1st 2023 Houston Mayoral Forum speaks much about our national politics.
Houston, a bellwether city, had its first mayoral forum. Five of the seven major candidates running showed. Missing were the politicians who seemed too far removed from the people.
The Bayou Blue Democrats Club in Houston, Texas, held the first 2023 Houston Mayoral Forum last night. It was very well attended, especially since it occurred at 6:30 PM on a weeknight when traffic is dreadful. They held it at the IBEW 716 meeting hall. Five of the seven major candidates running showed up.
The race for the Houston mayor, like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, are national stories as each of these cities are bellwethers in its own right. The direction Houston takes will materially affect the nation’s economy in many ways.
After having Ingrid Bond, on Politics Done Right at KPFT, discuss the event, it was clear to me that her local club, Bayou Blue Democrats is intent on making a difference in Houston and presenting the great choices Houston has for mayor.
Political Consultant Jaime Rodriguez moderated the forum in a manner only Jaime can. He said something that shocked me at the beginning of the forum but made a lot of sense. He inferred it is improper in these venues to ask the candidate what they will do specifically if they are elected. He views these forums in a more holistic manner. In that light, his questions are not gotchas but ones that gently remove the political facade. He was extremely effective in doing that.
Mayoral candidates in attendance were Amanda Edwards, Robert Gallegos, Gilbert Garcia, Lee Kaplan, and Robin Williams. Missing were John Whitmire and Sheila Jackson Lee.
While Blue Bayou Democrats allowed the two missing candidates to submit videos, it is a poor precedent as it puts the other candidates at a disadvantage given that there is no real-time query of the missing. Our politics is littered with politicians that, over time, become disconnected from their constituents as they give the powerful access and ignore the masses.
Mr. Rodriguez's questions were personally, politically, and morally probing. During the queries, he asked the candidates to each write the names of two candidates, not themselves, on a card that they support as mayor. When the informal straw poll was tallied, Amanda Edwards prevailed.
The entire debate is worth watching. Each candidate was compelling. One should note that a mayor does not stand alone. City Council, staff, and institutional knowledge are present for every mayor who is responsible for the vision and direction of the city. Houston is blessed that each of these candidates would make an acceptable mayor. Here are my observations.
Robin Williams is an ex-marine, and her marine passion showed. It is clear she is not a politician that knows the intricacies of governing in the political sphere. But her mission-based focus makes it clear that if she were elected, she would grow into the job. She is a police officer.
Gilbert Garcia is a very animated character. He understands the bureaucracy of the government machine. After all, he was the former Houston Metro Chair. He is a financial manager.
Lee Kaplan is one who says what is on his mind. He gave an answer about affordable housing that gave me pause, but all in all, I found him to be the most straightforward and willing to say what others would not. He is also a businessman.
Robert Gallegos is a standard, dependable Houston politician. He is very knowledgeable about the city’s politics, and he seems very approachable.
Amanda Edwards is a young former at-large councilwoman. She is the only candidate I have interviewed thus far. But I found her personal, professional, and political stories compelling.
Politicians often like to say they are not politicians or that they would run the city like a business. We should want neither. Businesspeople should run businesses. Politicians should run our politics. They are both important professions. It is inhumane for the government to be run as a business because its deliverables are different and must never be based on profit maximization but on what is best for the public.
I think instead of an establishment-status-quo candidate, Houston needs a young, vibrant person that is willing to not only steer the city into modernity but to do so in a humane inclusive manner where the masses feel and know they are being heard. The election of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who I interviewed several times, was a start on the county level. I think, at the city level, on stage, so far, Amanda Edwards comes closest to that feat. It is still early in this race, but we must ensure it is not business as usual.
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