Sylvester Turner is an American politician and attorney who has served as the mayor of Houston, Texas since January 2016. He is a member of the Democratic Party and previously represented the Texas House of Representatives for over 25 years. Turner is known for his focus on issues such as public safety, economic development, and infrastructure improvement. Born on September 27, 1954, in Houston, Turner graduated from Texas Southern University and earned a law degree from Harvard Law School. Throughout his career, he has been involved in various community initiatives and has worked to promote diversity and inclusion in the city.