Tag Archives: 2013 Houston elections

TLCQ 2013: Endorsements in City Council At Large Races

Though he’s drawn one challenger in perennial candidate Mike “Griff” Griffin, Council Member Stephen Costello is looking strong for reelection in At Large Position 1. Costello is a Republican, but his style of politics is far-removed from the grand-standing hyper-partisanship of Washington. As head of the Budget Committee, Costello has become an important ally to the Parker administration and helped to garner much consensus among his council colleagues (no government shutdown in H-Town). He has chosen to go after some of the city’s biggest issues, including the municipal pension fund, the continuing struggle with food deserts and Rebuild Houston. To the latter, Costello has been a leading voice for not only the passage of Rebuild Houston, but also worked hard to monitor its implementation and see that tax dollars are spent wisely. For all these reasons, Council Member Costello deserves a final term. The pick for At Large 1 is Stephen Costello.

Though only in his first term, At Large 2 Council Member Andrew C. Burks has already left a dramatic impression on Houston municipal politics. In many instances, he has been an important voice to issues that previously had little focus in government, especially those relating to the city’s minority communities. He has continued to remind council of the vast poverty and inequality we see in our underserved neighborhoods, and at times has even lodged political power to ensure that these issues are addressed. For Texas Leftist, fighting for Houston’s most vulnerable citizens is something to be admired. This is Burks at his best. But for all of these moments, Council Member Burks has also publicly berated constituents appearing at City Hall, openly threatened his opponents, and done other things that are counter to the mission of good governance. For all of these reasons, it is time for a change in At Large 2, and that change David W. Robinson. As an architect, President of the Super-Neighborhood Alliance and committed civic leader, Robinson will lend a wealth of experience to some of the next great challenges. He was an important leader of the passage of Chapter 42, and like Council Member Costello, I suspect Robinson would be just as committed to seeing the new density requirements implemented successfully. The pick for At Large 2 is David W. Robinson.

In At Large 3 Texas Leftist will not be issuing an endorsements a I am already supporting candidate Jenifer Rene Pool’s campaign as a volunteer. But I highly recommend that readers consult other endorsements in this race, all of which are conveniently compiled on Off the Kuff’s 2013 elections page.

At Large 4 Council Member C.O. Bradford is not without his dramatic moments, but on the whole he has done a good job of representing the views of a diverse constituency. For all of the vocal opposition he gives to the Parker Administration, ultimately Council Member Bradford works to find good compromise and keep the city moving forward. As a former Police Chief, his tireless advocacy for our public servants is a voice that needs to be heard in local government. The pick for At Large 4 is C.O. Bradford.

Eccentricity is a word that comes to mind with At Large 5 Council Member Jack Christie. As the Chronicle endorsement points out, Christie’s sensationalist remarks are still mostly rhetoric, and have not caused any genuine harm around the Council table. When it comes time to vote, Christie has shown much willingness to work with his colleagues and get the business of the city accomplished. Texas Leftist is grateful for that, but the whole purpose of having elections is to find the BEST persons for the job. Why can’t Houstonians have both a good role model on City Council and someone that espouses more sound judgments in his public views? It’s what we deserve. Amongst two strong opposing candidates, the standout in this race is James S. Horwitz. The Houston attorney has a strong record of community service, and Progressive views that would be a great asset to council. As the city continues to grow with bold new initiatives like Rebuild Houston, Chapter 42, rail line expansion and complete streets, Houstonians need stability within our municipal leadership. Unlike the Chronicle staff writers, Texas Leftist does not believe that Christie’s behavior should just be ignored. The pick for At Large 5 is James S. Horwitz.

TLCQ 2013: Ellen Cohen

In the Twelfth installment of the 2013 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Hon. Ellen Cohen, incumbent Houston City Council Member for District C. She is running for reelection.

Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but will be considered during the endorsement process.

TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?

EC: Ellen Cohen

TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?

EC: I previously represented HD 134, including Meyerland, Bellaire and the Rice U areas, in the State Legislature from 2007-2010. I’ve represented City Council District C, which overlaps with many areas in HD 134, since January 2012.

TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?

EC: Government is a place where everyone can come together to solve our communities’ problems. Everyone should have a voice and a seat at the table so we can make progress as a group instead of going it alone.

TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.

EC: Public Safety is always my first priority and to that end I’ve been working to come up with innovative solutions to deter crime. Currently, I’m working to install security cameras in Fourth Ward. Once this is complete, I intend to look at other areas which might benefit from this. Additionally, parking remains a major concern in District C communities. Now that the Washington Ave. Parking Benefit District is underway, I will begin conducting stakeholder meetings in other parts of the district so that we might come up with solutions to address unique concerns in those neighborhoods. Additionally, I want to pursue a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance in the next two years.

TL: With the exception of city government and some other select businesses, Houstonians can still be fired for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender because we do not have a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for general employment. This lags behind other Texas cities such as Dallas, Austin, and Ft. Worth. Do you support a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for the city of Houston? If not, please explain why. If so, please explain how you would work to pass such a measure.

EC: I absolutely support a comprehensive non-discrimination measure a consider it to be a major civil rights priority. Demonstrating community support and dispelling misconceptions will be critical in getting such a measure passed.

TL: There have been an alarming number of complaints filed against officers in the Houston Police Department, accused of unwarranted police brutality towards citizens. A disproportionate amount of this violence occurs in minority communities, and in the vast majority of these cases, officers have gone unpunished. As a result, these incidents cause a cycle of mistrust between Houstonians and the very officers sworn to protect them. What can you do to increase oversight of the Houston Police Department, and help ensure that these incidents do not continue?

EC: Police brutality must not be tolerated. Even one rouge officer is one too many. When such incidents come to light we must act swiftly and transparently in order to ensure the matter is handled appropriately. Education and training play a vital role in preventing these instances, and in-vehicle cameras are a critical part of transparency and citizen protection.

TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?

EC: Over the past six years I have proven myself as a problem-solver both in the State House and on Council. I believe that solving our communities’ problems is the first job of an elected official, and I feel up to the job for another four years.

TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?

EC: I like to work out, spend time with my family and socialize with my friends. I also love enjoying the many beautiful parks around our city.

Thanks to Ms. Cohen for her participation.