Posted on 11/29/2008 11:54:21 PM PST by BellStar
For the past year, wealthy attorney and former Kemah Mayor Bill King has been anything but coy about the fact that he planned to run for Houston's top job next year, when term limits bar Mayor Bill White from seeking a fourth term.
King's plan: To position himself as the center-right business leader in a field expected to include Houston Controller and former Councilwoman Annise Parker and current Councilman Peter Brown, an architect pushing "new urbanism" development policies.
Brown has been presenting himself as a problem solver, heading a task force on hurricane evacuation and publishing essays proposing new directions for Metro.
An unfamiliar candidate But it appears that a new candidate entering the field will knock King out of the race — an African-American candidate who has quietly garnered a level of support from key black and white business leaders that has shaken King's strategy of being the centrist business candidate.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
King Ping!
Houston is my home town but I have lost touch, fill us in on what these people are, which one are we rooting for?
Me either and do we really need another attorney in government?
The cause is the expected candidacy of Gene Locke, a name that is probably unfamiliar to you unless you have a long memory about the inner workings of the Bob Lanier administration in the 1990s, or are a junkie of the legal intrigues of such agencies as the Port of Houston Authority, Metro, or the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority.
Locke served as city attorney for three years under Mayor Lanier, and then went on to represent such agencies as Metro, the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority and the Port of Houston Authority as a partner with the prominent law firm Andrews Kurth.
Locke declined to be interviewed for this piece, but several sources who have talked with him say he has made a firm decision to run.
Lanier, for one, considers Locke a solid contender coming out of the gate.
“Gene did an outstanding job (as city attorney),” said the former mayor. “Every situation he went into he made better. He has a good ability to bring people together. He is a good, solid person.”
Lanier, who in his 80s still wields considerable behind-the-scenes influence in city politics, described Locke as being “in the throes of seeking support from the business community. I think the response has been very good in every sector. I think he’ll get substantial support.”
Lanier said he was “likely” to endorse Locke, which surprised some who note that King, like Lanier, has been very critical of Metro, which Locke represents, and its light rail projects.
That’s about all you need to know...
Ole’ Turkey-Neck (Lanier) is still (amazingly) pulling fingers (strings), and gassing (liberal-ing) up Houston politics...
But then again, there was no way the 4th largest city in the US was going to fall totally into the hands of conservatives anyway...
I remember “back when” a certain Guy named Eugene Lock ran for Governor of Texas. Had a catchy little ditty called “Eugene Locke should be Governor of Texas” I wonder if it’s the same guy?
Is King Liberal or Conservative?
Ha! That was over 30 years ago and I still can't get that stupid jingle out of my memory.
Yep. Me too! Amazing.
The Houston business community made an unholy pact with Lanier back in the 90s and have been paying for it ever since.
Hope King doesn't beg off the Mayoral race, but not sure he deserves the mess that is Houston city government.
The city is a mess but Obama will fix it.
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