Peter Brown Knocking On Doors For Parker

Peter Brown has a Thanksgiving message for his supporters and it boils down to this: Join me in voting for Annise Parker for Mayor. Note the paragraph where he talks about blockwalking for Annise this past weekend in Kingwood and in the East End. That's no joke - I was was blockwalking for Annise this past weekend, as well, and Peter Brown and a big team were definitely in both places. Brown is doing something that's rare for a defeated candidate  - he's throwing his efforts and resources 100% behind an opponent who defeated him. I know it resonated with the Peter Brown voters I talked to when I shared what all Brown is doing to help Parker get elected. 


Here is Brown's Thanksgiving email in full: 


Dear Friends and Supporters,

As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to thank all of you for supporting my vision for an even better Houston. Although we did not prevail, we worked hard and made a real difference. Now, after lengthy discussions with the two remaining candidates, I am wholeheartedly supporting Annise Parker as our next mayor. I urge you to do the same.

Annise Parker, I am convinced, will pursue the quality of life agenda important to us all. Just as she has done for the past 12 years as a Council Member and City Controller, Annise will continue to make government more efficient, to reduce crime, create jobs, and deal effectively with traffic, air quality, infrastructure and flooding. She knows how to get results at City Hall, and has the experience and the track-record we can count on.

This past weekend I block-walked for Annise in the East End and in Kingwood, talking to voters about the important issues facing our city. This experience, like many others, confirmed that Annise and I share a clear vision for our great city. Therefore, I hope that you will support Annise Parker, by going to her website where you can make a donation, or sign up to volunteer. As well, I urge you to email your friends to support Annise.

This is an important election – about a real commitment to a more prosperous, greener and livableHouston, with a commitment to open, transparent government. I am excited about working with her as our next mayor to make Houston an even better place to live, work and raise a family. Please consider working with us to make Houston even better.

Again, I am deeply grateful for your support. My wife Anne and I wish you and your family a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,


P.S. As I continue to serve the City, your ideas and guidance is always greatly appreciated. You can always reach me at Peter@PeterBrownforHouston.com. 

Schieffer's Prepared Remarks from Presser

Printed remarks passed out at press conference at the Capitol:

November 23, 2009

For Immediate Release

STATEMENT FROM TOM SCHIEFFER

Yesterday, my treasurer, Lyndon Olson, and I met in Houston with Mayor Bill White. I urged Mayor White to consider running for Governor instead of the United States Senate. I told him that I thought our state was facing a crisis of leadership and if we did not have a new governor, Texas would wind up being a third world state.

I also told him that I thought the Democratic Party offered the only chance for real change in Texas and we had to have a candidate that was thoughtful and serious and could draw from a broad range of support. I told him that I thought he could be that candidate and that I was prepared to withdraw form the race in order to make that happen.

So, I am announcing today that I will no longer be a candidate for Governor. I hope my actions will be a catalyst for others to reassess their intentions and to join me in supporting Mayor White for governor. We simply must get behind one candidate that can unite our party and offer a credible alternative to the Republicans next fall. I think Bill White is that candidate, and I hope others will join me in urging him to run.

Before I answer your question I want to thank the folks who went out on a limb to support my candidacy. So many of them have been my friend for thirty and forty years. To them it was always mroe about friendship than politics. But there are countless others that supported my candidacy and said they wanted to help because they thought I could take our state in a different direction. Old friends or new friends, I was deeply touched by your willingness to help, and I thank you.

Finally, I want to thank my family for pitching in. They have always been there for me. I wish that I could have saved them from the pain of this moment, but I love them and appreciate very much their sacrifice on my behalf.

Click here for my post on my live report from the press conference.

Report from Schieffer Press Conference at Capitol

I was at Tom Schieffer's press conference today at the Capitol  for his announcement that he's not running for Governor. He couldn't have been more clear that he is asking all of the other candidates for Governor to do the same - drop out and get behind Bill White. From my Twitter Feed (@museblogger) as the press conference was happening (read from bottom to top for the correct order):

1. Schieffer in good humor - funny in his remarks, but also serious about everyone uniting behind Bill White.9 minutes ago from iTweet
   
   
   
   
   
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   Schieffer: Funny remark - last week's candidate forum didn't remind him of the G8. Got big laughs. :) (was asked if last week's candidate forum for governor influenced his decision)10 minutes ago from iTweet
   
   
   
   
   
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   Schieffer: Has not talked to Gilbert, Kinky, Shami.11 minutes ago from iTweet
   
   
   
   
   
