Ch. 13 Controller Debate Recap

I watched the Controller debate on Ch. 13 this morning with Miya Shay. Since Twitter is down, I live posted it on Facebook and thought I'd repost it here for those of you who missed itl. Miya took just 15 minutes to ask very good questions, many of which were very pointed! I didn't get the whole thing down word for word, and there may be spelling or grammar errors since I was typing fast, so please leave questions in the comments, if I've caused any confusion. I've tried to indicate who was speaking, and anything which is my commentary is in parentheses.

Martha Griffin

Ron Green: We need to renegotiate long term contracts. Find efficiencies in city departments

16 minutes ago · Delete

Martha Griffin

Holm: makes it clear the controller is the watchdog over the city finances, not the decision maker (that would be City Council). Need to give good information to the decision makers.

15 minutes ago · Delete

Erik Vidor

we are such nerds.

13 minutes ago · Delete

Martha Griffin

Khan: My approach is to find solutions. Says he has expertise in budgeting. Said he proposed zero based budget years ago and that it has already saved city millions. (Wait: Locke is proposing zero based budget as if that is new. I'm confused. Do we already do that?) Miya asks what his expertise is: I graduated from Rice and owned my own business.

13 minutes ago · Delete

Martha Griffin

Green: being a lawyer is good expertise for job, as controller is the last signatory on city contracts. Also, he's been to DC to find money for the city (Note: many councilmembers have done that).

12 minutes ago · Delete

Martha Griffin

Shay: Asks if Holm knows enough about managing big numbers. She says her experience leading a non-profit (Scenic Houston) had her managing a bit budget and reporting to a board of directors. She mentions zero based budgeting again (are we doing it already - as Khan says - or not?)

8 minutes ago · Delete

Larissa Lindsay

did Pam Holm say she was THE decision maker for a 4 billion dollar budget or A decision maker?

7 minutes ago · Delete

Martha Griffin

Khan: claims he's authored budget amendments that have saved city millions of dollars (note: haven't all city councilmembers done that?). He makes a good point - improving the budget through amendments, so voting up and down on the budget is not what should be looked at.

6 minutes ago · Delete

Martha Griffin

Shay: Asks Green how he can be expected to manage large sums of money when his campaign has raised so little money. Green says look who is the being attacked by opponents - frontrunner Ron Green

5 minutes ago · Delete

Martha Griffin

Shay: Khan, do you live in the city or not? (His lives with his family in Piney Point which is not the City of Houston). Khan: Doesn't matter where my family lives, according to the state legislature, my official residence can be where my voter registration is and where my homestead exemption is. I welcome anyone to take this to court.

4 minutes ago · Delete

Martha Griffin

Well, that was quick - 15 minutes. Over! But, great questions, Miya!! She asked the right ones, so no need to drag this out.

3 minutes ago · Delete

Martha Griffin

Larissa, I'm not sure. She had OK answers and seems to be knowledgeable, but that answer about being a decision maker on a 4 billion dollar budget applies to all three candidates.

2 minutes ago · Delete