Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones is a proud Latina and native Texan who grew up on the U.S.-Mexico border. Raised by her parents — both dedicated teachers— she learned the values of education, hard work, and community service at an early age. As the first woman to lead Precinct 4 and the first mother elected in her own right to the Harris County Commissioners Court, Commissioner Briones carries these values forward in her service to the people of one of the most dynamic and diverse regions in the country.
As Commissioner, she is responsible for providing essential county services to Precinct 4, an area that is home to over 1.2 million residents — more than the population of eight U.S. states. As a member of Commissioners Court, she plays a critical role in overseeing $5 billion in taxpayer funds to deliver improvements in law enforcement and public safety, infrastructure, flood mitigation, disaster readiness, health care, economic opportunity, and other priorities that directly affect the lives of Harris County residents.
Commissioner Briones’ career is built on a long history of service. After graduating with honors from Harvard University, she returned to her hometown of Laredo to teach middle and high school students in underserved communities. She then attended Yale Law School, where between her studies she provided pro bono legal support to survivors of domestic abuse and counseled juvenile offenders. After moving to Houston, she practiced law at Vinson & Elkins LLP and later worked as General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer of the Laura & John Arnold Foundation. Briones then served as judge of Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 4, earning the highest ratings in the 2019 and 2020 Houston Bar Association Judicial Polls.
During her term as County Commissioner, Briones has championed initiatives to make Harris County safer and more resilient. She led the successful effort to add six new criminal district courts, expanded the Sheriff's Office Violent Persons Warrants Task Force and TeleDeputy programs to prioritize apprehending violent offenders and reduce call wait times, and increased resources to combat domestic violence. She secured significant investments for flood mitigation projects and strengthened the precinct's ability to respond to disasters, reduce flood risks, and connect communities to resources.
Her signature initiative, Call for Projects: Places 4 People, has leveraged partnerships to secure $220 million in shared investment for 52 transformative infrastructure projects in just two years. She has championed working families by investing over $17 million dollars to create good-paying union jobs, increasing the property tax exemption for 65+ homeowners, and installing lactation pods in county facilities. She allocated $6 million to the Reproductive Health Care Access Fund to support women’s health and spearheaded the creation of the county’s first LGBTQIA+ Commission. Through strategic board appointments, community town halls and signature events, she continues to empower residents to have a direct voice in the political process.
Commissioner Briones’ leadership has earned widespread recognition. In 2023, she was named one of Houston Woman Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Women, received the Trailblazer of the Year Award from the Hispanic Bar Association, and earned the Eleanor Tinsley Ally of the Year Award from the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus. In 2024, she was honored with the Women of Influence Award from the National Council of Jewish Women, named Pride Houston’s Ally Grand Marshal, and received the Houston Bar Association President’s Award for Outstanding Service.
Commissioner Briones and her husband, Adán, live in Houston with their three daughters and worship at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.