I voted Parker in this poll, but I'm not sure yet who I'll vote for. I know Peter Brown and he was a supporter of my old theatre company. I also like his wife Anne quite a lot. She is a very sharp lady. But I don't know much about his time in City Council. I didn't know anything bout Locke before this race, but he seems like a good guy with a great resume. I'm especially impressed that he was Mickey Leland's chief of staff and Bob Lanier's city attorney. I've always liked Annise Parker. I think she's smart and capable and pragmatic. I don't know so much about her that I'm completely sold, but she's how I'm leaning. It doesn't hurt that she's a woman and she's gay. I think it would be wild to have a gay mayor in a town like Houston.
BTW, is there any doubt that all three candidates are Democrats? I know it's a non-partisan office and race, but when was the last time the contenders for an open seat were all Democrats? Maybe during those old Lanier and Greanias races?
Batman, of course we had Kathy Whitmire. I tend to think the city runs better with someone who can get along with the good ol boys. Otherwise they go nuts and block everything, though they don't have the votes like in the past to win the elections by themselves. Who is best at that? Previously they could not stand blacks or women. That is why I think Bob Lanier was a good mayor and Sylvester Turner would not have been good. I would tend to think I would prefer Brown, but I don't have a clue who I will support. The Mickey Leland thing does stand out for Locke. H town is now a democratic city!!
I was a big Mickey Leland fan Though he could have been a great mayor even gotten to where Barack his now . . . Rocket River . . still need to do more research
I remember an article in the Chronicle about Annise Parker in the late 80s. It was a big write-up about her being gay, etc and was before anyone had heard of her. Who would have thought 10 years later she would be elected to city council, then become Controller and be a candidate for mayor.
At one point on City Council it seemed she was the only one in any sense of a committed relationship with her partner. She was the only one who let her yes be yes and her no be no. While quite a few of them were in adulterous affairs with each other's partners. I'm on the board of a nonprofit that has joined a larger affiliation of nonprofits called Mission: Houston. We work through their Whole & Healthy Children initiative to reach out to kids who deal with issues of poverty, including fatherlessness. At the Mission: Houston banquet, Parker was the only city official who bothered to show up. I think she GENUINELY cares. At this point I'd vote for Parker...but I'm not so decided that I wouldn't listen to others. I will miss Bill White, regardless of who gets elected...the only politician I ever voted for who didn't let me down.
I'm 90% sure I'm voting for Annise. I got to meet and chat with her in Feb. and she just came off so cool and genuine, not to mention one of the smartest women I've ever gotten a chance to hear speak. That might be a weak reason to vote for someone (without having a solid grasp on all the issues)...which is why I left that 10%.
A guy who would have been a great mayor was Leonel Castillo. He had it made before destroying his career and leaving to head the INS for a couple of years. I have had a lot of contact with him over the years. A great guy.
Not sure yet...have not done any research on the race. Of course anyone looks good compared to good old Lee Brown...what a joke that idiot was. White did a good job, as did Lanier. Have to vote undecided right now
roy morales would run as a republican, but i think the rest would run on with a D beside their names. i think parker will probably win it, though my vote is going to locke. having said that, i don't think we can lose with any of the candidates. looking at wiki, i'm not sure who the other 2 candidates are. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_mayoral_election,_2009
I dont know much about any of them, seems like Parker is getting alot of recognition here. Ill lookm into all the candidates.