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   Schieffer: Urges Democratic Party to come together here - unite behind a single candidate and we will win.11 minutes ago from iTweet
   
   
   
   
   
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   Schieffer: Mayor White has great chance to be elected if he emphasizes Texas is a place for big hopes and big dreams.12 minutes ago from web
   
   
   
   
   
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   Schieffer: Statistics are against the Republicans. Dems are a party of change.14 minutes ago from iTweet
   
   
   
   
   
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   Schieffer: Where are R's vulnerable? Our state is not working. Last and first in all the wrong things. (Lists them)14 minutes ago from iTweet
   
   
   
   
   
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   Schieffer: I'm asking all people not named Bill White to not run for governor. (got a laugh)15 minutes ago from iTweet
   
   
   
   
   
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   Schieffer: Someone of Mayor's White's caliber can win. If Dem party does not offer someone of White's caliber, Dems will lose and lose badly15 minutes ago from iTweet
   
   
   
   
   
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    Schieffer: Absolutely believes a Dem can win - need a serious, thoughtful candidate.16 minutes ago from iTweet
    
    
    
    
    
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    Schieffer: Asked his office to set up meeting with Bill White Friday afternoon. Met with him yesterday (Sun). Met at White's home.17 minutes ago from iTweet
    
    
    
    
    
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    Schieffer said he knows people have a visceral hate for Bush and he's sorry they do. Said that was not a big obstacle. (when asked if he thought his support of Bush hurt him)17 minutes ago from iTweet
    
    
    
    
    
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    Schieffer: Will not run for anything ever again.18 minutes ago from iTweet
    
    
    
    
    
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    Schieffer: raising money was biggest obstacle-couldn't convince enough people he could win-could not get $, became self fulfilling prophecy18 minutes ago from iTweet
    
    
    
    
    
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    Schieffer admits he had trouble fundraising.19 minutes ago from iTweet
    
    
    
    
    
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    Schieffer: White can unite the Democratic Party to change direction of the State.20 minutes ago from iTweet
    
    
    
    
    
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    Schieffer said he made decision yesterday after talking to Mayor White that he would drop out of race. Urging others to unite behind White.
    
    
    
    

    From my Facebook update when presser started: Scheiffer says he met with Mayor White yesterday and said he urged him to run for Governor. Told him we had to have a candidate who was a thoughtful and serious person who could draw on a broad base of support. Schieffer is longer candidate for Governor. Hopes his action will be catalyst for others to reassess their position and unite with him behind Bill White for Governor.

    20 minutes ago from iTweet
    
    
    
    
    
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    In speaker's committee room at Capitol waiting for Schieffer's presser.38 minutes ago from Tweetie
    
    UPDATE: Here are Schieffer's prepared remarks that were passed out at the press conference.
    

Gary Polland Calls Locke Out On Hotze

You know it's bad when a prominent Houston Republican with a TV show says this to his viewers about mayoral candidate Gene Locke:

My question that I would like to ask Gene is . . . how bad to you want to win? Do you want to win so bad that you are going to get involved with people you would NEVER have gotten involved in?"

This was Gary Polland, Editor of Texas Conservative Review and co-host of Red, White and Blue, referring to a) Locke being a no-show on the Red White and Blue mayoral runoff show, and b) getting in bed with Hotze, Blakemore and the Houston Pastor Council. I mean, here's a conservative having to tell a Democrat  not to go chasing after crazy right wing support after you've courted all the Democratic and gay groups in town.

Locke has got to be embarrassed that this question of "are you desperate or what?" had to be asked by a Republican when it was Republican votes he was seeking when he asked for Hotze's endorsement. Polland speculates this is why Locke was a no-show - he was embarrassed to answer questions publicly about why he was asking gay organizations for their endorsement with one pincer, while asking for the rabidly anti-gay Hotze's endorsement with the other pincer.

Polland snapped Locke's Republican pincer right off. Here's the wrap up to Friday's Red, White and Blue:



Here's the whole show. I'll have more to say about this in another post. The intro, where it's made clear Locke was invited and had confirmed, but was a no-show is worth a quick watch:

More Proof We Were Lied To

What? Tort reform hasn't lowered the cost of health care in Texas? What??? I feel duped. Same feeling I got when I found out electricity deregulation did not result in the promised lower electricity bills. And I got that same bad feeling when I was told that insurance deregulation would decrease the cost of my homeowner's insurance, but found out we have with the highest rates in the country. This is really sad. Who lied to us?

Yeah, that was the Texas House Republicans running right over us from 2003 onward, and we like it so much we keep letting them have the majority in the House.

