Posts
Per the Houston Chronicle's blog.
September 04, 2009
Drumroll please...
Ballot positions for the city of Houston's 2009 municipal elections are as follows:
Mayor
Peter Brown
Amanda Ulman
Luis Ralph Ullrich, Jr.
Dan Cupp
Roy Morales
Annise Parker
Gene Locke
City Controller
M.J. Khan
Ronald Green
Pam Holm
Council Member, District A
Alex Wathen
Brenda Stardig
Jeff Downing
Lane Lewis
Darrell Joe Rodriguez
Bob Schoellkopf
Amy Peck
Council Member, District B
Roger F. Bowden
Jarvis Johnson
Council Member, District C
Anne Clutterbuck
Randy Locke
Council Member, District D
Otis Jordan
Larry McKinzie
Anthony Brent Donovan
Wanda Adams
Council Member, District E
Mike Sullivan
Wayne Garrison
Council Member, District F
Robert Kane
Mike Laster
Al Hoang
Peter Acquaro
Khalid Khan
Joe Chow
Lewis Cook
Council Member, District G
Richard Sedita
Dexter Handy
Oliver Pennington
George Foulard
Mills Worsham
Council Member, District H
Ed Gonzalez
Council Member, District I
James Rodriguez
Council Member, At Large Position 1
Don Cook
Herman Litt
Lonnie Allsbrooks
Stephen C. Costello
Karen Derr
Rick Rodriguez
Kenneth Perkins
J. Brad Batteau
Council Member, At Large Position 2
Sue Lovell
Andrew C. Burks, Jr.
Roslyn "Rozzy" Shorter
M. Griff Griffin
Council Member, At Large Position 3
Melissa Noriega
Council Member, At Large Position 4
C. O. "Brad" Bradford
Deborah Shafto
Noel Freeman
Curtis Garmon
Council Member, At Large Position 5
Carlos A. Obando
Jack Christie
Davetta Daniels
Jolanda "Jo" Jones
Two petition filings turned in on the Wednesday deadline--those of Don Cook in At Large 1 and Deborah Shafto in At Large 4--have yet to be fully verified, according to the City Secretary's office. And Alfred Molison, who filed to run in District C, has been disqualified for failing to get enough signatures on his petition.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
2009 City Elections
HOUSTON ELECTIONS
Firefighter critical of HFD jumps into council race
By BRADLEY OLSON Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
Sept. 2, 2009, 8:11PM
More than 60 candidates have filed to run in Houston municipal elections Nov. 3, including a few surprises that could portend a busy campaign season.
The attitude was electric outside Mayor Bill White's office Wednesday evening, where those seeking city office had to file by 5 p.m., as candidates and politicos gathered to see whether there would be any last-minute surprises.
Ultimately, there was only one big one: Otis Jordan, president of the Houston Black Firefighters Association, who has been a frequent critic of the Houston Fire Department's handling of allegations of racism and sexism among firefighters in recent months, filed to run against District D Councilwoman Wanda Adams, who also will face Larry McKinzie.
Like others who filed just before the deadline, Jordan's position on the ballot is not yet guaranteed while the city evaluates his eligibility as it has for every other candidate.
Making it official
Other than that, many of the filings were expected and merely made official the races that City Hall observers had come to expect.
“Now, we finally know who is running,” said At-Large 2 City Councilwoman Sue Lovell, who drew three opponents and was on hand Wednesday to see who filed. “Now's the time when voters in the city of Houston decide if they want to rehire those people who were elected before and hire some new people to fill those roles that will be opening up. We all get to go through the interview process again.”
The mayor's race shaped up largely as expected, with four major candidates including former City Attorney Gene Locke, City Controller Annise Parker, City Councilman Peter Brown and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Roy Morales. Three additional candidates also filed: Luis Ullrich Jr., Amanda Ulman and Charles Daniel Cupp.
Three council members will leave their seats to run for City Controller, including District D Councilwoman Pam Holm, District F Councilman M.J. Khan and At-Large 4 Councilman Ronald Green.
Just three sitting City Council members will be unopposed: At-Large 3 Councilwoman Melissa Noriega, District I Councilman James Rodriguez and District H Councilman Ed Gonzalez, who won a special election runoff in June for the seat vacated by Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia.
Council challengers
Six incumbents face opponents. Councilman Jarvis Johnson will run against Roger Bowden in District B; Phillip Wayne Garrison II filed against Councilman Mike Sullivan in District E; Lovell will face off against Andrew C. Burks, Jr., Michael Griffin and Roslyn “Rozzy” Shorter in the race for At-Large 2; At-Large 5 Councilwoman Jolanda Jones has drawn opponents Jack Christie, Davetta Daniels and Carlos Obando; and Alfred Molison and Randolph Locke filed to run against District C Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck, although neither officially are confirmed on the ballot because their eligibility has not been verified by the city.
