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Last night the Houston Democracy Project attended a debate for Houston City Council At-Large #2 Democratic candidates. The event was held by the Spring Branch Democrats Club and moderated by Diana Martinez Alexander. Diana is an excellent and caring Houstonian.

Above is a picture I took of the debate.   

Three of the five Democrats in the race attended the debate.

On the left above is Obes Nwabara. Mr. Nwabara is one the four Houston Council candidates who has added democracy to his campaign website after discussion with the Houston Democracy Project. Greatly appreciated!    

(The other candidates who added democracy language after talking to the Project are Conchita Reyes in At-Large #1, Donnell Cooper for At-Large #3 and Ivan Sanchez in District J. Ethan Michelle Ganz for At-Large #3 also has strong pro-democracy language on their campaign website & so does Travis McGee in District D.) 

​In the middle above is Danielle Bess. Ms. Bess spoke strongly about her concerns over attacks on democracy and the anti-democratic HISD takeover. The Houston Democracy Project encourages Ms. Bess to add democracy to her campaign website and to make democracy part of her standard stump remarks.

On the right is Marina Angelica Coryat.  Ms. Coryat was late and not present when Diana asked questions about democracy as a campaign issue in Houston. The subject is not addressed on her webpage and she has not mentioned it when I've seen her on the campaign trail.     

Holly Flynn Vilaseca sent a representative.  I've spoken to Ms. Vilaseca about the Houston Democracy Project. So far those discussions have been to no avail in getting her campaign to take up democracy in Houston as an issue.

Nick Hellyar was not present in any way. Nick has staked his campaign on relationships with Republicans and has accepted police union endorsements without any indication he's asked them when they will stop supporting election deniers. There is no public safety without democracy.  

Thanks to Spring Branch Democrats for the forum and to the candidates who joined the debate.    

The Houston Democracy Project is working everyday to make democracy a top issue in 2023 Houston city politics & to help inspire, build and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

Please share word of the Project and please support the effort with your donation.

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​The Houston Democracy Project attended the recent Meyerland Area Democratic Club John Whitmire Mayoral forum. Senator Whitmire was asked questions by local attorney Noah Horowitz.

(Mr Horowitz's father, Judge James Horowitz, is one of the Harris County 2022 election winners being sued by sore loser Republicans to undo last year's rightful results.)

(Above is a picture I took at the event.) 

Mr. Horowitz asked Senator Whitmire questions about threats to democracy and his relationships with Republicans.

Senator Whitmire said Republicans in Austin have the power and you need to work with them to get anything done.

Senator Whitmire seems powerless to stop the far-right excesses of the Texas legislature and our statewide officials. What bipartisan cooperation can he be certain to obtain in exchange for his unconditional relationships with far-right extremists?  

To what extent do you work with authoritarians? If you are going to maintain a good relationship with Dan Patrick, as Senator Whitmire appears to have, shouldn't a condition of that relationship be at least that Lt. Governor Patrick will respect election results. 

Is it pragmatic to conduct affairs with people looking to take away our most basic rights? A political class might seek accommodation among itself, while leaving rank & file citizens out in the undemocratic cold. And then these far-right Republicans will turn on the officials who thought they could be reasoned with.       

Senator Whitmire has the endorsement of many law enforcement unions. These unions continue to support politicians and candidates calling for Harris County 2022 elections to be done over and who have taken away local control of our Harris County elections.

How is there public safety when law enforcement unions support election deniers? There is no public safety without democracy.     

The law enforcement unions and tough on crime crew in Houston and Harris County have been silent on lawless Ken Paxton as Texas Attorney General and on likely Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump calling for the hanging of generals and the shutting down of media outlets. They appear to have a selective and dangerous concept of law and order.

Houstonians deserve protection from threats to democracy.   

Senator Whitmire said at the Meyerland forum that people who oppose the senator's support of Texas Department of Public Safety troopers patrolling Houston streets are part of the "defund the police" crowd.   