I'm looking forward to getting this Houston municipal runoff over with and move on to electing more Democrats to the State House - and defending those Democratic gains we've made the last cycle.

The Houston Chronicle Endorses Annise Parker in the Runoff

No dual endorsement this time! There is no link online yet, but I have a hard copy that I've turned into jpegs. Click on the images to make them larger:

Favorite parts - from my Twitter feed (@museblogger)!

Chron endorses @AnniseParker: "In her dozen years in municipal office, she has established a record as an effective fiscal conservative."

@HoustonChron endorses @AnniseParker: "Parker's background and experience offer a better fit for the mayor's office at this point in time."

@HoustonChron calls @AnniseParker "a visionary not just focused on how things are in Houston but how they should be in the coming decades."

In endorsement, @HoustonChron calls @AnniseParker "prudent fiscal manager" and someone "who can make hard decisions on spending priorities."

"The @HoustonChron believes one is clearly better equipped by experience for the job. She is three-term Houston Controller @Annise Parker."

The KHOU Mayoral Poll in Full

Just a couple of comments. I don't think I'm wrong about the validity of the "likely voter" modeling - basically, I'm not enthused. Other negatives: I don't think they got enough Democrats in the poll. Check out the answers about who these respondents voted for in Round 1. Doesn't seem to model Election Night results, mostly because they couldn't get everyone to respond.  Positives: Looks like they got the age range, gender and race/ethnic groups right.

Of interest is that they polled other races - Controller and the At-Larges.

Sorry for the formatting - these are jpegs, so click on them to get larger, more readable versions.

Locke Admits He Asked For Hotze's Endorsement

Miya Shay has the news:

He (Locke) said he asked Hotze before the November elections for his support, Hotze endorsed someone else, and they haven’t had contact since.

Uh. Oh. This admission came on the day Harris County Democratic Party Chair Gerry Birnberg issued the following:

CANDIDATES – ALL CANDIDATES – STAY CLEAR OF HOTZE

Steven Hotze is a hatemonger.

For nearly twenty five years he has stoked the flames of bigotry in this community like no other local politico. In the mid-1980’s he masterminded the repeal of the City of Houston non-discrimination ordinance which had been enacted by Mayor Kathy Whitmire and the Houston City Council. The following year, he fielded a group of right wing zealots to run for City Council on the “Straight Slate.” Their platform consisted of unadulterated gay-baiting epitomized by the reply of their mayoral candidate to a question of what could be done about the AIDS epidemic: “Shoot the queers.” Hotze would not repudiate that response, nor the mayoral candidate who uttered it. Fortunately, they all lost.

Hotze continues vehemently to espouse his brand of extreme intolerance. For example, he regularly insists that the death penalty is fitting for homosexual conduct. And in 2008, he insisted, without one iota of evidence, that gays and lesbians were devoted to “recruiting sexually confused adolescents into their lifestyle.”

Hotze’s bigotry and extremism are not confined to homophobia. His anti-women beliefs are evidenced by his strident insistence that “a wife may work outside the home only with her husband’s consent.” And in 2008, he was reportedly behind the financing of a blatantly racist piece of campaign literature which depicted Barack Obama, Harold Dutton, Congressmember Sheila Jackson-Lee, and the Anglo Democratic candidate state legislature in House District 144, and an ominous line of black crows on a dead tree, with the caption “birds of a feather flock together.” Maybe he wasn’t the person who arranged financing for that shameful piece as has been suggested, but the political consultant with whom he has worked for years was the author of the flyer.

And Hotze is virulently anti-Obama and ardently anti-Democrats. He intently opposes health care reform. And on November 12, 2009, he sent an e-mail across Texas in which he disclosed his commitment to defeating Democratic state legislative candidates in the 2010 elections, asking, “Will we continue down the road of socialism, universal health care, and the leadership of Obama / Pelosi / Reid? Or will conservatives finally stand united and declare ‘Enough!’ in the face of economic and moral starvation?”

Anyone who is as dedicated to destroying the Democratic Party and crushing its candidates and unyieldingly opposed to the anti-discrimination principles of the Democratic Party as is Steven Hotze cannot be embraced by Democrats.

It has been reported that before the November election, more than one Democrat still running for city office in the December 12 runoff sought the support of Hotze or one of the gay-baiting groups with which he is associated. The Houston Chronicle has recently called on all candidates to repudiate the hateful and divisive rhetoric of these folks. (Do The Right Thing – It’s time to disavow the politics of discrimination and bgotry. Click here to read.)

I do, too.