The five open seats will be far more crowded. District A, which Councilwoman Toni Lawrence is leaving because of term limits, drew seven candidates: Jeff Downing, Darrell Rodriguez, Lane Lewis, Amy Peck, Bob Schoellkopf, Brenda Stardig and Alex Wathen.
District F, which Khan is leaving to run for the controller position, drew Peter Acquaro, Joe Chow, Lewis Cook, Al Hoang, Robert Kane, Khalid Khan and Mike Laster.
District G, which Holm will leave to run for controller, drew Dexter Handy, George Foulard, Oliver Pennginton, Richard Sedita and Mills Worsham.
Eight candidates filed to run for At-Large 1, which Brown is leaving to run for mayor, including Lonnie Allsbrooks, Brad Batteau, Stephen Costello, Donald Cook, Karen Derr, Herman Litt, Kenneth Perkins and Rick Rodriguez.
At-Large 4, the seat occupied by Green, drew four candidates: C. O. Bradford, Noel Freeman, Curtis Garmon and Deborah Shafto.
In the school district
In the Houston Independent School District, District 9 member Larry Marshall, will face challengers George Davis, Michael Williams and Adrian Collins.
Incumbents Greg Meyers, District 6, and Harvin Moore, District 7, are unopposed.
The two open seats have drawn a total of five candidates: Anna Eastman, Alma Lara and Linda Toyota will vie for District 1; and Michael Lunceford and Ray Reiner will face each other for District 5.
In the Houston Community College System board, only one seat is contested: District 3, where incumbent Diane Olmos Guzman will face a challenge from Mary Ann Perez.
In District 6, the only candidate to file was Sandra Meyers. The lone candidate for District 8 is Arturo Aguilar.
Reporters Ericka Mellon and Jeanne Kever contributed to this story.
bradley.olson@chron.com
Firefighter critical of HFD jumps into council race
By BRADLEY OLSON Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
Sept. 2, 2009, 8:11PM
More than 60 candidates have filed to run in Houston municipal elections Nov. 3, including a few surprises that could portend a busy campaign season.
The attitude was electric outside Mayor Bill White's office Wednesday evening, where those seeking city office had to file by 5 p.m., as candidates and politicos gathered to see whether there would be any last-minute surprises.
Ultimately, there was only one big one: Otis Jordan, president of the Houston Black Firefighters Association, who has been a frequent critic of the Houston Fire Department's handling of allegations of racism and sexism among firefighters in recent months, filed to run against District D Councilwoman Wanda Adams, who also will face Larry McKinzie.
Like others who filed just before the deadline, Jordan's position on the ballot is not yet guaranteed while the city evaluates his eligibility as it has for every other candidate.
Making it official
Other than that, many of the filings were expected and merely made official the races that City Hall observers had come to expect.
“Now, we finally know who is running,” said At-Large 2 City Councilwoman Sue Lovell, who drew three opponents and was on hand Wednesday to see who filed. “Now's the time when voters in the city of Houston decide if they want to rehire those people who were elected before and hire some new people to fill those roles that will be opening up. We all get to go through the interview process again.”
The mayor's race shaped up largely as expected, with four major candidates including former City Attorney Gene Locke, City Controller Annise Parker, City Councilman Peter Brown and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Roy Morales. Three additional candidates also filed: Luis Ullrich Jr., Amanda Ulman and Charles Daniel Cupp.
Three council members will leave their seats to run for City Controller, including District D Councilwoman Pam Holm, District F Councilman M.J. Khan and At-Large 4 Councilman Ronald Green.
Just three sitting City Council members will be unopposed: At-Large 3 Councilwoman Melissa Noriega, District I Councilman James Rodriguez and District H Councilman Ed Gonzalez, who won a special election runoff in June for the seat vacated by Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia.
Council challengers
Six incumbents face opponents. Councilman Jarvis Johnson will run against Roger Bowden in District B; Phillip Wayne Garrison II filed against Councilman Mike Sullivan in District E; Lovell will face off against Andrew C. Burks, Jr., Michael Griffin and Roslyn “Rozzy” Shorter in the race for At-Large 2; At-Large 5 Councilwoman Jolanda Jones has drawn opponents Jack Christie, Davetta Daniels and Carlos Obando; and Alfred Molison and Randolph Locke filed to run against District C Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck, although neither officially are confirmed on the ballot because their eligibility has not been verified by the city.
