee. The goal of the drainage fee is to collect taxpayer dollars and provide drainage services. However, the city has continued to flood and left Houstonian’s to pick up the pieces. According to Houston based Geolog

Community Question Featured local question

Did the COVID-19 pandemic change your approach to local policy issues? If so, please give us an example. If not, why?

I would have provided residents with the necessary medical testing, equipment, and educate the public on COVID-19

Community Question Featured local question

Do you believe crime rates are changing? Where do you get your crime rate data from? Would you make any changes to existing public safety policy?

I believe crime is not decreasing and criminals are finding different ways to commit crimes. I want to make sure police officers are vigilant and patrol high crime areas.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you think the downtown area is healthy? What is your definition of a healthy downtown? What changes, if any, would you like to make?

Our current downtown is filled with homeless personal that need immediate help. We must address the pressing issues of mental health issues and homeless personal being over policed.

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?

I believe residents are the backbone to any government decision-making process. I intend to always put the resident first!

Community Question Featured local question

How should record requests from the public be handled? Do you have any policies around transparency and accountability you want to enact?

All records request need to be handled in a timely manner, the sender should be updated immediately, and focused on providing realistic assistance.

Community Question Featured local question

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

Preserving the peace and maintaining order is our main concern. The murder rate is increasing in Houston. From January to May, our city saw 146 murders in 2021. Which is a major increase from the prior years and an 84% increase since 2019. In the midst of COVID-19, 30,000 crimes were reported to law enforcement.

An increase of effective police presence in the community can help suppress crime. Police command can deter criminals from committing crimes. Also encouraging Houstonians to report suspicious activity can assist Officers with being reactive to crime. We must promote neighborhood watches in the community and engage the residents of Houston to help deter crime.

Bringing Police Officers and Houstonians together is our goal. When Officers leave and return home, the residents of Houston remain in the community. Our objective is to allow Houstonians to voice their concerns and assist with legally governing their community. Public safety is always a top priority in any community.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you balance the needs and desires of existing business and housing communities with new development? Would you take gentrification and displacement into consideration when planning neighborhood development?

I plan on safely building low income homes while maintains the history of minority communities.

Community Question Featured local question

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

As a community we must address the “elephant in the room.” Police Officers and Houstonians do not trust each other. The residents of Houston are afraid of Police Officers and believe some Officers abuse their authority. The media has grouped all Officers into one bad image. This is not true and good Officers do exist. However, we cannot be oblivious to the actions of wayward Officers that are deemed “bad apples.” The safety of our Officers and the residents of Houston are extremely important. The goal is to publicly address the problem and render a sincere solution.

Community Question Featured local question

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

Preserving the peace and maintaining order is our main concern. The murder rate is increasing in Houston. From January to May, our city saw 146 murders in 2021. Which is a major increase from the prior years and an 84% increase since 2019. In the midst of COVID-19, 30,000 crimes were reported to law enforcement.

An increase of effective police presence in the community can help suppress crime. Police command can deter criminals from committing crimes. Also encouraging Houstonians to report suspicious activity can assist Officers with being reactive to crime. We must promote neighborhood watches in the community and engage the residents of Houston to help deter crime.

Bringing Police Officers and Houstonians together is our goal. When Officers leave and return home, the residents of Houston remain in the community. Our objective is to allow Houstonians to voice their concerns and assist with legally governing their community. Public safety is always a top priority in any community.

Community Question Featured local question

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

Our parks are filled with homeless personal that need immediate help. We must address the pressing issues of mental health issues and homeless personal being over policed. The parks and empty lots need to be cleaned. Also update with safer equipment.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding infrastructure?

I plan on addressing the aging infrastructure and making improvements to prevent catastrophic problems from occurring.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding the police department? Would you make any changes from current policy?