Hotze did not endorse the Democratic mayoral candidate who sought his endorsement before November. Instead, he threw his support to the Republican in the race, Roy Morales. And the Democratic mayoral candidate who solicited Hotze’s help before November has publicly condemned the “divisive rhetoric” and “style of campaigning” Hotze has always embraced. Good for him.

But all candidates – judicial, city council, and mayor – take heed: whether in the December 12 runoff election, the March, 2010 primary election, or the November, 2010 general election, accepting support from anyone who, like Steven Hotze and the right wing extremist groups with whom he is associated, spews homophobic rhetoric, racial hatred, and intolerance, who would subjugate women to the dictates of their husbands, and who is working tirelessly to destroy the Obama administration, block heath care reform, and defeat Democratic legislative candidates would be anathema to Democrats and contrary to the cherished ideals for which we stand.

Courting endorsement from such despicable individuals or groups – or failing unequivocally to repudiate and reject it should such support be unsolicitedly bestowed – would be reprehensible, condemnable, and utterly unacceptable to Democrats.

My Dad used to say, “You lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.” He was right.

Gerry Birnberg

Chair, Harris County Democratic Party

November 17, 2009

(Bolded emphasis mine.)

You know it's bad when Birnberg has to step in and point a finger at one of the mayoral candidates and send him to sit in the corner to write 100 times, "If black voters find out I asked that racist, Obama-hater Hotze for his endorsement, I might be in deep doo-doo."

Since Locke might be confused which political consultant Birnberg is referring to who created the racist mailer with the Anglo Democrat in HD 144 and the black elected officials with "birds of a feather flock together" and pictures of scary black crows (picture here), that would be Alan Blakemore whom Locke's campaign manager met with yesterday, to try and get Roy Morales' endorsement.

So, Locke throws black voters under the bus by courting the racist Blakemore just like he threw gays under the bus when he asked for Hotze's endorsement. Who's next under the bus?

KHOU Mayor's Race Poll: Still Searching For City Voters

Wheeee! KHOU recently called 500 registered voters who said, "What the heck, yes, I'll vote for mayor. I think I will, anyway. There's an election? Is Obama running against that rogue lady in the shorts?" They were asked who they would vote for in the December 12th mayoral runoff, and their responses were:

Peter Brown 24%
Annise Parker 16%
Gene Locke 14%
Roy Morales 5%

When told Brown wasn't running this go round, and neither was that measly 5-percenter Morales, 71% of the dejected, not-so-likely voters, voted for statistical tie. 29% admitted they had no idea what KHOU was asking about.

Unaffiliated political consultants Bob Stein, Keir Murray and Alan Blakemore offered this analysis:

Voters are clearly confused, as are we. We don't know why the numbers look as out of whack as that Oct. 27th KHOU poll that bloggers were so whiny about. Voters deserve to know why Annise Parker has the most predictive polling. It's unfortunate that it's impossible to find out who has ever voted in a city election before - or, dream on, a city runoff - because if we could, this poll could have actually meant something. As it is, voters are left wondering, "who will release a biker ad, so I know who to vote for?"

The crosstabs show Locke admitting he met with Hotze and Morales asking for their endorsement, and incurring the wrath of Gerry Birnberg and and all good Democrats.

(Wondering what I'm talking about and want to see a more serious look at the poll? Check out Kuff. Not that he takes the poll seriously, but he does do a real analysis of it.)

Locke and Parker Polls Both Show Parker Ahead

Annise Parker released the results of an internal poll today showing her ahead of Gene Locke 47-34 among likely runoff voters, with a high turnout scenario for African Americans. You can read the poll memo here. From that memo:

Methodology: Lake Research Partners designed and administered this survey, which was conducted by phone using professional interviewers. The survey was conducted among 600 registered voters in Houston with previous vote participation in municipal runoff elections and who are likely to vote this December. The survey was conducted November 11-15, 2009. The margin of error for the full sample is +/-3.5 percentage points.

Gene Locke released an internal poll to Bill King who sent out his own interpretations of it by email. Kuff blogged it here. Note that the Locke campaign did not release the results of the poll by press release, email or on his website. It also showed Parker in the lead, 43-39. All we know about the poll's methodology is from King's commentary - 4% MOE and a turnout scenario of 170,000  voters.

I woud take King's musings with a big giant salt pill. King made a lot of loud noises that he was going to run for mayor, and the rumor mill got cranked up very high that Locke kept him out by promising him a Metro board seat. That gets closer to being confirmed in this blog post by Miya Shay:

Similarly, almost-candidate Bill King is widely rumored to be eyeing the job as head of the Board at METRO.  King has never denied the rumor the few times I've asked him about it.