This is simply not so. It is fully reasonable to have civil rights concerns about police under the control of an authoritarian state government patrolling the streets of the most diverse city in America.  

This is a state government banning books, attacking trans folks, defying the federal government and that has removed the democratically elected school board in Houston. It makes plenty of sense to not want Greg Abbott's police in Houston to help enforce these terrible policies.  

​Senator Whitmire has been in office for 50 years. He's dedicated his career to systems that have lost Roe, lost most of the Voting Rights Act and messed up the weather. Faced with the real and increasing threat of authoritarianism in Texas and the nation, he tells us to talk without condition to extremists, invites their police into our city & then mocks those concerned about his course.  

We don't need a Houston run by John Whitmire and law enforcement unions. How would freedom prevail in such circumstances with Ken Paxton as Texas Attorney General and under a second term Trump Justice Department?

John Whitmire puts our most basic rights at risk. He can't grasp the seriousness of the moment. Reject him at the polls to make loud and clear that you imagine a future firmly rooted in democracy for Houston and Harris County. 
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The Houston Democracy Project works daily to make democracy a top issue in 2023 Houston politics and to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. 

Please share word of the Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question   about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].    

Despite the undemocratic takeover of HISD by the far-right State of Texas, there are indeed HISD Board elections this November. There are four races. Two contested and two uncontested. Here is some explanation of the ongoing elected Board. 

Dani Hernandez in District 3 and Dr. Patricia Allen in District 4 are incumbents running for re-election. Ms. Hernandez has been open to the takeover and Dr. Allen has been less open to the takeover. Both incumbents have challengers. Mr. Moore in District 2 and Mr. Gomez in District 7 are unopposed. So they'll be elected to the HISD Board.         

The Off The Kuff blog has interviewed Ms. Hernandez and Mr. Gomez so far with more interviews on the way. 

​The Houston Democracy Project will have more to report on the HISD elections in the  days ahead. And please explore the races yourself and ask the candidates how they'll fight for democracy. The October 24 forum detailed above provides at least some opportunity to meet the candidates.    

The likely Republican nominee for President of the United States is talking about shutting down media outlets & hanging generals.

You'd think the tough on crime crew in Houston & all the law enforcement unions going on about law and order in Houston and Harris County would have something to say about that.

Or something to say about Ken Paxton as Attorney General of Texas.

Nope.

And nothing from Republican elected officials. 

​It's a local issue. What political freedom would we have in Houston and Harris County with Ken Paxton as Texas AG and with a Trump Justice Department?    

Protection from the right must be an issue in Houston city politics. 
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There is no bottom line on the right. This includes the right locally that never lets up on calling Democrats lawless.  

Our freedom is up to each of us. Don't wait for our elected officials and institutions to save us and protect us.

​The Houston Democracy Project is working each day to make democracy a top issue in '23 Houston City Politics & to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

​Please share word of the Project and support the effort with your contribution.

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​​​Houston District J Councilman Edward Pollard--Who not long ago went to the Southwest Democrats municipal candidate forum--recently stopped by the Southwest Houston Pachyderm Club to tell them he is ready to work with Republicans.  

Here is what the Pachyderms said on a Facebook post: 

"Edward Pollard, City of Houston Councilman for District J, made a surprise appearance and contributed to our forum. He described himself as a conservative independent. He expressed his intent to work with all Republican candidates elected to Houston City Council."   

The picture above is of Mr. Pollard at the Southwest Democrats meeting on August 26th. I was there. It seemed there that he was a Democrat. Maybe he is.  

Mr. Pollard has in the past described himself a "conservative Democrat." That's fine. The issue is not ideology. (Though it is confusing because on his website Mr. Pollard says: "I am a centrist." So that's different from the "conservative independent" the Pachyderms reported he said.)

​Nor is the concern simply the fact of bipartisanship. Elected officials can cooperate across party lines so long as the Republicans involved agree to accept election results.

