Erica Lee Carter was selected by the Harris County Commissioners Court on Thursday to serve as the next county administrator of Harris County, where she will lead the Office of County Administration beginning in March.
The county administrator leads the Office of County Administration, which has overseen daily operations and long-term strategic planning for the county’s largest departments since its establishment in 2021.
Lee Carter thanked commissioners for the appointment during Thursday’s meeting.
“Harris County is my home and heart, and it’s with my heart that I joyfully accept this role of county administrator,” Lee Carter said. “I look forward to elevating governance, collaboration and communication across Harris County departments.”
Lee Carter previously served as a policy advisor in the office of Rodney Ellis, Harris County Precinct 1 commissioner, where she helped develop draft proposals. She also served the remainder of her mother Sheila Jackson Lee’s congressional term for two months following Jackson Lee’s death in 2024.
She served five years as a trustee for the Harris County Department of Education and earned a master’s degree from the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy. Lee Carter is the third person appointed to the county administrator position.
Lee Carter will replace Jesse Dickerman, who has served as interim county administrator since April after former administrator Diana Ramirez left the office. Dickerman advised commissioners on policy proposals, led a statewide “solar for all” initiative and worked on negotiations to redevelop NRG Park.
In a statement, Ellis said Lee Carter is dedicated to improving the lives of Harris County residents.
“We will all benefit from her brilliant mind, strong character, experience at all levels of government, understanding of our community, and her lifelong commitment to making government a force for positive change,” Ellis said. “I look forward to working with her in this new chapter of her distinguished career in public service.”
Commissioners have previously discussed the role of the county administration department, with some suggesting the office is unnecessary and should be dissolved. The court rejected a vote last year that would have reduced the department’s responsibilities.
The Office of County Administration manages the county’s 70 boards and commissions and advises commissioners during the county’s budget process.
Lina Hidalgo said Thursday that the position replaced a system in which commissioners supervised individual departments by centralizing county functions.
“It was a mess,” Hidalgo said. “And so I’m proud of the county administrator position. I think everyone in the role has done well. It’s a hard job.”
