Mario Castillo

Biography  

• A native Houstonian running to represent the community that raised him 
• Local government expert and grassroots community leader   
• A historic victory    

A native Houstonian running to represent the community that raised him
Mario has spent his entire career serving the people of Houston. As the grandson of an immigrant who built his own small business in District H, and the son of a healthcare worker, Mario comes from a long line of family committed to helping everyday Houstonians. After receiving his Master’s degree in Public Health from the prestigious Texas A&M University, he recognized the need for healthcare in his hometown and became a grassroots public health organizer. 

Local government expert and grassroots community leader
Eager to do more for his community, Mario turned to local government and served as the Chief of Staff to outgoing Houston City Councilmember Karla Cisneros in District H. There, he learned the ins and outs of local government so that one day, he could pay it forward as their councilmember. Today, Mario continues his public service as the Executive Director of Your Houston, where he advocates to improve the quality of life for all Houstonians. Through his career and years of community service, Mario has proven his dedication to the people of District H and all Houstonians.

A historic victory
The LGBTQ+ community has had out representation on the Houston City Council since Mayor Annise Parker’s historic victory in 1997 after prevailing in a runoff election and becoming the city’s first out LGBTQ+ elected official. This year, longtime Councilmember Robert Gallegos is term-limited and cannot seek reelection as the only out member of the council. The LGBTQ+ community needs to maintain representation and Mario is well-positioned to do so. The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is proud to endorse Mario at the Spotlight level as he will likely face a crowded field for an open seat in a majority-Latino district.