[3][4] She was re-elected at the 2014 local elections, this time for the successor Lisnasharragh District in Belfast.
[5][6] In January 2018, Howard was made High Sheriff of Belfast, making her the first Alliance representative to hold the office since 2000.
She said: "It is a great honour to have been elected to the post of High Sheriff, and I pledge to serve the people of Belfast, and to support the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor in carrying out my duties to the best of my ability.
[9][10] In December 2021, Howard joined the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), by asserting that she has pro-Union views and "feel that I can now openly and comfortably express them to help promote a confident, progressive brand of unionism."
[13] She unsuccessfully contested the Ormiston District at the 2023 local elections, being the last candidate eliminated, with 847 first-preference votes.