Gene Locke’s Final Message To Voters December 15, 2009

Dear Friend,
Thank you just doesn’t seem to be enough. In fact, words cannot express my appreciation for all you have given to support my campaign for Mayor. I am so blessed. I have had the best supporters any candidate could ever ask for.

For this past year, I have traveled the city and met so many wonderful people from so many different backgrounds, from hundreds and hundreds of different neighborhoods, from every corner of this city. You gave your time, your energy and your hearts to make our city a better place.

While we may have fallen short on our ultimate goal, we did accomplish what I think is really important. We set the standard for political campaigns by building a coalition of voters from many different environments and political affiliations for a common cause. We came together because of our love for this city. You embraced my vision for a better Houston for all of us, and for that I am forever grateful to you.

I am proud of the campaign we conducted and for what we contributed to the dialogue of our city. I congratulate Mayor-Elect Annise Parker and wish her well. We are all one community, all of us Houstonians, and now is the time for us to come together and move forward. I want to ask you, my supporters to continue to be involved in making our city better. I look forward to doing the same.

What a great city! After a year of campaigning, I love Houston even more. Thank you again for your exceptional support. God bless you and God bless Houston!

Aubrey, our family and I wish you and your family a peaceful and joyful holiday season.

Gene

Behind The Scenes Of The Final Mayoral Debate December 9, 2009

Three days before the runoff  election, KPRC Local 2 sponsored the final live debate between  Houston mayoral candidates Annise Parker and Gene Locke.

A small group of the  candidates supporters and families members filled the studio, as a panel of  journalists and a representative from the League of  Women Voters asked questions.

It was a great debate. Both candidates are solid, smart, experienced and knowledgable about the issues.

Once the attacks were over and the cameras stopped rolling it was nice to see Parker and Locke let down their guard,  and spend some time with the people whose love and support help strengthen them during the final grueling days of the campaign.

Parker’s daughter was at the debate, along with Gene Locke’s mother who offered a hug to everyone in the studio, including the Parker family.

Locke’s wife and sons also attended the debate,along with Gary Blankinship, president of  the Houston Police Officers Union, and the widows of  two officers who were slain in the line of duty. They are supporting Locke for Mayor.

Council Member James Rodriguez Endorses Locke For Mayor December 8, 2009

 Houston City Council Member James Rodriguez  has officially endorsed Gene Locke in the runoff race for Mayor of  Houston.

 This critical campaign endorsement  took place on the last day of early voting in front of  the  Houston Community College Southeast campus, which also serves as a polling location.

State Representative Carol Alvarado, State Rep. Doro Olivo, County Attorney Vince Ryan and Precinct 6 Constable Victor Trevino attended the announcement.

Rodriguez said he chose the location as a backdrop for the endorsement  because Locke’s name is  listed with others on the building cornerstone.

He was chairman of the HCC board at the time the campus was constructed.

Locke said he supported putting the building at the location to help serve the growing Hispanic community.

With such a close election,  the Locke campaign hopes the Rodriguez endorsement  will convince more Hispanic voters to support him over Controller Annise Parker.

Their turnout was light in the general election and in early voting for the  runoff,  but Hispanic voters could help decide whether Locke or Parker is  Houston’s next mayor. 

I truly believe in Gene Locke,” said Rodriguez, who represents  district I in Houston’s East End.  “We need projects like this (HCC campus and education initiatives) and we need someone who understands public safety.”

Locke said he was honored to receive the backing of the first term city council member and members of the Latino community.

“We will have to govern a city where the Latino presence is growing. That needs to be honored, respected and incorporated into daily decisions,” said Locke.

Parker’s City Hiring Practices Questioned December 2, 2009

Some  Tejano and African-American Houstonians are questioning Mayoral Candidate Annise Parker’s record of hiring in the city of  Houston controller’s office.

This is the first time this issue has been raised by  the minority community.

During the campaign most of the talk about  diversity  has focused on gay and lesbian issues, and whether mayoral candidate Gene Locke should repudiate the support of those who are waging a distasteful anti-Parker/homophobic campaign.  If   elected, Parker would make history by becoming the first openly gay mayor in the city of  Houston.

