Mayoral candidates q & a. (THE CANDIDATES).(Houston Business Journal interviews Lee Brown, Chris Bell, Orlando Sanchez)(Statistical Data Included)

The Houston Business Journal posed the same three questions to each candidate, giving an equal amount of time to respond. Some responses have been edited for space, although no copy has been altered.

Elected in 1998, Mayor Lee Brown's professional history in the public sector ranges from his first days as a police officer in California to the director of National Drug Control Policy during the Clinton Administration. Brown has earned a Ph.D. in criminology and a masters in sociology. He has taught at Texas Southern University and Rice University.

Q: What is the role of local government, and the mayor specifically, in promoting economic development in Houston?

A: The role of mayor is to maintain public safety, deliver basic services and work with the business community to improve our quality of life and economic standing - especially now in this time of uncertainty.

During my administration, crime is down. My clean air plan has been recognized as one of the most innovative and technically advanced plans in the country to reduce emission and clean our air.

Cuban-born Orlando Sanchez is a graduate of the University of Houston, where he received a degree in political science. He has served as managing director of the Hispanic marketing communications company Nexo Latino. He has also served as vice president of operations for Lowry Graphics. He has been an at-large council member since 1995.

We have balanced every …