The five open seats will be far more crowded. District A, which Councilwoman Toni Lawrence is leaving because of term limits, drew seven candidates: Jeff Downing, Darrell Rodriguez, Lane Lewis, Amy Peck, Bob Schoellkopf, Brenda Stardig and Alex Wathen.
District F, which Khan is leaving to run for the controller position, drew Peter Acquaro, Joe Chow, Lewis Cook, Al Hoang, Robert Kane, Khalid Khan and Mike Laster.
District G, which Holm will leave to run for controller, drew Dexter Handy, George Foulard, Oliver Pennginton, Richard Sedita and Mills Worsham.
Eight candidates filed to run for At-Large 1, which Brown is leaving to run for mayor, including Lonnie Allsbrooks, Brad Batteau, Stephen Costello, Donald Cook, Karen Derr, Herman Litt, Kenneth Perkins and Rick Rodriguez.
At-Large 4, the seat occupied by Green, drew four candidates: C. O. Bradford, Noel Freeman, Curtis Garmon and Deborah Shafto.
In the school district
In the Houston Independent School District, District 9 member Larry Marshall, will face challengers George Davis, Michael Williams and Adrian Collins.
Incumbents Greg Meyers, District 6, and Harvin Moore, District 7, are unopposed.
The two open seats have drawn a total of five candidates: Anna Eastman, Alma Lara and Linda Toyota will vie for District 1; and Michael Lunceford and Ray Reiner will face each other for District 5.
In the Houston Community College System board, only one seat is contested: District 3, where incumbent Diane Olmos Guzman will face a challenge from Mary Ann Perez.
In District 6, the only candidate to file was Sandra Meyers. The lone candidate for District 8 is Arturo Aguilar.
Reporters Ericka Mellon and Jeanne Kever contributed to this story.
bradley.olson@chron.com
Friday, August 7, 2009
City wants to alter jail-screening deal with ICE -
By SUSAN CARROLL Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
Aug. 5, 2009, 9:34PM
The city of Houston is trying to persuade federal immigration officials to change a proposed jail screening agreement in order to allow jailers to target only suspected illegal immigrants with serious criminal records for deportation, the city attorney said.
Arturo Michel, the city attorney, said the city and Houston police are lobbying Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to modify the national template for the federal government's controversial 287(g) program, which trains local law enforcement to identify suspected illegal immigrants.
City and police officials have been negotiating changes to the program since last month, when ICE approved Houston's request to train its jailers through 287(g).
The city wants to write in specific instructions for HPD jailers to turn over to ICE only suspected illegal immigrants with “serious” records, such as state jail felonies or certain federal convictions.
Harris County Sheriff's jailers, who were trained through 287(g) last summer, refer to ICE all suspected illegal immigrants regardless of criminal history. All suspects booked into the county jail are fingerprinted and run through a massive Department of Homeland Security immigration database to see if they have an immigration record.
Police union critical
Michel said that because of “resource issues” and concerns about jailers without ICE training having access to the DHS database, the city wants to run fingerprint-based immigration checks only for certain suspects.
He said HPD jailers with 287(g) training would question only suspects with serious criminal records about their immigration status before deciding whether to check them through the DHS database.
City officials estimate the program will require training for 22 police officers and two supervisors in Houston's jails, and cost an estimated $1.5 million to $2 million a year to operate.
The proposed changes to the program have met with criticism from the Houston Police Union and immigrant advocates, who said they would weaken 287(g). Immigration advocates said they are concerned that the decision to question suspects before checking their immigration history will lead to racial profiling.
Mayor Bill White denied that the city would create a weaker version of the program implemented nationally. White said Wednesday that the city would target “noncitizens who have committed violent crimes, serious property crimes and serious narcotics crimes” to ensure they are deported after coming into the jails.
“That's pretty strong,” White added.
Louise Whiteford, president of the Houston-based Texans for Immigration Reform, disagreed.
“I think it'll weaken it,” Whiteford said. “I don't see why we can't be doing it the way they've done it in other states. It's been very successful.”
Gary Blankinship, president of the Houston Police Officers' Union and a supporter of 287(g), said he was concerned but not surprised by the city's proposed changes to the program.
Gary Blankinship, president of the Houston Police Officers' Union and a supporter of 287(g), said he was concerned but not surprised by the city's proposed changes to the program.
“It just appears the city has done everything it possibly can to avoid entering into this deal,” Blankinship said.
Homeland Security spokesman Matt Chandler said he could not discuss the Houston negotiations, but added that, in general, “ICE will work with 287(g) partners in order to ensure both parties are happy with the agreement. However, ICE's priority is focusing 287(g) on criminal aliens who pose a public safety threat.”