Take a look at the release and leave your thoughts:

ANNISE PARKER’S CONTROLLERS OFFICE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE HOUSTON 

Tejano Democrats and HBAD Criticize Parker Hiring Practices

Houston, TX—The Harris County Tejano Democrats (HCTD) and the Houston Black American Democrats (HBAD) today criticized mayoral candidate Annise Parker for her dismal record of hiring minorities in senior level positions in the Office of the City Controller.

A thorough review of the City of Houston Fiscal Year 2010 Budget found that of the ten top-level employees in the controller’s office, 70% are Anglo, while only 10% are Latino, 10% are Asian/Pacific Islander and 10% are African American.

The two organizations of community members also sounded the alarm at the startling discrepancies in salary between Anglo and minority employees in the controller’s office.

The FY 2010 budget found that while the average salary for Anglos in Parker’s office is $80,596, the average salaries for Asian/Pacific Islanders, African Americans and Latinos are respectively, $59,088, $54,086 and $53,980.

“It is unacceptable that in this day and age, a citywide elected official would employ such discriminatory hiring practices,” said Sandra Puente, HCTD Chair. “Annise Parker is not someone we can trust to lead our city. The leadership of her office does not reflect the great diversity of our city.”

Gene Locke, a partner at Andrews Kurth LLP, is the chair of the law firm’s Diversity Committee and received the Texas Diversity Council’s 2007 award for leadership and commitment to diversity. He has led the effort to increase inclusion at Andrews Kurth. Andrews Kurth is one of only two Texas-based law firms to be named one of the top 50 law firms for women in 2008 and 2009. In 2007 Andrews Kurth received an “A” grade for the sixth consecutive year for exceptional minority hiring and recruitment.

“Gene Locke has a stellar record of pro-actively providing opportunities to Houstonians regardless of their ethnicity,” said Gabrielle Hadnott. “This is the kind of leadership Houston needs and this is one of the reasons we have endorsed Gene Locke as the next mayor of our city.”

The Harris County Tejano Democrats endorsed Locke for Mayor in August and HBAD endorsed Locke in October.

The Battle Over Public Safety In The Race For Mayor Of Houston November 19, 2009

The Houston Police Officers Union has endorsed Gene Locke in the race for Mayor of  Houston, and today  HPOU held a news conference to talk about why police officers believe that Locke would do a better job on the issue of  public safety.

The news conference also featured Stephanie Abernethy, the  widow of  slain HPD officer  Tim Abernethy.

2 On the Beat is assigned to a different story, but I have posted the groups news release below.  We are also waiting on a statement from the Annise Parker for Mayor campaign.

HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS SAY THAT ANNISE PARKER HAS LOST THEIR SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE

 

Houston, TX–The Houston Police Officers’ Union (HPOU) today criticized mayoral candidate Annise Parker and reiterated their support of Gene Locke, saying that Locke is the one who will be tough on crime and has a real plan to make Houston’s neighborhoods safer.

Gary Blankinship, president of the 5,000-plus member Houston Police Officers’ Union stated, “Our organization screened all the candidates and found Gene Locke to be, without equivocation, the only candidate to make the commitment to increase officers on the streets of our city and in the investigative divisions so that HPD officers can do a better job of protecting the people of Houston.

“By comparison, Annise Parker supports status quo. Her ill-advised positions on public safety embrace the kind of soft-on-crime approach that poses a threat to our families and neighborhoods,” continued Blankinship. “Now is not the time to turn back the clock to the 1980s, when police academies were halted and crime began to skyrocket, and our officers battled not just criminals, but a staffing shortage and lack of support from City Hall.”

Although HPOU has endorsed Parker in her previous campaigns, she has on several occasions been on the opposite side of Houston Police.

As a member of the City Council, Parker voted against adding a permanent anti-gang task force in every HPD substation[i].

In addition, Parker has publicly stated that if elected mayor she will “take apart the police department”[ii] and that Houston police officers are merely “report-takers and ticket-writers….not crime-solvers.”[iii] The irony of her position is that if we follow her plan and do nothing, there won’t be enough officers to take the reports much less conduct follow-up investigations. 

