District C
Staff of District C
Anna Smith
Chief of Staff (she/her)
Anna Smith serves as Chief of Staff to Council Member Joe Panzarella, serving the District C office since early 2024. During her time in District C, Anna has advanced several major policy initiatives, including the development and launch of the nation’s first-ever comprehensive firearm injury dashboard, district-wide climate resiliency efforts and policies, and development of disaster-response protocols.
Before joining District C, Anna graduated Summa Cum Laude from Drew University with Bachelor’s degrees in both Political Science and Public Health. She served as an activist and community organizer for four years, working on nine campaigns in five states, electing progressive leadership at every level, from U.S. Senators to City Council Members. When she does eventually pull herself away from her desk, Anna spends her spare time volunteering on the Agricultural Education Committee for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, enjoying brunch at local District C spots, and still finds time to knock some doors and talk to voters.
Chief of Staff
Brandon Clements
Communications Director (he/him)
Brandon Clements serves as Communications Director for Houston City Council Member Joe Panzarella in District C. He brings a background in strategic communications, journalism, content marketing, and digital media, with bylines in the Houston Chronicle and Houston Press and experience as an editor for Byline Houston. His professional experience spans copywriting, video production, social media strategy, and creative development for national brands and local organizations.
Brandon is passionate about using clear, accessible storytelling to connect residents with their local government and keep the community informed and engaged. He oversees the office’s social media accounts, sends out the monthly office newsletter, and handles all press and media inquiries. In his free time, he is an avid theme park lover and is a Six Flags season pass holder.
Communications Director
Ingris Pereira
Operations Coordinator and Scheduler (she/her)
Ingris Pereira serves as the Operations Coordinator for Houston City Council Member Joe Panzarella in District C. A first-generation graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, Ingris majored in International Relations and Global Studies. In the District C office, Ingris manages all event planning, organizes service events for the staff in the district, oversees disaster response, coordinates Council Member Joe’s support of local faith organizations and nonprofits, and handles various constituent inquiries. She also serves as the office’s Scheduler, managing all scheduling inquiries and the office calendar.
Before joining the District C team, Ingris worked in the nonprofit sector serving underserved communities at BakerRipley East Aldine and the Houston Food Bank. She is bilingual in English and Spanish, and loves being able to use her background and experience to serve the community here in District C. Outside of work, Ingris loves taking Pilates classes at BOOST Studios and checking out all the coffee shops around the district.
Operations Coordinator
and Scheduler
Zoha Qadri
Constituent Services Manager (she/her)
Zoha Qadri serves as the Constituent Services Manager for Houston City Council Member Joe Panzarella in District C. She holds a Master of Public Affairs from The University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Texas A&M University. Her background includes legislative experience at the Texas Capitol and in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as experience in political campaigns and strategic communications. These roles have shaped her interest in public policy, communications, and community engagement.
She enjoys working with people, learning about the issues affecting their communities, and finding practical ways to move things forward. As Constituent Services Manager, Zoha works with residents and city departments to address neighborhood concerns and connect people with local government resources. Outside of work, Zoha enjoys running, traveling, going to soccer games, and exploring Houston’s food scene.
Constituent Services Manager
Kaylee Gallardo
External Affairs Coordinator (she/her/they/them)
Kaylee Gallardo serves as the External Affairs Coordinator for Houston City Council Member Joe Panzarella in District C. They are a graduate of the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston with a Bachelor's of Science in Public Policy, with a minor in Data and Society. Prior to joining the District C team, they worked on the UH Houston Recovery Center Research Team to understand underlying patterns of service utilization trends over time.
As the External Affairs Coordinator, Kaylee analyzes City policy, spearheads implementation of district investments and supports long-term policy initiatives. They are passionate about leveraging research and data to uplift communities and create meaningful, measurable impact within Houston’s communities. Outside of the office, Kaylee loves spending time outside hiking, fishing, bird watching, and exploring the local Houston performing arts scene.
External Affairs Coordinator
Contact City Hall
901 Bagby, Second Floor
Houston, TX 77002