On July 10, ICE announced 11 new 287(g) partnerships, including one with Houston. That same day, ICE also announced all 66 participants in the program would need to sign new, standardized agreements that include more specific guidelines for enforcement and oversight.
While the program has its share of supporters, it has been criticized by some members of Congress and immigrant advocates as being vulnerable to racial profiling and lacking oversight by ICE.
Cautious optimism
Immigrant advocates said they were cautiously optimistic about the city's proposal to target suspects with more serious criminal histories.
“From the beginning, we have said that we are not advocating keeping violent criminals in the country,” said Cesar Espinosa, an immigrant advocate who has helped organize protests of the city's participation in 287(g). “If people have committed serious crimes, then they should be punished by the law. What we're afraid of is this leading to the detention of people who have committed minor offenses.”
But Espinosa said he was concerned about the proposal to only run certain suspects through the database, saying that “opens the door for a lot of violations,” including racial profiling.
White requested 287(g) training within days of the March 5 shooting of Houston Police officer Rick Salter, who was critically injured by an illegal immigrant with a criminal record. Salter is recovering.
Chronicle reporter Bradley Olson contributed to this story.
Aug. 5, 2009, 9:34PM
The city of Houston is trying to persuade federal immigration officials to change a proposed jail screening agreement in order to allow jailers to target only suspected illegal immigrants with serious criminal records for deportation, the city attorney said.
Arturo Michel, the city attorney, said the city and Houston police are lobbying Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to modify the national template for the federal government's controversial 287(g) program, which trains local law enforcement to identify suspected illegal immigrants.
City and police officials have been negotiating changes to the program since last month, when ICE approved Houston's request to train its jailers through 287(g).
The city wants to write in specific instructions for HPD jailers to turn over to ICE only suspected illegal immigrants with “serious” records, such as state jail felonies or certain federal convictions.
Harris County Sheriff's jailers, who were trained through 287(g) last summer, refer to ICE all suspected illegal immigrants regardless of criminal history. All suspects booked into the county jail are fingerprinted and run through a massive Department of Homeland Security immigration database to see if they have an immigration record.
Police union critical
Michel said that because of “resource issues” and concerns about jailers without ICE training having access to the DHS database, the city wants to run fingerprint-based immigration checks only for certain suspects.
He said HPD jailers with 287(g) training would question only suspects with serious criminal records about their immigration status before deciding whether to check them through the DHS database.
City officials estimate the program will require training for 22 police officers and two supervisors in Houston's jails, and cost an estimated $1.5 million to $2 million a year to operate.
The proposed changes to the program have met with criticism from the Houston Police Union and immigrant advocates, who said they would weaken 287(g). Immigration advocates said they are concerned that the decision to question suspects before checking their immigration history will lead to racial profiling.
Mayor Bill White denied that the city would create a weaker version of the program implemented nationally. White said Wednesday that the city would target “noncitizens who have committed violent crimes, serious property crimes and serious narcotics crimes” to ensure they are deported after coming into the jails.
“That's pretty strong,” White added.
Louise Whiteford, president of the Houston-based Texans for Immigration Reform, disagreed.
“I think it'll weaken it,” Whiteford said. “I don't see why we can't be doing it the way they've done it in other states. It's been very successful.”
Gary Blankinship, president of the Houston Police Officers' Union and a supporter of 287(g), said he was concerned but not surprised by the city's proposed changes to the program.
Gary Blankinship, president of the Houston Police Officers' Union and a supporter of 287(g), said he was concerned but not surprised by the city's proposed changes to the program.
“It just appears the city has done everything it possibly can to avoid entering into this deal,” Blankinship said.
Homeland Security spokesman Matt Chandler said he could not discuss the Houston negotiations, but added that, in general, “ICE will work with 287(g) partners in order to ensure both parties are happy with the agreement. However, ICE's priority is focusing 287(g) on criminal aliens who pose a public safety threat.”
On July 10, ICE announced 11 new 287(g) partnerships, including one with Houston. That same day, ICE also announced all 66 participants in the program would need to sign new, standardized agreements that include more specific guidelines for enforcement and oversight.
While the program has its share of supporters, it has been criticized by some members of Congress and immigrant advocates as being vulnerable to racial profiling and lacking oversight by ICE.
Cautious optimism
Immigrant advocates said they were cautiously optimistic about the city's proposal to target suspects with more serious criminal histories.
“From the beginning, we have said that we are not advocating keeping violent criminals in the country,” said Cesar Espinosa, an immigrant advocate who has helped organize protests of the city's participation in 287(g). “If people have committed serious crimes, then they should be punished by the law. What we're afraid of is this leading to the detention of people who have committed minor offenses.”
But Espinosa said he was concerned about the proposal to only run certain suspects through the database, saying that “opens the door for a lot of violations,” including racial profiling.