Finally, during the endorsement screening process for the mayor’s race earlier this year, Parker made it clear that if elected mayor she would not work with HPD to put a halt to the current staffing shortage, thereby creating a dangerous public safety climate in Houston.  Ms. Parker erroneously believes HPD has adequate staffing and ignores the fact that by best accounts of the administration of HPD we are 1,400 officers understaffed.

HPD is a proud organization with men and women who are dedicated to laying down their lives for their community. Our department would take great exception to being taken apart rather than doing what Houstonians want, which is to make our department effectively expand so that we can do the job that the citizens of our city expect and need.

“Sitting idle and not expanding the department to meet our citizens’ needs to be safe is a recipe for disaster.  It is the equivalent of doing nothing,” said Blankinship.

Locke has repeatedly affirmed his support for increasing Houston’s police ranks through hiring of new cadets and adding experienced officers through lateral entry, which allows officers from other departments to bring their years of expertise to support public safety in Houston while reducing the city’s training burden. He has also advocated putting more police officers on the streets, equipping officers with advanced technology and placing more civilians in roles that do not require police officers’ extensive training and skills.

Parker Calls On Locke To “Come Clean Gene” November 19, 2009

After releasing her and her partner’s tax returns, and having them closely scrutinized by a  respected CPA, Houston Mayoral candidate Annise Parker has repeatedly called on Gene Locke to do the same.

The following is a copy of   the news release (with a clever image of  a  washing machine and bubbles) that the Parker campaign has been sending out daily, with the message “Come Clean Gene.”

Sources have told 2 On The Beat that Locke will release his tax returns in a few days, but until he does, the Parker campaign is going to keep turning up the heat on Locke: 

(The following Is A News Release) 

What Is Gene Locke Hiding? 

Two weeks after request, Locke still has not released tax returns 

Houston, TX – Today the Annise Parker for Mayor campaign pressed lawyer-lobbyist Gene Locke to release his personal tax returns and answer a series of unanswered questions dealing with his conflicts of interest.

“It’s been two weeks since Texas Watchdog asked the mayoral candidates to publicly release their tax returns. Annise Parker released hers last week. Where are Gene Locke’s?” said Adam Harris, Parker’s campaign manager.

Texas Watchdog is a news website that scrutinizes the actions of government agencies, bureaucracies and politicians in Texas.

“Mr. Locke’s web of dealings with Metro, the financially troubled Sports Authority and his own law firm that has billed more than $17 million to these agencies and the City of Houston raises serious questions of massive conflicts of interest,” Harris continued. “If Mr. Locke has nothing to hide, he should come clean and make his tax returns public just as Annise Parker has done.”

Lawyer-lobbyist Locke has also refused to answer a series of questions posed by Watchdog more than six weeks ago about his relationship with the Harris County – Houston Sports Authority. According to documents uncovered by Watchdog, Locke was still involved with the authority well after he claimed to have resigned when the campaign began.

And this week, instead of responding to a series of questions relating to his conflict of interest with his law firm, Locke went on the attack in a failed attempt to change the subject.

“It’s up to Gene Locke to come clean about his conflicts of interest and put these issues behind us once and for all by giving voters the answers they deserve,” said Harris.

Questions yet to be answered by lawyer-lobbyist Gene Locke:

1)    When will you answer Texas Watchdog’s questions about your relationship with the financially troubled Harris County – Houston Sports Authority? (Asked October 2)

2)    When will you publicly release your tax returns? (Asked November 4)

3)    Will you release within one week your divestment and payout plan with Andrews Kurth? Will Andrews Kurth’s future income affect the size of your payout? Will you retain any interest in a pension or retirement plan or any other interest tied to the income of Andrews Kurth? (Asked November 16)

4)    Will you permanently resign from Andrews Kurth if elected mayor and enter into a legally-binding agreement never to have a financial interest or association with the firm or any relationship with the firm after you leave the office of mayor? (Asked November 16)

5)    Will you as mayor recuse yourself on all questions involving clients of Andrews Kurth, including all business with Metro, the Sports Authority and the Port Authority and bond transactions and other business done by Andrews Kurth for the City? (Asked November 16)

6)    Will you prohibit Andrews Kurth from representing the city and affiliated public agencies during your tenure as mayor, so as to avoid the inevitable appearance of impropriety involving any city business done with your partners and firm? (Asked November 16)

 Read the release on www.AnniseParker.com . 

