Orlando Sanchez (born 14 October 1957 in Havana, Cuba) is an American politician, elected three times as Treasurer of Harris County, Texas (2006),[1] 2010,[2] and 2014.

[5] A naturalized citizen, Sanchez has made political history as the first Latino immigrant to be elected to a citywide position in Houston, when he won the at-large seat on the city council, to which he was twice re-elected in consecutive terms, serving 1995–2001.

In 2001 and 2003 he ran for mayor of Houston, gaining an alliance with Republican Anglos and generating high voter turnout in the Hispanic community.

Former Harris County Judge Roy Hofheinz hired Sanchez's father, Orlando Sanchez-Diago,[7] as a broadcaster to be the "Spanish voice" of the Colt .45s baseball club, which subsequently was renamed the Houston Astros.

After his tour, he enlisted in the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group of the Texas Air National Guard at the then-named Ellington Field.

In 1997, Sanchez was the University of Houston Social Sciences' Outstanding Young Alum and in 2001 received the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Sanchez, who gained 40% of the vote, faced Brown, who had 43%, in a run-off; Chris Bell received 16% of the ballots cast.

[16] In the non-partisan election, Sanchez developed a coalition that included the Hispanic community, Asian business leaders, Republicans and independent voters.

[28] Three days before his tenure as Harris County Treasurer expired in December 2018, Sanchez held a press conference in the parking lot across from the Houston Independent School District administrative building in which he called for the Texas Education Agency to take control of HISD schools.

The press conference was preempted with strong criticism by a crowd of parents, teachers, and activists opposed to his position who chanted "Go away, TEA", "shame", and "You got voted out."