Opinion: Harris County Deserves Accountability — Not Taxpayer-Funded Philanthropy Operations

By Michelle Bouchard

Harris County residents learned this week that Commissioner Lesley Briones is seeking a Director of Philanthropy to support a nonprofit created and administered by her office — a move that raises far deeper concerns than a simple job posting might suggest.

The new county-funded position would oversee donor cultivation, fundraising, event revenue, and partnership development for Precinct4Forward, an organization formed out of the Commissioner’s office and supported with government resources. While the word “philanthropy” often evokes positive sentiments, residents should be asking a more fundamental question:

Why is Harris County government expanding into private-style fundraising operations when it continues to fall short on its core responsibilities?

For years, Harris County has grappled with mismanagement and basic operational failures. Under prolonged Democratic control, residents have seen:

• Persistent operational breakdowns

• Bloated administrative structures and cost overruns

• Public safety failures impacting law enforcement, courts, and neighborhoods

• Contracting scandals and corruption investigations

• A culture of inefficiency that leaves taxpayers footing the bill

  
  

These problems are not minor. They strike at the heart of what county government is supposed to deliver: competent administration, safe communities, reliable courts, accountable budgeting, and infrastructure that works.

Instead of addressing these urgent issues, the current administration is building an in-house philanthropy arm — something traditionally handled by independent nonprofits that are separate from government oversight and political influence. By merging public authority with fundraising activities, the county risks eroding transparency, misallocating taxpayer dollars, and creating new pathways for political favoritism.

This is not the role of county government. Leaders should not be using public offices to oversee fundraising pipelines, cultivate donor networks, or manage quasi-private ventures. Their responsibility is to protect the public interest — not to expand their political footprint under the banner of philanthropy.

As we move toward 2026, Harris County has a clear opportunity to restore responsible, professional, outcomes-driven leadership. Voters deserve more than slogans and expansions of bureaucracy. They deserve a government that knows its mission and has the discipline to stay within it.

As a candidate for Harris County Republican Party Chair, I believe that returning competence and accountability to county government begins with offering a credible and principled alternative.

Republicans have a real opportunity to show what effective, principled governance looks like. We can deliver a county government that stays focused on its mission and earns the trust of the people it serves. That begins by winning back Harris County and offering a smarter, stronger alternative to the mismanagement we see today.

As Harris County Democrats continue down the path of expanding government authority into philanthropic work — funded with taxpayer dollars — Republican leadership must counter with a vision rooted in transparency, fiscal responsibility, and commitment to the county’s real priorities.

Harris County residents deserve a government that works. They deserve public servants who respect the boundaries between public responsibilities and private fundraising. With unified effort and disciplined leadership, we can chart a better path for 2026 and beyond.

About

Michelle Bouchard is a civic and nonprofit executive with decades of experience raising millions for major organizations and building high-performing teams. She is a candidate for Harris County Republican Party Chair.