###

Houston Police Blast Annise Parker November 18, 2009

 

The Houston Police  Officers Union has endorsed Gene Locke for Mayor, and its members are working to help him win in the runoff. 

On Wednesday the  group released the statement below,  saying that Parker has lost the support of  police officers. 

HPOU President Gary Blankinship is scheduled to hold a news conference Thursday morning at the union’s headquarters. Locke is expected to attend along with  Stephanie Abernethy, the wife of  HPD Officer Tim Abernethy who was killed in the line of  duty in December 2008.

I am posting a news release sent to 2 On The Beat,  and after the press event  Thursday we’ll post reaction from the Parker campaign. 

HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS SAY THAT ANNISE PARKER HAS LOST THEIR SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE

 Houston, TX–The Houston Police Officers’ Union (HPOU) today criticized mayoral candidate Annise Parker and reiterated their support of Gene Locke, saying that Locke is the one who will be tough on crime and has a real plan to make Houston’s neighborhoods safer.

Gary Blankinship, president of the 5,000-plus member Houston Police Officers’ Union stated, “Our organization screened all the candidates and found Gene Locke to be, without equivocation, the only candidate to make the commitment to increase officers on the streets of our city and in the investigative divisions so that HPD officers can do a better job of protecting the people of Houston.

“By comparison, Annise Parker supports status quo. Her ill-advised positions on public safety embrace the kind of soft-on-crime approach that poses a threat to our families and neighborhoods,” continued Blankinship. “Now is not the time to turn back the clock to the 1980s, when police academies were halted and crime began to skyrocket, and our officers battled not just criminals, but a staffing shortage and lack of support from City Hall.”

Although HPOU has endorsed Parker in her previous campaigns, she has on several occasions been on the opposite side of Houston Police.

As a member of the City Council, Parker voted against adding a permanent anti-gang task force in every HPD substation[i].

In addition, Parker has publicly stated that if elected mayor she will “take apart the police department”[ii] and that Houston police officers are merely “report-takers and ticket-writers….not crime-solvers.”[iii] The irony of her position is that if we follow her plan and do nothing, there won’t be enough officers to take the reports much less conduct follow-up investigations. 

Finally, during the endorsement screening process for the mayor’s race earlier this year, Parker made it clear that if elected mayor she would not work with HPD to put a halt to the current staffing shortage, thereby creating a dangerous public safety climate in Houston.  Ms. Parker erroneously believes HPD has adequate staffing and ignores the fact that by best accounts of the administration of HPD we are 1,400 officers understaffed.

HPD is a proud organization with men and women who are dedicated to laying down their lives for their community. Our department would take great exception to being taken apart rather than doing what Houstonians want, which is to make our department effectively expand so that we can do the job that the citizens of our city expect and need.

“Sitting idle and not expanding the department to meet our citizens’ needs to be safe is a recipe for disaster.  It is the equivalent of doing nothing,” said Blankinship.

Locke has repeatedly affirmed his support for increasing Houston’s police ranks through hiring of new cadets and adding experienced officers through lateral entry, which allows officers from other departments to bring their years of expertise to support public safety in Houston while reducing the city’s training burden. He has also advocated putting more police officers on the streets, equipping officers with advanced technology and placing more civilians in roles that do not require police officers’ extensive training and skills.

 

– 30 –

---

[i] City Council Minutes, June 23, 1998

[ii] KPRC “Beyond the Headlines,” aired September 27, 2009

[iii] KROI 92.1 radio debate, September 26, 2009

PAID POLITICAL AD BY THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS’ UNION

POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

Will Conservative Voters Choose Houston’s Next Mayor? November 18, 2009

On Tuesday, Houston Mayoral candidates Gene Locke and Annise Parker made the first  joint appearance following the general election.

Parker and Locke answered  questions  in front of   the Pachyderm Club, a group of  conservative republican voters.

While city of  Houston races are officially nonpartisan,  republican voters could become swing voters in the runoff  election.

