The author may have lived in Houston but he doesn't understand the local politics. The next mayor won't be a Republican just as the past mayors were not Republicans. Additionally, the next mayor will be selected by the Downtown business partnership just as the previous mayors were.
Our open elections do permit challengers (Democrat and Republican) but any time a Republican actually gets close to challenging the office, we are told that it is a "partisan" race. I've never voted for a winning mayor in this city.
Our next mayor could even be another homo (George Greanias). He's had a shot at it in the past. He weathered a sex scandal (surfing for "rent boys" from work as CEO of Metro on company time on company equipment) with support from the current mayor. It all depends on how much he's willing to play ball with the land developers and movers and shakers in this city.
I don't follow you. Republicans aren't allowed to run for office?