White requested 287(g) training within days of the March 5 shooting of Houston Police officer Rick Salter, who was critically injured by an illegal immigrant with a criminal record. Salter is recovering.
Chronicle reporter Bradley Olson contributed to this story.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Rick Rodriguez for City Council, At-Large Position 1
For Immediate Release: June 14, 2009
Media Inquires: Rick Rodriguez, 832.755.1212; rickrodriguez09@yahoo.com
Rick Rodriguez to launch campaign for Houston City Council At-Large, Position 1.
Richard “Rick” Rodriguez is a native Houstonian and a 23-year veteran of the Houston Police Department. He is a product of public schools, attending the Houston Independent School District's DeZavala Elementary, Edison Jr. High and Austin High School.
For 11 years, he was assigned to the Gulfton Police Storefront where he worked on the front lines in community-oriented policing. In addition to regularly riding bicycle patrol in this neighborhood, he served as the primary liaison officer to many businesses, civics, schools and church organizations. He is currently the president of the Houston Police Organization of Spanish Speaking Officers, a title held since 2007.
“I am running to be the next Council Member for At-Large Position 1 to continue my career in public service in a capacity that will allow me to directly serve all our communities. I look forward to crafting a detailed plan of action in partnership with the leaders of our city.”
He will formally launch his campaign for City Council At-Large, Position 1 on July 2, 2009 at Casa Grande Restaurant located at 3401 N. Main at 6:00 PM.
###
Media Inquires: Rick Rodriguez, 832.755.1212; rickrodriguez09@yahoo.com
Rick Rodriguez to launch campaign for Houston City Council At-Large, Position 1.
Richard “Rick” Rodriguez is a native Houstonian and a 23-year veteran of the Houston Police Department. He is a product of public schools, attending the Houston Independent School District's DeZavala Elementary, Edison Jr. High and Austin High School.
For 11 years, he was assigned to the Gulfton Police Storefront where he worked on the front lines in community-oriented policing. In addition to regularly riding bicycle patrol in this neighborhood, he served as the primary liaison officer to many businesses, civics, schools and church organizations. He is currently the president of the Houston Police Organization of Spanish Speaking Officers, a title held since 2007.
“I am running to be the next Council Member for At-Large Position 1 to continue my career in public service in a capacity that will allow me to directly serve all our communities. I look forward to crafting a detailed plan of action in partnership with the leaders of our city.”
He will formally launch his campaign for City Council At-Large, Position 1 on July 2, 2009 at Casa Grande Restaurant located at 3401 N. Main at 6:00 PM.
###
HPD officer wins runoff for District H council seat
As reported in the Chronicle.
By BRADLEY OLSON and MOISES MENDOZA Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
June 13, 2009, 9:31PM
Houston police officer Ed Gonzalez won the runoff special election to fill Houston City Council District H Saturday, defeating former high school teacher and City Council staffer Maverick Welsh.
Although the campaign was hard fought, with both candidates personally knocking on thousands of doors and calling registered voters repeatedly, Gonzalez ultimately prevailed by a wide margin.
With all 13 precincts reporting, Gonzalez earned 61 percent of the vote to Welsh’s 39 percent with 4,680 ballots cast. That actually exceeded the total number of ballots cast in the initial nine candidate special election May 9, a rarity in Houston runoffs.
“I feel just tremendous,” Gonzalez said Saturday night. “I feel very humbled at the fact that the voters of District H have spoken.”
Gonzalez will immediately fill the seat vacated by Sheriff Adrian Garcia, a close friend and former police colleague with whom he has worked on several previous political campaigns.
He said he plans to establish relationships with members of City Council and ensure that all constituent services and relationships with the community remain strong.
Welsh, who drew fire in the final weeks of the campaign for mail pieces sent in the district that said his opponent “was just politics as usual” and “we can’t trust him,” did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Gonzalez will face re-election again in November, a race politicos have said could be another hotly contested election depending on today’s results.
Voters fanned out Saturday across the district, which includes the Heights, much of the old Second Ward and a wide swath that extends midway between the inner and outer loops around Interstate 45.
“I voted because I’m a homeowner and I’m just really concerned with what goes on in our district,” said Noelle Kanady, 64, who cast a ballot for Gonzalez at Hogg Middle School.
One of her big concerns is crime. She voted for the 18-year police officer and homicide detective because “I weighed all the different campaign materials and he just sounded the best to me.”
Former school teacher Dave Roberts, 71, saw a kindred spirit in Welsh.
He voted for him with hopes of having someone to represent him, someone who will think like a teacher.
“We’re very neighborhood-minded and I think we need a strong voice in the city government,” he said.