Remember, Gene Locke was the general counsel for Metro, and while Parker has been vociferous about cleaning house at Metro, Locke has been tepid about changes. Greg has blogged extensively about King's opinions on Metro (here's one example.) Let's just say Greg and Bill King disagree.

Bottom line: The polls agree - Annise is ahead. Voting by mail is going on right now. Early voting begins in 13 days on November 30th. There is a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time, for one of these candidates to go over 50%. Parker's poll memo has this statement: "only a substantially negative campaign from Locke can interrupt her momentum."

Locke: "I Will Be Very Visible In Advocating for Gay Rights"

I've got rock solid proof in my hands that mayoral candidate Gene Locke told a gay endorsing group what they wanted to hear in order to secure their endorsement, before he sought the endorsement of anti-gay social conservatives Steven Hotze, David Welch and the Houston Area Pastor Council.

Houston Young Stonewall Democrats, a group of progressives aged 14 to 40, who fight for GLBT civil rights and get out the vote for fair-minded Democrats, had a questionnaire and screening process earlier this year for consideration of their endorsement in the Houston municipal elections. I am looking at Gene Locke's completed HYSD questionnaire right now.

His answers are ardent in his support for equality for gays. He points out that as City Attorney (1995-1998), he wrote the policy that prohibited discrimination based on sexual preferences. He talks specifically about the need to ensure the City does not discriminate on the bases of sexual preference or gender identity.

There are two questions HYSD asks that take the candidate's temperature on how visible they will be as an officeholder in advocating for gay rights and how significant LGBT rights will be as an issue in their campaign, and Locke checked the boxes indicating the highest level of support. As a contrast, Annise Parker, checked boxes indicating a mid to low level of visibility and issue advocacy. Yes, I'm looking at her questionnaire as well, and she makes it clear - in bold print - that she is asking HYSD to endorse her only if they believe she is the most qualified candidate to be mayor of Houston in these tough economic times, and that she is not running to be the first lesbian mayor of Houston, but instead to focus on the priorities of the city as a whole.

Many other questions were asked by HYSD about LGBT issues, including laws protecting LGBT employees, the right to adopt children, same sex couple marriage benefits, and same sex couple rights for tax benefits, inheritance, death benefits and wrongful death claims. Locke answered yes to all of those questions.

So, when Locke sought out Hotze's endorsement, what did he know that endorsement would mean? He knew it would be the endorsement of a man who believes the death penalty is an appropriate punishment for homosexuality. When Locke appeared at the Houston Area Pastor Council gala, who was he consorting with? Pastors with an agenda and political plan to mobilize church goers to vote against Annise Parker because she is gay:

“The bottom line is that we didn't pick the battle, she did, when she made her agenda and sexual preference a central part of her campaign,” said Dave Welch, executive director of the Houston Area Pastor Council, numbering more than 200 senior pastors in the Greater Houston area. “National gay and lesbian activists see this as a historic opportunity. The reality is that's because they're promoting an agenda which we believe to be contrary to the concerns of the community and destructive to the family.”

Welch said he had “no doubt” there would be numerous independent advocacy efforts urging voters not to choose Parker, most of which would involve mail.

Locke knew that seeking these endorsements would mean those groups would work against the issues and members of the HGLT groups whose endorsements he sought previously. It's obvious Locke will talk out of both sides of his mouth for political gain. It's been four days since the Chronicle revealed he sought Hotze's endorsement, and we haven't heard a denial from Locke, or a promise he will repudiate an anti-gay smear campaign by Hotze or the Pastor Council that endorses Locke for mayor.

Come clean Gene: Do you stand with the gay community, or do you stand with those who believe gays are immoral and destructive? I know the gay community wants to know why you courted them, then slept with the enemy.

UPDATE: Sticking to the issue of gay rights, someone asked me how Annise answered the yes/no questions. She answered all of them the same way Gene answered them - all the "right" answers for someone who is pro-equality. Where she had narrative answers, she was clear her first priority would be leading all Houstonians through the tough economic times ahead. For Team Lockers who want to keep pounding the "Gene is gayer than Annise" meme, I say, go right ahead. It worked so well for Peter Brown to say, "I'm blacker than Locke," so hey, go for it. Plus, I think the social conservative voters need to hear that over and over again.

