| Houston Mayor and potential U.S. Senate Candidate Bill White has made a practice to stay pretty neutral in city elections throughout his tenure at City Hall. During the build up to tomorrow's elections, his voice was barely heard at all. He was too busy running the city and running for Kay Bailey Hutchison's office.
But in the past week, as the campaigns finally took a negative turn, he's spoken a couple times in regards to some new political attacks. It seems he wants to clearly communicate to the candidates: Campaign to the finish line with maximum integrity, or I might call you out.
First, Bill White raised his voice after Peter Brown accused Annise Parker of missing some deadlines as Controller. His criticisms made clear the audacity of Brown's attack: The delays were caused by technical changes openly discussed in city council, and the criticism was unfair.
Yesterday, those who follow Bill White on Facebook and/or twitter might have seen him comment on a robo-call he had received from an unknown source. The call attacked City Council Member Ron Green, the only Democrat running for Annise Parker's current job, city controller. White said,
I just got a recorded call urging Democrats to vote against Ron Green for City Controller because he would hurt D's. Who paid for this? I am neutral in the race, but it does seem to me that if another candidate or party paid for it, they should say so upfront.
Still, he is not endorsing another candidate, but he clearly implies that he received a robo-call implementing a silly attack that doesn't make much sense. Rumors state that the Pam Holm camp might be involved, but no one has yet taken responsibility.
I'm glad to see the mayor putting a good word in for integrity. As outgoing mayor, he shouldn't fight for any particular candidate, but he knows the city will be in good hands if the politics are good, and that's what he's advocating in these final days. |
