KPRC Local 2 has been reporting on the allegations made by two female firefighters working out of HFD station #54.
The women claim they have been the target of racial and sexual harassment.
Houston mayoral candidate Gene Locke has issued a statement calling for a full investigation:
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From the www.tmz.com website.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-18th Congressional District) speaks at the memorial service for the late King of Pop Michael Jackson.
Houston’s very own congresswoman read a proclamation honoring Jackson and then presented it to the grieving family.
AFL-CIO COUNCIL ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENTS IN CITY ELECTIONS
The Harris County AFL-CIO Council has made it first endorsements in the City of Houston Mayor’s race and in some At-Large and Single Member Council Districts. In the Mayor’s race, the Council has made a triple endorsement for Peter Brown, Gene Locke and Annise Parker. In the At-Large Council races, the following incumbent candidates have been endorsed: Sue Lovell, Position 2, Melissa Noriega, Position 3 and Jolanda “Jo” Jones, Position 5. In the Single Member Council Districts the following have been endorsed: Jarvis Johnson, District B, Wanda Adams, District D and James Rodriguez, District I.
“The triple endorsement in the Mayor’s is very unusual,” stated Richard Shaw, Secretary-Treasurer. Our Unions liked what they heard from all three of the candidates and they were split among them. All of these candidates have been supportive of our issues and of working families for many years. When you have three friends in a race, you have to support your friends,” continued Shaw.
The triple endorsement will allow individual Unions to support the candidate of their choice through the November 3, 2009, election. If a run-off occurs, the endorsement process will be re-visited by the AFL-CIO Council.
“We are very proud to have had the opportunity to endorse our City Council Member incumbent friends,” continued Shaw. “They have all been outstanding in their support for issues important to our neighborhoods and to working families in Houston. You cannot find a harder-working group of elected officials who care so deeply for our City as these folks,” concluded Shaw.
Additional endorsement announcements for other City Council and in the City Controllers race will be forthcoming as the candidates are screened by the Council’s COPE Screening Committee following action taken by the Delegates from the Unions of the Harris County AFL-CIO Council.
The Harris County AFL-CIO Council represents 77 Unions in Harris County, Texas. The Council and its Unions engage in get out the vote activities among Union households for endorsed candidates through its Labor Neighbor Program.
Harris County AFL-CIO Council represents 77 Unions in Harris County, Texas. The Council and its Unions engage in get out the vote activities among Union households for endorsed candidates through its Labor Neighbor Program.
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People who follow Houston politics have been whispering about it about it for weeks: Mayoral candidate Gene Locke really needed to pump some new energy into his campaign staff.
It looks like Locke was listening to that advice, because on Wednesday he announced that he is shaking things up.
As a first time candidate for office, Locke is better served by an experienced team that knows how to run a successful campaign from day to day management and messaging.
Here’s the announcement from the campaign:
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2 on the Beat received the following news release from the Annise Parker for Mayor campaign.
It’s a big deal when you can get the endorsement of precinct chairs, the folks who work in the communities and neighborhoods to get people to the polls.
Community Leaders Endorse Annise Parker for Mayor of Houston
Houston, TX – Today, the Annise Parker for Mayor Campaign announced endorsements from 56 Houston precinct chairs. These local leaders have stepped forward to support Parker for her leadership and experience, long-time commitment to neighborhood and community development and ability to manage Houston’s economy during troubled economic times.
“It is critical that we have a mayor who understands city departments and finances as we work ourselves through the recession. Without question, Annise has the leadership skills, analytical ability and the right vision for the City of Houston. She is the kind of mayor we need for Houston,” said Sherrie Matula, Precinct 721 Chair and Senate District 11 Chair for Harris County.
“These endorsements are especially significant to me as they come from communities throughout Houston,” said Parker. “It will take all of us to keep our city moving forward in these tough times, and I am grateful to have the support of these local leaders.”
“Annise has represented all of Houston for nearly 12 years, first as council member at large and then as city controller. She is a forward-thinking leader with a proven track record. I appreciate her common-sense, common-ground approach to government and am confident that she is the candidate we need to move Houston forward,” stated Richard Cantú, Precinct 105 Judge (since 1996).
Protestors are expected to show up Saturday at a town hall meeting organized by U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee.
The Congresswoman and several artists will give their perspective on H.R. 848.
If you listen to certain radio stations, including those in Houston that are owned by Washington D.C. based Radio One, then you have heard all of the attacks on Congresswoman Jackson Lee and Represenative John Conyers (D-MIchigan).
Station owners claim that the elected leaders support of a plan to pay fees to artists could bankrupt their businesses and force them off the airwaves.
Houston Mayor Bill White celebrated turning fifty-five Tuesday night by cutting two birthday cakes, and collecting campaign donations for his anticipated race for the U.S. Senate.
Several elected officials and long time supporters of the Mayor attended the party, which was held at his new campaign office near the Galleria.
White is term limited at city hall, and has six months left in office. It’s clear he is spending a lot of time focusing on his future political aspirations.
In recent weeks, he has started juggling a hectic schedule: taking care of the city’s business, while travelling the state on nights and weekends, shaking hands and meeting people to lay the ground work for the election. During his speeches around the state White is focusing on his record of creating jobs and his experience dealing with natural disasters.
Speaking of the election, the date will be decided whenever U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison decides to step down. She has already announced plans to challenge Governor Rick Perry in the March 2010 GOP primary.
Sources say the Senator wants to stay in Washington long enough to have input on some proposed legislation.
Herb Butrum, White’s chief fundraiser, says he thinks the election will be held in May 2010. He didn’t say how much the Mayor raised at his birthday party, but White and his wife Andrea plan to match every dollar contributed to the campaign in June.
Goodwill Pierre, the former Democratic candidate for state district judge in Harris County, is about to have his day in court.
As 2 on the Beat has reported, Pierre challenged sitting Republican Judge Tad Halbach for the 333rd court seat in November.
Pierre lost the election by fewer than 300 votes.
He filed a lawsuit against the Harris County Tax Assessor Collectors office, claiming that provisional ballots were improperly rejected, and that other “various irregularities” make it impossible to know “who really won the election.”
A hearing is scheduled on this matter for Friday, June 19, at 10:00 am at the Harris County Civil Courthouse.
Here’s the release from Pierre’s supporters:
I know this is an important issue that needs to be resolved so that voters in Harris County have faith in the election system, but I think the reference to Juneteenth is a bit of a stretch.
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Governor Rick Perry, with his arm still in a sling after he injured himself while riding a mountain bike, was in San Antonio on Monday , to sign legislation strengthening the state’s eminent domain laws.
Looks like Perry found a kindred spirit in the crowd.
Little Devin also has a hurt arm and is sporting a not so fashionable sling.
Meanwhile, The Governor will be in Houston Tuesday to sign legislation designed to give a major tax break to the state’s forty-thousand small businesses.
Add one more name to the list of term limited city council members planning to run for City Controller. On Monday, District F councilman M.J. Khan made it official. 
He will be campaigning for the job against fellow councilman Ronald Green and Councilwomen Pam Holm, to become the city’s next fiscal watchdog.
In a letter to supporters officially announcing his candidacy, Khan said he is running to, “take my knowledge and message of responsible fiscal management to the next level.”
While the race for mayor will likely get most of the public attention, the office of controller is also important to the city’s economic future.
Check back with the 2 on the Beat blog, and I’ll let you know where you can see and hear the candidates for controller talking about their vision for Houston.