Texas Democratic Party Piles on Hotze

The TDP gets in on the act, slamming Steven Hotze for recruiting right wing candidates to run against Democratic Texas legislators by email. So, it's not just us here in Houston, appalled that mayoral candidate Gene Locke has sought Hotze's endorsement. We have Austin piling on Hotze. TDP's Ruben Hernandez reminds Democrats that Hotze is an extremist, only concerned with advancing the Republican's harshly partisan agenda. 


And, here is the little tidbit that someone needs to uncover about Locke seeking out Hotze's endorsement. Hernandez reminds us that Hotze's demands money for endorsements. Did money exchange hands between Locke and Hotze?


The TDP email is below. It includes a reminder that Hotze declared DWI laws are in place to enforce morality - then he was arrested for DWI. 

Dear fellow Democrat,

Following the election of 74 Democrats to serve in a more equally divided Texas House during the 2009 legislative session, Texans immediately saw the benefits of electing more mainstream, common sense Democrats to restore balance in Austin.  


Unfortunately, while our responsible Democratic legislators have demonstrated that they will work with anyone - Democrat, Republican or Independent - who is willing to put aside labels and solve problems, the extreme elements within the Republican Party are only concerned with advancing their harshly partisan agenda.


Last week, Dr. Steven Hotze, a self-styled "Christian conservative" from Houston with a history of questionable and improper activities, used a blast email to announce plans that his right-wing Republican group was working to recruit Republican extremists to run in 11 Texas House districts held by Democrats. In February 2000, Hotze's political action committee was fined $5,000 by the Texas Ethics Commission, which was the largest fine in the Commission's history at the time. Hotze has also been accused - by his own siblings and by other Republicans - of demanding contributions in return for endorsements, laundering political funds through his family's business and he was once arrested for DWI despite his sanctimonious claims that DWI laws were needed to enforce morality.


The House Democrats that Hotze wants to defeat have worked hard to do what real Texans do - tackle tough challenges head-on to make our great state even stronger. House Democrats put a roadblock in the path of Governor Perry’s Trans-Texas Corridor, restored CHIP coverage for hundreds of thousands of Texas children, and led the effort to end the freeze on school funding imposed by a 2006 Perry-Republican school finance plan that had forced hundreds of local school districts to consider property tax hikes, teacher layoffs and reduced academic offerings.


Texas Republicans are caught up in a civil war within their Party, struggling to maintain relevancy with everyday Texans while their candidates sing to the tune demanded by the fringe rhetoric of the radical elements that control the Texas GOP today. The Republicans know Democrats can win a Texas House majority in 2010, and people like Steven Hotze will stop at nothing to maintain a Republican majority that will march to the drumbeat he and his extremist allies demand.
We strongly encourage you to support your Democratic State Representatives as we enter the 2010 campaign season.

Your fellow Democrat,

Ruben Hernandez
Executive Director
Texas Democratic Party 

Come Clean Gene on Your Conflicts of Interest

Wow. I just barely scraped the surface on Locke's potential conflicts of interest when I blogged on cityethics.org's concerns that led them to question if he should even be running for mayor of Houston. The Parker campaign has more details and more questions about Locke's conflicts of interest. We'll tap our toes and wait on the answers to these questions, while we also wait on his answers as to why he was seeking the endorsement of virulently anti-gay groups.

Parker Calls on Locke to Come Clean on Conflicts of Interest

His firm billed millions to city and public agencies; A challenge to publicly answer list of questions

The Annise Parker campaign has called on Gene Locke to come clean on his conflicts of interest.

The Parker campaign today released information revealing that Gene Locke and his law firm have profited by over $17 million from his legal and political relationship with local taxing authorities in just the last six years – a situation that constitutes a serious conflict of interest.

“If elected, Gene Locke would have inescapable conflicts of interest,” said Parker.

Lawyer-lobbyist Locke has billed local government agencies like Metro at rates of up to $640 an hour. He billed $574,000 in fees to the Sports Authority alone in the last 30 months.

Locke is a partner in the politically-connected law firm of Andrews Kurth. The firm has made more than $17 million in the last six years alone from the City of Houston, Metro, the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority and the Port Authority of Houston, the same public agencies whose boards Locke would appoint members as Mayor – while his law firm, Andrews Kurth, continues to work for the City and each of those agencies.

The mayor of Houston appoints half the members of the Sports Authority, five of nine members of the Metro Board, and jointly appoints the Chairman of the Port Authority. Andrews Kurth represents all of those agencies. Andrews Kurth also does millions in legal work for the City of Houston.

Locke has not said whether his law firm would continue to seek business with the City and those agencies if he serves as mayor. Nor has he said what continuing financial ties he would retain with the firm, including payout and divestment plans.

