Beverly Barrett is running for the Harris County Central Appraisal District board, Place 1, in the Nov. 3 general election. The nonpartisan race also includes Kathy Blueford-Daniels.

The appraisal district sets property valuations for Harris County homeowners, including those in Clear Lake area communities such as Webster and parts of Friendswood.

Asked why she is seeking office, Barrett said in our candidate questionnaire: "Public service is a calling to serve the community with integrity. In this regard, I want to apply my experience in business and policy to serve all resident and commercial property owners in Harris County, Texas."

Candidate information

Party affiliation: Barrett said in our questionnaire: "Traditionally, I am affiliated with the Republican-party, having served in the President George W. Bush White House, Office of Cabinet Affairs. As bridge builder, I like to reach across to all parties to support the best ideas and policies to serve the people."

Family: Barrett said: "As the eldest in a family of four children, I grew up in Houston, Texas - attending The Kinkaid School for thirteen years - before graduating Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. On my mother's side, I am sixth generation Houstonian."

Education: Barrett said: "Dr. Beverly Barrett earned her doctorate (Ph.D.). in International Studies at the University of Miami in Florida while serving in a fellowship with the European Union Center of Excellence. Proficient in Spanish, Italian, and French, she studied at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain while at Vanderbilt University (B.S. cum laude) majoring in Human and Organizational Development. In the M.A. program at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Bologna, Italy and Washington, DC, she specialized in International Economics and Foreign Policy."

Previous elected or appointed office: Barrett answered "N/A" in our questionnaire.

Experience and public service

Barrett said in our questionnaire: "Beverly Barrett, Ph.D. is a researcher and educator in organizations, public policy, and higher education. … She is faculty with the University of Houston, Bauer College of Business where she teaches Global Human Resources Management (GHRM) and is assistant director of the Human-Centered AI Institute."

She added: "Dr. Barrett's background includes service in public affairs with the U.S. House of Representatives, the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs, the U.S. Department of State in Finland and Jamaica, and the Federal Reserve Bank. She contributed as Visiting Faculty in International Business at Universidad de las Americas Puebla (UDLAP), a U.S.-accredited university in Mexico."

According to BallotReady profile data, Barrett's work history also includes serving as assistant professor of international economics at the University of St. Thomas in Texas from 2019 to 2022 and as a foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State from 2023 to 2024.

On the issues

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? Barrett said: "Beverly Barrett has the business education and experience to provide a fiscally conservative voice for the HCAD 1 board position. Relevant business experience includes prior work in Public Affairs and Research with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch. Dr. Barrett continues to serve as faculty in Business Management with the University of Houston's Bauer College of Business. At UH Bauer, she is the Assistant Director of the Human-Centered AI Institute."

What are the critical differences between you and other candidates seeking this post? Barrett said: "A clear focus on modernization and serving all resident and commercial property owners in Harris County distinguishes my candidacy for the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) Director 1 position. Recommending a review of the HCAD processes, in order to ensure best practices in appraisals and in the appeals process, to serve all candidates with fair and transparent valuations is a motion that I will bring forward."

Barrett's campaign platform, according to her questionnaire, centers on three pillars: "INTEGRITY & TRANSPARENCY … ACCOUNTABILITY & EFFICIENCY … LOCAL KNOWLEDGE & ACCURACY."

Best advice ever shared with you? Barrett cited former President Ronald Reagan: "There is no limit to what a person can do, or where s/he can go, if s/he does not mind who gets the credit."