Attorney Chris Hollins sworn in as new Harris County Clerk

Chris Hollins sworn in as Harris County Clerk, replacing Dr. Diane Trautman after her recent resignation due to health reasons.
Chris Hollins sworn in as Harris County Clerk, replacing Dr. Diane Trautman after her recent resignation due to health reasons.

By Allan Jamail

Monday, June 01, 2020 — Christopher G. Hollins, a 33 year old Houston attorney married to wife Morgan with daughter Vivian, won the approval of Commissioners Court to fill the vacated position of Dr. Diane Trautman. He has pledged to hold the job only in an interim role, avoiding the potential distraction of running a campaign this fall.

On May 19th Commissioners Court voted 3-2 along party lines to appoint Hollins, vice chairman of finance for the state democratic party. He will serve until a new clerk can be elected in November.

Commissioners Court members said they were impressed with Hollins’ credentials, as well as his commitment not to seek the job permanently. “I think his background with McKinsey a global consultancy company will be helpful in getting procedures in place to get through this election process,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia supported Hollins’s appointment, stating, “I’m thrilled that Chris Hollins decided to accept this appointment to become the County Clerk for the remainder of the year. He is incredibly qualified, and I am confident he will do an excellent job.”

Hollins issued the following statement:

“It is a great honor to serve the residents of Harris County as County Clerk. My deep connection to Harris County and professional background in management consulting, government, and law has prepared me to step into this role and be effective from day one. I look forward to serving this community to the best of my ability, and to continue to assist residents and small businesses at the high standard that Harris County deserves.

“We are living in a challenging time. This November, our office will administer the most consequential election of our lifetime amid a global health pandemic. The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy, and I will work tirelessly to ensure that Harris County residents can exercise that right safely, conveniently, and with the peace of mind that their vote will be counted.”

“Our efforts start with the July runoff contest. I encourage Harris County residents to register to vote by the June 15th deadline. I also encourage you to make a plan to vote by mail (if eligible), during the early voting period, June 29 – July 10, or on Election Day, July 14th.”

“Thank you to the Harris County Commissioners Court and the people of Harris County for entrusting me with such an important task. I cannot thank Dr. Diane Trautman enough for her service to Harris County, and I look forward to working with her talented staff to achieve our office’s mission.”

Hollins said he would take that outsider’s approach to the clerk role and would retain the office’s senior staff, including Elections Director Michael Winn who came on board after Trautman was elected and newly promoted by Trautman Chief Deputy Teneshia Hudspeth.

Chris developed a commitment to public service through the selfless example of his parents and their devotion for improving the lives of others. His father, George, served for 34 years in the Houston Police Department, and his mother, Christie, managed a career as a secretary while raising Chris, his two sisters, and more than 20 young foster children.

After graduating from Hightower High School in Missouri City, Chris went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts with Phi Beta Kappa honors from Morehouse College. Chris also completed a joint program with Yale Law School and Harvard Business School, earning both his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees.

Before transitioning into private practice, Chris attained a strong strategic skill set by working at some of the world’s most distinguished professional service firms. He was a Senior Engagement Manager at global consultancy McKinsey & Company, where he flourished in applying analytics and organizational best practice to transform public safety, defense and security agencies. Chris was also a Summer Associate with Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and the investment bank Goldman Sachs. Despite his private sector background, Chris’s most memorable professional experience ensued through his time with the White House Office of Presidential Personnel during the first year of the Obama administration.