The city’s ethics law specifically prohibits any city official from holding a financial interest, directly or indirectly, that would even “tend to create a conflict between the public trust held as an official of the city and the official’s private interests.”

“Voters have a right to know if their potential leaders can serve free from bias,” said Parker. “They deserve a mayor who does not have to choose between what’s good for his law firm and what’s good for Houston. It’s time for Mr. Locke to come clean about his conflicts.”

Locke has withdrawn as General Counsel to the Sports Authority, but that doesn’t solve the ethical problem of his past and continued connection to Andrews Kurth and clients they do business with.

Locke has refused to answer questions about his potential conflicts, responding only that he would make decisions “solely on what is best for Houstonians.” Parker said, “That’s not good enough.“

“Mr. Locke’s intertwined legal and lobbying relationships are so massive that he may literally be unable to serve effectively as mayor,” Parker added.

“Locke is in an ethical trap. He would either violate city ethics rules or serve under a constant cloud of suspicion because of the appearance of impropriety involving business with his former associates or render himself incapable of discharging his mayoral duties by recusing himself from votes critical to the future of our city. It is unethical for him not to recuse himself and it’s impossible for him to serve effectively if he has to recuse himself from all business involving Andrews Kurth, Metro, the Sports Authority and the Port Authority.”

Parker demanded that Locke answer the following questions:

1.  Will you release within one week your divestment and payout plan with Andrews Kurth? Will Andrews Kurth’s future income affect the size of your payout? Will you retain any interest in a pension or retirement plan or any other interest tied to the income of Andrews Kurth?

2.  Will you permanently resign from Andrews Kurth if elected mayor and enter into a legally-binding agreement never to have a financial interest or association with the firm or any relationship with the firm after you leave the office of mayor?

3.  Will you as mayor recuse yourself on all questions involving clients of Andrews Kurth, including all business with Metro, the Sports Authority and the Port Authority and bond transactions and other business done by Andrews Kurth for the City?

4.  Will you prohibit Andrews Kurth from representing the city and affiliated public agencies during your tenure as mayor, so as to avoid the inevitable appearance of impropriety involving any city business done with your partners and firm?

“Our city spends literally billions of dollars each year,” said Parker. “It cannot function in the best interest of taxpayers if a cloud of impropriety hangs over major financial decisions. The voters deserve an answer to these questions by Mr. Locke.”

###

Sources:

1)  Locke billed the Sports Authority $640 an hour (Texas Watchdog, 10/2/09)

2)  Fees paid to Andrews & Kurth (2003-2008):

By Metro: $11,952,105 (Metro public records)
By City of Houston: $4,939,313 (City of Houston public records)
By Sports Authority: $574,000 (Texas Watchdog, 10/2/09)

3)  Locke has refused to answer questions about his potential conflicts, responding only that he would make decisions “solely on what is best for Houstonians.” (Texas Watchdog, 10/2/09)

4)  City of Houston Code of Ordinances, Chapter 18, Section 18-3

Locke Step with Hotze on Homosexuality

Let's be clear about a couple of things. According to the Houston Chronicle:

Locke has also met with and sought the endorsement of Dr. Steven Hotze, a longtime local kingmaker in conservative politics and author of the Straight Slate in 1985, a coterie of eight City Council candidates he recruited who ran on an anti-gay platform.

Locke has not denied having this meeting or seeking Hotze's endorsement. Instead, he gave a weak, lawyerly, non-response.

Who is Hotze and what does he have to say about homosexuality? Straight (pun intended) from the Conservative Republicans of Texas website, of which he is the president, there is this "Hotze does box turtle" lecture:

Does it make sense to create a minority status for any group based upon its members' chosen sexual actions or lifestyle? Where do we stop affording minority status once it is based on sexual actions? Do we give adulterers a minority status? How about men who visit topless bars or prostitutes? What about pedophiles or those who perform bestiality? What about cross dressers? It seems absurd to think that any group of people should be elevated to a minority status based upon their participation in sexual activities. Yet this is what is being promoted under the term "sexual orientation," as in "no one shall be discriminated based upon their sexual orientation."

And, Hotze helpfully defines homosexuality as sodomy:

Homosexuality has been condemned by all societies since recorded times. Under English Common Law, homosexuality, defined by the act of sodomy, was a felony. It was a criminal offense in Texas until the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Texas Anti-Sodomy Law because it was restricted to men only.

