Warren Howell doesn’t need a political career. He’s not in this race to climb ladders or chase headlines. After decades of business leadership and volunteer service in his community, the lifelong Harris County resident says he’s stepping up because the situation at the county level has gotten too bad to ignore.

“I was going to retire this year,” Howell said in an exclusive interview with Katy and Fort Bend Christian Magazines. “But I realized I could give back to Harris County by going in for three to four years and reversing what’s going on. If things weren’t in such bad shape, I wouldn’t be running.”

 

Howell, a conservative candidate for Harris County Judge, is running on a platform built around fiscal responsibility, public safety, and respect for working families. His campaign emphasizes restoring order to county government, cutting wasteful spending, and supporting first responders. 

A seasoned business owner and civic leader, Howell says he brings practical skills and real-world results, rather than rhetoric, to the table.

Born and raised in Harris County, Howell served in the U.S. Air Force before launching a successful career in construction and insurance. He made his mark early as a partner in Beckner-Howell Building Corp., later leading a roofing manufacturing firm with over 100 employees. Today, he owns and operates Employers Risk Insurance. 

On top of his business work, Howell has spent the last two years serving as president of the Shadow Oaks Civic Association, where he led a turnaround that restored tax-exempt status, rebuilt neighborhood finances, and launched beautification projects.

“I never paid much attention to politics before,” Howell said. “But when I saw the problems piling up locally, I knew I had to get involved. We’ve got a civic association now that works, and that same kind of leadership is exactly what Harris County needs.”

A pillarstone of Howell’s campaign is a plan to establish the Department of County Efficiency (DOCE), a task force aimed at rooting out bureaucratic bloat and auditing county departments and contracts. 

 

He cites the Department of Administration, created in 2021, as an example of a costly addition that should be eliminated. Howell says the county administrator’s $400,000 salary and the department’s $25 million budget are unjustifiable.

“This county did just fine for 185 years without a Department of Administration,” Howell said. “It’s the first thing we’ll look to cut.”

Howell is also focused on restoring morale and resources to law enforcement. He supports pay increases for sheriff’s deputies and wants to bring salaries in line with, or above, those offered by other major Texas cities. However, Howell is critical of the way recent raises were approved without cutting other areas of spending.

“Our budget is nearly a billion dollars out of balance, and the Sheriff’s Department needs $141 million,” Howell said. “If we just look at page 20 of the 2024 budget, we’ll find $700 million being spent on things we aren’t legally required to do. We have the money—we’re just spending it in the wrong places.”

Howell also proposes eliminating property taxes for residents over 70 and for veterans over 65. He says many seniors in Harris County are living on fixed incomes, and property taxes have become a burden that cuts into essential expenses like groceries and utilities.

“About 12 percent of our population is over 70,” Howell said. “That’s $240 million in property taxes. Again, that $700 million in non-required spending could easily cover it.”

On homelessness, Howell supports redirecting funds toward transitional housing and life-skills training. He argues that current spending, nearly $47 million in the latest county budget, has failed to produce results.

“I’ve talked to people living on the streets. Some want help but don’t know where to go,” he said, describing a morning when he sat down with a Katy-area woman struggling with homelessness, who said that she had no other options.

“We need partnerships with other states and systems that can support the mentally ill or people struggling with addiction for longer than Texas’ two-to-three week policy. Texas can’t do it alone, but that doesn’t mean we throw our hands up.”

He referenced regions in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee that would be open to accepting individuals from Harris County’s homeless population who are struggling with mental illnesses or drug addictions.

Howell is also outspoken about hiring practices in county government. He opposes what he calls politically motivated hiring under the banner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and says all positions should be filled based on merit.

“I don’t care about someone’s race. I care if they’re the best person for the job,” Howell said. 

He points to the hiring of Clifford Tatum, a former elections administrator now working in maintenance under Commissioner Adrian Garcia, as a case study in misplaced priorities.

As for those questioning his commitment, Howell says he was the first to announce his candidacy and has no ambitions beyond public service.

“I’ve made my money. I’m not running for a career,” Howell said. “I’m here to fix Harris County. After that, I’m going to sit on my porch and feed the deer. But right now, this county needs someone who’s not afraid to throw a rock at a hornet’s nest and chase off the hornets with his bare hands. That’s what I’m here to do.”

Howell and his wife, Dr. Paula Howell, have lived in Spring Branch for over 40 years. He credits her as his greatest support and the light of his life. Together, they’ve raised a family and built a life in Harris County. 

Howell says he’s determined to make sure that life, and the community around it, remains worth fighting for.