By BRADLEY OLSON and MOISES MENDOZA Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
June 13, 2009, 9:31PM
Houston police officer Ed Gonzalez won the runoff special election to fill Houston City Council District H Saturday, defeating former high school teacher and City Council staffer Maverick Welsh.
Although the campaign was hard fought, with both candidates personally knocking on thousands of doors and calling registered voters repeatedly, Gonzalez ultimately prevailed by a wide margin.
With all 13 precincts reporting, Gonzalez earned 61 percent of the vote to Welsh’s 39 percent with 4,680 ballots cast. That actually exceeded the total number of ballots cast in the initial nine candidate special election May 9, a rarity in Houston runoffs.
“I feel just tremendous,” Gonzalez said Saturday night. “I feel very humbled at the fact that the voters of District H have spoken.”
Gonzalez will immediately fill the seat vacated by Sheriff Adrian Garcia, a close friend and former police colleague with whom he has worked on several previous political campaigns.
He said he plans to establish relationships with members of City Council and ensure that all constituent services and relationships with the community remain strong.
Welsh, who drew fire in the final weeks of the campaign for mail pieces sent in the district that said his opponent “was just politics as usual” and “we can’t trust him,” did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Gonzalez will face re-election again in November, a race politicos have said could be another hotly contested election depending on today’s results.
Voters fanned out Saturday across the district, which includes the Heights, much of the old Second Ward and a wide swath that extends midway between the inner and outer loops around Interstate 45.
“I voted because I’m a homeowner and I’m just really concerned with what goes on in our district,” said Noelle Kanady, 64, who cast a ballot for Gonzalez at Hogg Middle School.
One of her big concerns is crime. She voted for the 18-year police officer and homicide detective because “I weighed all the different campaign materials and he just sounded the best to me.”
Former school teacher Dave Roberts, 71, saw a kindred spirit in Welsh.
He voted for him with hopes of having someone to represent him, someone who will think like a teacher.
“We’re very neighborhood-minded and I think we need a strong voice in the city government,” he said.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Maverick’s bizarro attack on Ed
As reported in the Chronicle
By RICK CASEY Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
June 9, 2009, 8:14PM
In a frantic run-up to Saturday’s runoff for the District H City Council seat, Maverick Welsh has flooded voters’ mailboxes with slick mailings with the usual campaign promises, but also with a series of accusations against his opponent.
One mailing shows an African-American boy with the line: “I’m tired of not having clean water to drink.”
On the other side, Welsh promises to “fight illegal dumping” that “can cause unhealthy, unsafe drinking water.”
Then this: “Ed Gonzalez says he works for us, but why aren’t our streets cleaner?”
Another shows an Hispanic girl with the line: “I’m tired of feeling scared walking home from school.”
Welsh promises to “strengthen sexual predator laws and reduce local crime.”
Then this: “Ed Gonzalez talks about stopping crime but our kids and property are still not safe.”
A third shows a middle-aged Hispanic man with the line: “I’m tired of politicians who don’t listen.”
On the other side: “Ed Gonzalez says he works for us, but are our streets safer? Has the City cleaned up the trash that endangers our kids? What has he really done?”
A fourth mailer shows a gray-haired woman with a densely lined face. Her beef? “I’m tired of the same old politics as usual.”
On the other side we’re told in big, bold all-capital letters that “When Maverick Welsh says something will get done, it gets done.” But “Ed Gonzalez just says what we want to hear” and is “too busy making backroom deals.”
Not an incumbent
Each of the four mailers (as of Monday) contains a variation on the charge that Gonzalez is “part of the same old broken system that has consistently failed us.”
So what’s the rap on Gonzalez? Is he a long-time politician who’s been feathering his nest while ignoring the problems of his constituents? Is he a City Hall bureaucrat with political connections that mask his failure to perform?
Actually, for the past 18 years he’s been a Houston cop. He’s now a homicide sergeant and a member of the hostage negotiating team.
Given the demands of that job, it’s understandable that he hasn’t stopped illegal dumping throughout the city, or cleaned up the trash or made all our children safe from pedophiles.
“It almost makes me sound like the incumbent,” said Gonzalez with a laugh.
Meanwhile, with no apparent sense of irony, Welsh on his campaign Web site touts his own City Hall experience.
“As Chief of Staff (for Councilman Peter Brown), Maverick helped form Council Member Brown’s agenda and worked tirelessly for the people of the City,” the site says. “Maverick’s work helped lead to the creation of the Mayor’s Task Force for Electric Reliability.”
An impressive accomplishment, helping to lead to the naming of a task force.
