Crime, Not the Economy, Concerns City Voters Most

I was having a discussion last week with an out of town political consultant who said he was sure the economy was the number one concern of voters in the Houston November elections. That puzzled me because I know crime is the main thing I hear about from city voters - far and away the main thing, with quality of life stuff like the upkeep of their neighborhoods probably next, with traffic and flooding right up there, also. And, BARC is a biggie this go round. Turns out, I'm right. The 11 News/KUHF Houston Public Radio poll of likely city voters shows crime as the number one concern, with the economy a distant third. You gotta remember we are not talking about Houstonians in general, we are talking about registered voters who vote in City elections. These generally low turn out elections attract folks who are older, more educated, more wealthy, and are definitely more tuned into to neighborhood and city issues than the average citizen. What the consultant and I were talking about is how much the HPD and HFD endorsements mean to a mayoral candidate. The poll showed that 78 percent of likely voters approve of the job HPD does. We know the city is facing a shortfall - and has been facing one since the budget was "balanced" on dipping into $51 million of the reserves - so there is no money for extra police on the streets. Any mayoral candidate who is promising that (I'm seeing at least one plan where that is prominent) or hinting at that is being hopeful, rather than realistic. So, I'm curious how the mayoral candidates intend to address the voters' number one concern, in light of City budget shortfalls. What happens to the campaign promises of more police on the street, modernization and more cadet classes? While the economy may not be number one with voters, it's been clear to me for some time that what the City needs is someone who can guide it through rough financial waters. That's going to require leadership and experience, but maybe even more importantly, someone with the intellect and the temperament to stay on top of the realities and politics of a precarious budget situation.