White slams Perry on border security October 8, 2010

I’m working on another story today, but Channel 2 covered a news conference with former Houston Mayor Bill White and Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia.
I’ve posted details from the campaign below the photo.

(NEWS RELEASE)
Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia highlights success of Secure Communities, pioneered under White

HOUSTON — Bill White today, standing with Sheriff Adrian Garcia, slammed Rick Perry for breaking years of campaign promises to secure the border.

“Our problem in this state is not local law enforcement but Rick Perry’s ten years of failure to secure the border. Perry ought to quit playing politics with law enforcement, do his job and secure the border. Instead, to earn a headline, he creates a myth then fabricates a solution,” said Bill White.

“Instead of helping law enforcement, Rick Perry is attacking police, sheriffs and cities across this state. No city in this state is a sanctuary for criminal activity. Like a typical career politician, Rick Perry’s trying to grab power, centralize it in Austin and dictate to local law enforcement whether they should be responding to 911 calls and conducting criminal investigations,” White continued.

“Meanwhile, Rick Perry’s DPS has looser policies than the City of Houston. He should answer to Texans today for how many people his DPS has arrested and turned over to ICE as deportable felons,” said White. “You measure what’s important to you.”

“Perry needs to quit playing politics with public safety, do his job and secure the border. Local law enforcement needs support,” said Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia.

“Here in Houston, working with Bill White, we pioneered Secure Communities. About 60 percent of our jail population in Harris County comes from the work of the fine men and women of the Houston Police Department, and since the program started, we’ve identified more than 20,000 immigrants in the county jail system who are eligible for deportation,” said Garcia.

Sheriffs protecting 98 percent of Texans in border communities have endorsed Bill White.

Yesterday White received the endorsements of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Bexar County and the Fort Worth Police Officers Association.

As Houston’s mayor, Bill White helped cut crime rates to the lowest levels in decades. White increased the Houston Police Department’s budget $192 million, or 41 percent, and added 27 new police cadet classes with over 1,415 new police officers.

Bill White announces 6-point border security plan September 2, 2010

Both candidates for Texas Governor are stumping in the Houston area today. 

I’m on another assignment, but I’ll keep you posted on the plans being touted by Gov. Rick Perry and former Houston Mayor Bill White.

So far I’ve received White’s message.  He’s pledging to “fund boots on the ground and work effectively with federal and local leaders to secure the border.”

The entire news release is posted:
HOUSTON — Today Bill White announced his 6-point border security plan, laying the groundwork for how he will effectively to secure the border and stop gangs, drug traffickers and human traffickers.

“For almost 10 years we’ve seen empty promises and election year rhetoric from Rick Perry. Perry has failed,” said White. “Texans don’t need any more Perry photo ops and press releases. I will take action, fight hard and effectively for federal resources and work with leaders and law enforcement along the border.”

White will:

• Fund an additional 1000 local law enforcement positions and 250 state troopers using federal grants, state appropriations and additional drug forfeiture dollars.  
• Obtain all available federal funding to support border security and direct sufficient discretionary funding to border security efforts.
• Use state appropriations more effectively.  
• Establish a formal partnership with local and federal law enforcement agencies and other leaders along the border to promote public safety.
• Revamp the Department of Public Safety to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
• Assist local law enforcement agencies in adopting Secure Communities, a program that ensures that criminals in the U.S. illegally are identified and turned over to federal authorities.

For plan details please visit: http://www.billwhitefortexas.com/bordersecurity.

White will appear in Houston, Austin and Hidalgo today: http://www.billwhitefortexas.com/blog/001472.php.

Leaders joining him in Houston and Austin include Hidalgo Mayor John David Franz and El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles.

Additional leaders joining White in Hidalgo include Senator Eddie Lucio Jr., Representative Eddie Lucio III, Representative Aaron Peña, Cameron County Commissioners Sofia Benavides and John Wood, Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio, Hidalgo Police Chief Vernon Rosser and Palmview Police Chief Robert Barrera.

White has been endorsed by sheriffs responsible for protecting 98 percent of Texans living in counties along the border.

###

Is New Poll Bad News For Bill White? February 3, 2010

 Rasmussen has released a new poll showing that Democrat and former Mayor Bill White trails all of his likely Republican opponents in the November general election.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/texas/election_2010_texas_governor

I’m not qualified to read the polling data and question the results, but I’m not sure this is really bad news for White and his supporters.

Remember that  White just launched his first statewide TV ad this week,so some voters and television viewers are getting their first look at his campaign.  (His campaign also reminded me that White has also never run statewide, and according to last reporting period, White outraised Governor Rick Perry and has spent less money.)

Second, White and Houston hair care executive Farouk Shami will debate for the first time on Monday. That gives the former Houston Mayor the opportunity to introduce himself to a wider audience and discuss his proposed policies.

Lastly,  the numbers are likely going to change once the GOP picks a primary winner and voters can compare White head to head with either Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Governor Rick Perry or Debra Medina.

Get Ready – Bill White and Farouk Shami Will Debate January 28, 2010

I’ll be honest.  I’m a little concerned that this debate will be painful to watch.

Still, I’m thrilled that  Texans who plan to vote  in the 2010 March Democratic party primary will have an opportunity to watch former Houston Mayor Bill White and Hair Care Businessman Farouk Shami debate before the election

.

On the Republican side, Governor Rick Perry, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and party activist Debra Medina have agreed to take part in two debates.

The debate between the two democratic gubernatorial candidates is scheduled to take place on Monday, February 8, 2010 in Dallas.

Below is a statement released by Shami’s campaign:

HOUSTON-

“Our campaign is very pleased to be offered the opportunity to reach so many voters through this debate”, said Campaign Director Vince Leibowitz. “We applaud our opponent for agreeing to give Texas democrats an opportunity to see the front runners for our party’s nomination in a head-to-head debate.”
 
Shami’s campaign previously challenged democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White to accept debate invitation proffered by numerous democratic clubs and organizations within Texas.  “We believe when Texas democrats are given the opportunity to hear Farouk Shami’s message of new ideas, new jobs and a new hope for Texas they will make the decision to go with the candidate that will breathe new life into our party as opposed to the candidate of the establishment”, Leibowitz said.

Mr. Shami also looks forward to letting voters see the difference between politics as usual and his fresh perspective from someone that isn’t a career politician. Mr. Shami looks forward to the opportunity to face Bill White in front of the moderators, the voters and all Texans.

“I am not a polished and packaged career politician with a cookie cutter campaign. I am a candidate for the people, not the special interests or the quid pro quo politics that disillusion voters,” Shami said.