Interestingly, Welsh hasn’t attacked Gonzalez on these matters in any of the campaign’s many public forums. It appeared to be a genteel contest between two good candidates.
Welsh said he did so because while knocking on doors he’s heard a lot of complaints about these issues.
Sling mud, get dirty
That’s a good argument for campaigning on the issues, but not for attacking one’s non-incumbent opponent for not having solved them.
Welsh said, rather lamely, that Gonzalez deserves the blame because he has described himself as a “volunteer district liaison” for former councilman and now Sheriff Adrian Garcia.
So is Garcia responsible for the problems?
“I’m not going to talk about him,” Welsh said.
The political reality is that candidates go negative only when they feel they must. Studies show that a portion of any mud that is slung stays on the slinger’s hands.
As a former high school government teacher, Welsh must know that, though he denies he is losing.
He should also know the wise words of the late Adlai Stevenson, who said the “hardest thing about any political campaign is how to win without proving that you are unworthy of winning.”
By RICK CASEY Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
June 9, 2009, 8:14PM
In a frantic run-up to Saturday’s runoff for the District H City Council seat, Maverick Welsh has flooded voters’ mailboxes with slick mailings with the usual campaign promises, but also with a series of accusations against his opponent.
One mailing shows an African-American boy with the line: “I’m tired of not having clean water to drink.”
On the other side, Welsh promises to “fight illegal dumping” that “can cause unhealthy, unsafe drinking water.”
Then this: “Ed Gonzalez says he works for us, but why aren’t our streets cleaner?”
Another shows an Hispanic girl with the line: “I’m tired of feeling scared walking home from school.”
Welsh promises to “strengthen sexual predator laws and reduce local crime.”
Then this: “Ed Gonzalez talks about stopping crime but our kids and property are still not safe.”
A third shows a middle-aged Hispanic man with the line: “I’m tired of politicians who don’t listen.”
On the other side: “Ed Gonzalez says he works for us, but are our streets safer? Has the City cleaned up the trash that endangers our kids? What has he really done?”
A fourth mailer shows a gray-haired woman with a densely lined face. Her beef? “I’m tired of the same old politics as usual.”
On the other side we’re told in big, bold all-capital letters that “When Maverick Welsh says something will get done, it gets done.” But “Ed Gonzalez just says what we want to hear” and is “too busy making backroom deals.”
Not an incumbent
Each of the four mailers (as of Monday) contains a variation on the charge that Gonzalez is “part of the same old broken system that has consistently failed us.”
So what’s the rap on Gonzalez? Is he a long-time politician who’s been feathering his nest while ignoring the problems of his constituents? Is he a City Hall bureaucrat with political connections that mask his failure to perform?
Actually, for the past 18 years he’s been a Houston cop. He’s now a homicide sergeant and a member of the hostage negotiating team.
Given the demands of that job, it’s understandable that he hasn’t stopped illegal dumping throughout the city, or cleaned up the trash or made all our children safe from pedophiles.
“It almost makes me sound like the incumbent,” said Gonzalez with a laugh.
Meanwhile, with no apparent sense of irony, Welsh on his campaign Web site touts his own City Hall experience.
“As Chief of Staff (for Councilman Peter Brown), Maverick helped form Council Member Brown’s agenda and worked tirelessly for the people of the City,” the site says. “Maverick’s work helped lead to the creation of the Mayor’s Task Force for Electric Reliability.”
An impressive accomplishment, helping to lead to the naming of a task force.
Interestingly, Welsh hasn’t attacked Gonzalez on these matters in any of the campaign’s many public forums. It appeared to be a genteel contest between two good candidates.
Welsh said he did so because while knocking on doors he’s heard a lot of complaints about these issues.
Sling mud, get dirty
That’s a good argument for campaigning on the issues, but not for attacking one’s non-incumbent opponent for not having solved them.
Welsh said, rather lamely, that Gonzalez deserves the blame because he has described himself as a “volunteer district liaison” for former councilman and now Sheriff Adrian Garcia.
So is Garcia responsible for the problems?
“I’m not going to talk about him,” Welsh said.
The political reality is that candidates go negative only when they feel they must. Studies show that a portion of any mud that is slung stays on the slinger’s hands.
As a former high school government teacher, Welsh must know that, though he denies he is losing.
He should also know the wise words of the late Adlai Stevenson, who said the “hardest thing about any political campaign is how to win without proving that you are unworthy of winning.”
A call for cuts, but additions, too
As reported in the Chronicle
By CAROLYN FEIBEL HOUSTON CHRONICLE
June 10, 2009, 9:27PM
Houston City Council pushed back in the budget process on Wednesday, offering 87 amendments to Mayor Bill White’s proposed $4 billion spending plan.
