Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis was born and raised in Houston’s Sunnyside neighborhood. The proud son of a yardman and a maid, Ellis attended Texas public schools from grade school through law school. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas Southern University, a master’s degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.
As Commissioner of Harris County Precinct One, Ellis champions purpose-driven public service to improve quality of life, build thriving communities, and advance opportunity, equity, and justice for all. He has played a critical role on Commissioners Court by securing nonviolent misdemeanor bail reform, strengthening worker protections, expanding public defense, and leading transformative investments in climate resilience. Following Hurricane Harvey, Ellis successfully advocated for equitable investments in flood control infrastructure and disaster recovery in vulnerable communities through a $2.5 billion bond approved by voters in 2018.
A longtime civil rights leader with more than four decades of public service, Ellis was elected to Houston City Council in 1983 and served three terms before being elected to the Texas State Senate. For 26 years, he represented Texas’ 13th Senate District and passed more than 700 pieces of legislation.
Ellis was elected Harris County Commissioner on November 8, 2016, and sworn into office on January 1, 2017. In this role, he represents a diverse, 365-square-mile region home to more than 1.2 million residents and over 8,500 acres of greenspace.
Ellis is an avid art collector and cycling enthusiast. He is married to Licia Green-Ellis and has four children.