Texas Ethics Commission Says Locke Has Been A Registered Lobbyist

In last night's ABC13 debate, when asked who Locke has been a lawyer-lobbyist for in the past, Locke answered:

"I am not a lobbyist; I have never been a lobbyist."

When pressed by Parker in her rebuttal that indeed he has been considered a lobbyist, Locke lectures her with these remarks:

"Lawyers represent their clients . . . being a lawyer means you have to go to law school, get license. Being a lobbyist means you have to go and register. There is a big difference  betweent the two. I hope Ms. Parker recognizes that."

Well, Locke's memory may be so poor that he doesn't know he's ever been a registered lobbyist, but the Texas Ethics Commission has him in their records as a registered lobbyist in 1999 (do a search on "Locke" in this document).

The Houston Chronicle reported that Locke was a lobbyist for Andrews Kurth in front of City Council in 2003, representing the Hudson Group on an airport concessions deal (sorry, I don't have a link to the article - I was sent an email version of a hard copy):

The Hudson Group includes businessman and concessionaire Gerald Wilson; entrepreneur Art Lopez, who also operates golf courses for the city; engineer Bobby Singh; and Brooks & Brooks, a company co-owned by Harlan Brooks of Harlan's Bar-B-Que. Lobbying on their behalf are Andrews Kurth attorney Gene Locke.

Again, during this campaign season, the Chron referred to Locke as a lobbyist:

After graduating from law school in 1981, Locke worked as a chief of staff to the late U.S. Rep. Mickey Leland in Washington, owned and operated a successful law practice, worked nights as a part-time municipal judge, was appointed city attorney in 1995 by former Mayor Bob Lanier and transitioned in the past decade to uber-lawyer and lobbyist specializing in governmental issues.

Locke's law firm, Andrews Kurth, certainly considers their lawyers who represent private clients in front of regulatory bodies to be lobbyists. It says so on their website.

Somebody needs to give Locke the lecture my mom used to give me about how you'll be in a lot less trouble if you tell the truth right now.

Here's the video clip from the ABC13 debate about Locke's lobbying problem and the ethical dilemma it puts him in:




An amusing moment was when Locke says he will resign from his attorney practice if he becomes mayor, then goes on to say, "I will not try to be a lawyer and mayor at the same time," as if whoo-hoo, look at me being magnanimous!

Parker explains to him that, "One is required to give up outside employment if one becomes the Mayor of Houston."

UPDATE: Richard Connelly has more on Lobbyist Locke, and asks what else Locke has been saying that is not true.