Houston City Controller is the second highest elected official in Houston City Government and its Chief Financial Officer. The Office of the Houston City Controller superintends the fiscal affairs of the City. This includes conducting audits, managing investments and debt, preparing financial statements, and providing leadership on policy pertaining to the City’s financial health. A proven leader in business and government, Dave has a strong desire to ensure conservative principles are applied in City government and as Controller would serve as an independently elected “financial watchdog” over City government’s fiscal affairs. He has been influential in providing sound business advice and proven decision-making skills to the Council in dealing with notable issues facing Houston today. First elected in November 2012; fiscal responsibility, economic development, and public safety have been and will continue to be the cornerstone of Dave’s daily priorities. Additionally, he works hard to ensure exemplary constituent service to the residents of District E.

During his time on your Houston City Council, Dave has been appointed to serve as Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee, Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee on Debt Financing and Pensions, and a member of Economic Development; Ethics, Elections and Council Governance Committee; and Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee. His experience as Chairman of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee has given him an inside look to the Controller’s role as the Controller’s Treasury Division is responsible for managing the City’s over $5 Billion investment portfolio in accordance with state law and the City’s investment policy. On January 2, 2020, Dave was nominated as Mayor Pro Tem by Mayor Sylvester Turner, which was confirmed by City Council Members.

Mayor Pro Tem Martin’s near 40 years of professional experience has more than prepared him for the rigorous activities that are demanded of being a City Controller as the City’s Chief Financial Officer in charge of the City’s Audit Division, Operations and Technical Services Division, and Financial Reporting Division. The Audit Division Adheres to recognized professional auditing standards (Government Auditing Standards and International Standards as issued by the Institute of Internal Auditors).

The Operations and Technical Services Division is responsible for funding certification for contracts, accounts payable, vendor payments, and cash disbursement, travel advances, monthly bank account reconciliation, review, and approval of City-wide, personnel action requests (PAR), payroll payments processing, City-wide contract review, financial and accounting records retention and imaging retrieval, City-wide vendor liaison, and the Controller’s Office information technology (IT) operations.

The Finance Reporting Division is ultimately responsible for the preparation of both the Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR) and the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), although every division of the City Controller’s Office contributes to the ACFR effort. Additionally, the Finance Reporting Division also monitors the City’s Financial Transparency tool known as City of Houston Open Finance, which is a direct result of a FY 2020 budget amendment authored by Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin allowing residents to take a deep dive in to the City’s budget, payroll, and checkbook.

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana and a graduate of Louisiana State University, Dave served as Managing Director of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. and previously worked for two large “Big Four” Accounting Firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP and Ernst & Young, LLP. Dave was elected to the Humble ISD Board of Trustees in 2004 and served as President, Board Finance Committee Chairman and Chairman of the Board Audit Committee.

Dave also served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Harris County Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA) where he was also Chairman of the Board Finance Committee. While serving in this capacity, Dave helped with Houston’s mission to attract the very best sporting events into our city, bringing economic development while ensuring the debt service payments for Houston’s Sports venues are transacted to protect Houston’s tax dollars.

Dave has also been involved with the Greater Houston Partnership where he served on the Education Policy/Strategic Policy Committee.

Dave and his wife Julie have been married for 39 years. They live in Kingwood and have three children, Jennifer, Michael, and David along with daughter in-law Lucy and grandsons Oliver and Connor. They are active parishioners at St. Martha’s Catholic Church.