Bridging The Gap Between Police Officers And Houstonians. It is no secret that Officers and the residents of Houston no longer trust each other. We must take policing back to the basics and allow Houstonians to express themselves without consequences. Houstonians and Officers are literally exhausted from both a physical and verbal fight for justice. The community cannot flourish if we do not have trust, and the relationship on both ends will not be repaired. Good Officers exist, like Officer Williams, and really have a passion for what they do.

Community Question Featured local question

What policies would you have implemented in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic? Why did you select those policies?

I would have provided residents with the necessary medical testing, equipment, and educate the public on COVID-19

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The Change of Direction Plan was devised to detail my vision for Houston, Texas and to provide a better quality of life for Houston residents. The Change of Direction plan is not just another political skit or stunt. It is an actual plan to provide Houstonians with the best version of our city and provide growth. My goal is to highlight a few of the most pressing issues that need immediate attention in Houston, TX. The first subject, Mental health, details a plan to address the crisis. Houstonians are suffering from mental illnesses and are not getting the attention they need. Instead, residents of Houston are being cycled in and out of jail and not being accepted by some health facilities. The second subject, Bridging The Gap Between Police Officers And Houstonians. It is no secret that Officers and the residents of Houston no longer trust each other. We must take policing back to the basics and allow Houstonians to express themselves without consequences. Houstonians and Officers are literally exhausted from both a physical and verbal fight for justice. The community cannot flourish if we do not have trust, and the relationship on both ends will not be repaired. Good Officers exist, like Officer Williams, and really have a passion for what they do. The third subject, Flooding In Communities. Historical neighborhoods such as 3rd and 5th Ward continue to flood during Hurricane season. The flooding in those neighborhoods are permanently destroying historical homes.

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

I look up to various members of the Marine Corps due to their strength and adversity.

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

Barack Obama’s first book is a core lesson that everyone can learn from.

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

Firm, fairness, and integrity.

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

I am a very strong and blood leader with compassion.

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

Increasing salary for city workers, eradicating homelessness, reducing the cost of rent, and improving high crime neighborhoods.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave a legacy of love for the city of Houston, TX.

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

I joined the Marine Corps at the age of nineteen.

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

I worked as a cashier before serving in the Marine Corps.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible

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

I believe I would be Wonder Woman.

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

Destiny Child say my name.

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

I smile often and sometimes that can be perceived as too youthful.

A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?

Meet and engage with city employees on pressing issues on fair pay, health benefits, and creating an organic work experience.

Work with city council members on creating a responsible and balanced budget. In addition, work on generating sustainable resources that maintain a healthy budget.
Launch a realistic plan to make city government more effective and bring back genuine customer service.

Work with city leaders to bring a more friendly approach to customer service by allowing citizen input.

If the mayor in your city is a member of the city council and there's a city manager appointed to handle the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe should be the mayor's top priority in office?

Meet and engage with city employees on pressing issues on fair pay, health benefits, and creating an organic work experience.

Work with city council members on creating a responsible and balanced budget. In addition, work on generating sustainable resources that maintain a healthy budget.
Launch a realistic plan to make city government more effective and bring back genuine customer service.

Work with city leaders to bring a more friendly approach to customer service by allowing citizen input.

If the mayor in your city is not a member of the city council and oversees the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor and city council?

Focus on supporting small businesses (mom/pop businesses owners, proprietor entrepreneurs, and family businesses). Also help sustain small businesses and ensure fair competition.

Meet with leaders from different cultures (African, Latin, Asian, and European communities) in hopes of strengthening international business relationships.

Produce a team that will assist with generating and helping create solid jobs for Houstonian’s.

What do you love most about your city?

I love the diversity of our city.

What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?

I believe maintaining timing the Harris County Jail.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the state government?

I believe that the city and state needs to maintain a healthy relationship for the sake of the residents.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the federal government?

The goal is to always put the residents first and put all political differences aside.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Hey my name is Robin Williams like the comedian.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor's office and law enforcement?

The mayor is the first chain of command to law enforcement and I believe in an open door policy. I want my officers to always feel like they are heard.

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.

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Mayor of Houston

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