“This year was a tough year because of general economic conditions,” said Councilman M.J. Khan.
Still, council members offered even more amendments than last year, calling for additional spending for neighborhood inspections, after-school programs and demolition of abandoned buildings.
Yet some of the amendments reflected fiscal difficulties facing the city. Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck offered a series of policy amendments that would force the city to eliminate vacant positions, freeing up cash. She also called for a review of city-owned golf courses and the closure of under-performing courses, if necessary. Council members Khan and Peter Brown also asked for the city to focus on hiring practices.
White’s budget calls for the city to increase spending by one-half of 1 percent. The property tax rate would remain the same — the first time the mayor did not cut the rate since coming into office in 2004. Some of the spending in fiscal year 2010 would be funded by drawing down cash reserves by almost 25 percent. The council is expected to vote on the budget Wednesday.
This year’s priority
Last year, public safety spending was a big priority. This year, neighborhood protection was emphasized in amendments from seven council members. Several said dilapidated, abandoned buildings were not being torn down quickly enough. Members also said the legal department needed more help in cracking down on sexually oriented businesses, deed restriction violations and other local nuisances.
Councilwoman Pam Holm did not offer any amendments. “Our job is either to adopt or not adopt the presented budget,” said Holm, who is running for city controller in November.
“This amendment process is usually a fruitless effort and comes too late in the game,” she said. She said she had already spoken with White about her wish to reduce expenses.
Councilman Mike Sullivan, who represents the suburban areas of Kingwood and Clear Lake, offered 28 budget amendments. Last year he also submitted the most amendments: 15.
Sullivan’s amendments, if implemented, could cost millions of dollars. He asked for more firefighters, generators and drainage work, among other things — specifically targeting his requests to areas within his district.
White said that his policy was not to support “district specific” amendments.
Council members also had some competition this year from municipal employees.
The municipal union surveyed its membership and asked for grass-roots suggestions for cost cuts and revenue generation. One idea was to ramp up enforcement of the trash bin ordinance. Owners of large Dumpsters must pay the city $85 per year, and the union suggested that better tracking of unregistered trash bins could bring in up to $10 million.
White said some of the workers’ ideas had already been considered by the administration, but he called the survey an “excellent exercise.”
By CAROLYN FEIBEL HOUSTON CHRONICLE
June 10, 2009, 9:27PM
Houston City Council pushed back in the budget process on Wednesday, offering 87 amendments to Mayor Bill White’s proposed $4 billion spending plan.
“This year was a tough year because of general economic conditions,” said Councilman M.J. Khan.
Still, council members offered even more amendments than last year, calling for additional spending for neighborhood inspections, after-school programs and demolition of abandoned buildings.
Yet some of the amendments reflected fiscal difficulties facing the city. Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck offered a series of policy amendments that would force the city to eliminate vacant positions, freeing up cash. She also called for a review of city-owned golf courses and the closure of under-performing courses, if necessary. Council members Khan and Peter Brown also asked for the city to focus on hiring practices.
White’s budget calls for the city to increase spending by one-half of 1 percent. The property tax rate would remain the same — the first time the mayor did not cut the rate since coming into office in 2004. Some of the spending in fiscal year 2010 would be funded by drawing down cash reserves by almost 25 percent. The council is expected to vote on the budget Wednesday.
This year’s priority
Last year, public safety spending was a big priority. This year, neighborhood protection was emphasized in amendments from seven council members. Several said dilapidated, abandoned buildings were not being torn down quickly enough. Members also said the legal department needed more help in cracking down on sexually oriented businesses, deed restriction violations and other local nuisances.
Councilwoman Pam Holm did not offer any amendments. “Our job is either to adopt or not adopt the presented budget,” said Holm, who is running for city controller in November.
“This amendment process is usually a fruitless effort and comes too late in the game,” she said. She said she had already spoken with White about her wish to reduce expenses.
Councilman Mike Sullivan, who represents the suburban areas of Kingwood and Clear Lake, offered 28 budget amendments. Last year he also submitted the most amendments: 15.
Sullivan’s amendments, if implemented, could cost millions of dollars. He asked for more firefighters, generators and drainage work, among other things — specifically targeting his requests to areas within his district.
White said that his policy was not to support “district specific” amendments.
Council members also had some competition this year from municipal employees.
The municipal union surveyed its membership and asked for grass-roots suggestions for cost cuts and revenue generation. One idea was to ramp up enforcement of the trash bin ordinance. Owners of large Dumpsters must pay the city $85 per year, and the union suggested that better tracking of unregistered trash bins could bring in up to $10 million.
White said some of the workers’ ideas had already been considered by the administration, but he called the survey an “excellent exercise.”
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