During the November 3rd general election, republicans voted overwhelmingly for conservative Roy Morales, who finished in fourth place.

Unless they plan to stay home on December 12, GOP voters will have to choose either Locke or Parker.

The crowd appeared receptive to listening to the candidates speak, and applauded when both Parker and Locke vowed not to raise property taxes if  elected. 

Locke told the crowd that he would focus on creating jobs, and making Houston safer by  keeping  public safety his number one priority.

Parker emphasized her experience as a city hall insider.   She’s served on council and as controller, and vowed to run a transparent  administration.

 This appearance comes days after the Parker campaign blasted Locke for meeting with conservative republican activist Steven Hotze, who according to press reports, is leading an anti-gay vote movement.

Parker, who is openly gay, is attempting to link Locke to this conservative crusade, but she did not bring up the issue  during the event.

Locke told reporters that he met with Hotze once prior to the general election, and Hotze did not endorse his campaign for Mayor.

Meanwhile, 2 on the Beat has learned that both campaigns have agreed to two televised debates, and negotiations are continuing for a third debate.

I’ll post the dates as soon as a debate is confirmed with KPRC Local 2.

Mayoral Candidate Gene Locke Denounces Anti-Gay Rhetoric November 14, 2009

Houston Mayoral Candidate Gene Locke is between a rock and a hard place as he faces  a competitive runoff race against Annise Parker, who would become the city’s first openly gay mayor if  elected on December 12.

In order to win, Locke has to build a strong coalition, while promising  to represent people  of all  backgrounds.

But,   some of the people Locke  has met with recently seem to  have their own political agenda, which includes turning out the vote AGAINST  Parker because of   her sexual orientation. 

Locke’s campaign released a statement today in response to a Houston Chronicle article that said  many conservative and religious leaders oppose Parker because  she is a lesbian.

STATEMENT BY GENE LOCKE
November 14, 2009

“As I have previously stated, I reject any association with the style of campaigning that was the subject of an article in the Houston Chronicle today. We have serious issues to deal with in our city that requires us to work together as one Houston and I trust that Houstonians will choose a new mayor based on the issues that effect our lives every day and not to be swayed by divisive rhetoric.”

###

Locke has never made any comment,  publicly  or off  the  record,  to this reporter  about  Parker’ s sexuality.

Meanwhile,  2 On The Beat has heard directly from many in  the gay and lesbian community that they view the election as  an opportunity to make history.

Parker’s side is passionate about the campaign, and her supporters will show up to vote in the runoff,  and she is getting political contributions as a result.

2 on The Beat believes that Locke is right to denounce these negative anti-gay attacks perpetrated by third-party political machines.

Locke and Parker need to focus on the issues that are most  important to the people of  Houston.

For  many people,  Parker’s sexuality is not on the top of  their list of  concerns.

Peter Brown Will Endorse Annise Parker November 10, 2009

Multiple sources have confirmed to 2 On The Beat that  Peter Brown, who finished in third place on election day, will endorse Annise Parker in the race for Mayor of  Houston.

Parker’s people are thrilled, but it was just last week that the campaign was airing a TV commercial telling voters that Brown couldn’t be trusted.  

But, that’s politics! Don’t take it personally, and don’t  believe the hype.

Now the question is, will Brown’s endorsement help Parker win the runoff?  He won more than 20% of the vote, so if  his supporters return to the polls and follow Brown’s lead, then Parker should be in a good position to beat Gene Locke.

I’ve heard that many of   the Black ministers who endorsed Brown will not endorse Parker because she is openly gay.

But, Parker could pick up a lot of  the conservative voters that Brown managed to win.

If you want to attend the big announcement, here is the information:

MEDIA ADVISORY: PETER BROWN ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENT IN MAYORAL RUNOFF 

Peter Brown will host a press conference, joined by family, friends and supporters, announcing his endorsement in the mayoral runoff.   

WHO: Houston City Council Member and former Candidate for Mayor Peter Brown
WHAT: Peter Brown makes an official endorsement in the mayoral runoff
WHEN: TODAY, November 10^th at 1:30 PM
WHERE: Steps of City Hall, 901 Bagby St., facing the reflection pool