And, for those who are motivated by fear and lies, Hotze makes things up:

Those who practice homosexuality, representing less than 5% of society, have worked for the past 30 years to change society's view of their activities. Homosexuals want to gain public approval for their actions and be recognized as a minority group. They want homosexuality taught to our children as an acceptable and even preferential lifestyle. This will make it easier for homosexuals to recruit sexually confused adolescents into their lifestyle.

And then there is Hotze's "end of the world as we know it" scenario:

If marriage is redefined, then the liberal courts will impose acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle upon the rest of us.

What does Gene Locke think about homosexuality? He sought the endorsement of the Houston Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Caucus. He wrote the City of Houston's first non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation when he was the City Attorney. As a member of his law firm's diversity committee, he spearheaded efforts to bring domestic partner benefits to his firm. In the KHOU mayoral debate, he said he would support a referendum to provide same-sex benefits to City of Houston employees.

Locke has a gay friendly agenda, yet he seeks out the endorsement of a known gay hating fear monger? Why? Because he wants so desperately to win the mayor's race, he'll do anything, including selling his soul? He's willing to tell the HGLBT community one thing, and the far right Christian conservative community just the opposite. I'd love to see a copy of the HGLBT screening questionnaire Locke filled out, signed and turned in when he sought their endorsement.

If he gets to be mayor of Houston, how is anyone supposed to trust what he is saying, knowing he'd do anything to get and retain power. How does any real Democrat would stand with Locke, knowing he sought to throw the gay community under the bus? And, I can't imagine why the Hotze followers would stand with him knowing he is on record supporting a same-sex benefits referendum.

To paraphrase Bush, fool me once shame on you. And, don't be fooled again by Locke.

Locke's Lawyerly Response

It probably took Gene Locke about two seconds to come up with his non-response to being caught with his pants down with Steven Hotze and the right wing ministers who are planning an organized anti-gay hate campaign in the mayoral race. After all, he makes $640/hour off the taxpayers, representing Metro, the Port, and the Sports Authority. I would expect for that kind of hourly rate, he is very skilled at giving the answer that satisfies the letter of the law, but doesn't go any further. And, that's what we got. Here's the timeline:

1. It was rumored he was sleeping with Hotze.

2. He got fourth place in most of the Republican precincts on Nov. 3rd.

3. Rumors surfaced again that he was sleeping with Hotze in order to be a part of a mailer (and possibly TV, robocalls and radio) that would attack his opponent for being gay. The anti-gay campaign would target conservative voters and would have a "family values" message. I heard rumors that Hotze would be spending $250,000 to $500,000 on this effort and that Locke wanted to be a part of it so that he could revive the pincer strategy, getting blacks and conservative whites to vote for him around the gay lifestyle issue.

4. The Houston Chronicle confirmed that he met with and sought the endorsement of Hotze, as well as appeared at the Pastors Council annual gala.

5. Having been caught actually in bed with hate mongers, the affirmative action law making, gay friendly, civil rights activist Locke had this to say:

As I have previously stated, I reject any association with the style of campaigning that was the subject of an article in the Houston Chronicle today. We have serious issues to deal with in our city that requires us to work together as one Houston and I trust that Houstonians will choose a new mayor based on the issues that effect our lives every day and not to be swayed by divisive rhetoric.

Does Locke confirm or deny he's going to be a part of the anti-gay campaign? No.

Does Locke specifically disavow the gay-hating rhetoric of Hotze and the Pastors Council? No.

Does Locke give a reason why he was meeting with Hotze and asking for his endorsement? No.

Does Locke assure voters if he ends up as part of the "family values" campaign, he will strongly condemn it? No.

Are we buying what Locke is selling with this lawyerly response? No.

As Kuff rightly notes, this is only one baby step above his spokesperson's namby-pamby response to the Chronicle:

Locke spokeswoman Kim Devlin said he has met with “thousands of people” and promised from the outset of his campaign to be “mayor for every Houstonian … no matter their political party or their ideology.”

When that laughable "Mayor for all Houstonians" lawyerly response didn't work, what was a lawyer to do, but throw out another one.

Locke's responses dodge the facts. The Chronicle has strongly condemned the rhetoric of hate. Kuff and John have more. Question is, does Locke have more? I'm waiting for some real answers.

UPDATE: Stace is waiting for answers, too:

Let’s get real.  Knowing Hotze’s anti-diversity record, what would make a former civil rights activist even think of meeting with him?  Even if the possibility existed that Hotze could provide Locke a victory, at what cost would it come?  And will Locke tell Hotze to cease and desist with “helping” his campaign?

These are questions Locke must answer beyond the usual “coalition-building” responses because we all know Hotze is only about uniting small minds against whole communities.