The issue is not opportunism. If the issue were opportunism, we'd have few elected officials to support. 

The point here is that if you are going to go to the Republican meeting to tell them you are looking forward to working with them, at least you can ask them if they will--as said above--respect election results. 

Because whether it is the ongoing lawsuits by defeated Harris County Republicans to undo much of the 2022 Harris County election, or the clear lead held by insurrectionist Trump among Republicans for 2024, the bottom line is that today's Republican Party is not a reliable friend of democracy.         

Councilmember Pollard is keeping all options open. Mr. Pollard has just over $1 million in campaign cash on hand as of the July, 2023 reporting deadline.  So he must feel he has plenty of options.   

I don't understand how a politician can just go about like everything is fine when we are fighting for our most basic freedoms.     

Mr. Pollard stands in contrast to his strong District J opponent Ivan Sanchez. Mr. Sanchez has made protection of democracy an issue in his campaign alongside many other topics relevant to District J.

There is little reason to be confident Mr. Pollard will stand with us as authoritarian threats increase. He appears to be looking for a course forward for himself no matter what happens in the challenging days ahead.  

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to make democracy a top issue in 2023 Houston politics and to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. 

Please share word of the Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question   about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].  

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​The Houston Democracy Project attended the Save White Oak Bayou picnic this past Friday evening. The event was about the proposed expansion of I-10 into Stude Park in the Heights. This Texas Department of Transportation proposal would impede enjoyment of the Bayou and use of the park. The state's plan is a lousy idea. 

Here is some of what the Save White Oak Bayou folks say:

We have a vision for a happier, healthier Houston. A retreat, a resource, and a refuge for all to enjoy in the heart of the city.

TxDOT also has a plan. It includes miles of concrete, paving over our parks, and increasing air and noise pollution.

HISD Board of Managers member Janette Lindner has been public about her opposition to the I-10 plan. Ms. Lindner lost election to the now-defunct elected HISD Board in 2021, but was appointed to the new unelected Board by authoritarian Governor Greg Abbott's TEA.

The state takeover of a neighborhood park is a problem. Removal of elected officials by a far-right state government in what 60 years ago was a Jim Crow city seems less a concern for Ms. Lindner.      

I was planning to go to the rally against the highway expansion in any case to talk up the Houston Democracy Project. I brought a sign against the HISD takeover in case Ms. Lindner joined the crowd, and to make the point that the State of Texas is attacking Houston and Harris County in many different ways.    

That's me in the picture above with the sign and Ms. Lindner on the other side. It looks like she might be filming me, possibly to suggest me for a good citizenship commendation.    

I'm not going to talk to Ms. Lindner outside of an open school board meeting. I'm no problem for her. On the other hand, the Board of Managers has partnered with anti-democratic extremists to take away an elected school board in the 4th largest city in America and has a police force at its disposal.

The HISD Board of Managers is part of a larger pattern of ceaseless attacks on local judges, law enforcement unions supporting election deniers, Republican refusal to accept election results, laws meant to take away local control of elections and acts of aggression towards peaceful protesters that is meant to make us feel afraid and to take away our freedom.      

There is no public safety without democracy.  
         
Messing with a local park? No way says Ms. Lindner.  

The removal of elected officials, reducing the role of unions, firing teachers who speak up, firing school custodians with little notice and closing school libraries so they can be replaced with discipline chambers? Sure.

Voting matters. So does showing up. We did vote. And the state came and expelled our elected officials. So we must keep at it in many different ways.  

Community Voices For Public Education is doing good work fighting the takeover and advocating for Houston. Give them a look.   

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to make democracy a top issue in 2023 Houston politics and to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. 

Please share word of the Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question   about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].          ​

​​Loser Alexandra Mealer has withdrawn her phony election-denial suit against election winner Lina Hidalgo.

Here is some of what it says in the Houston Chronicle:

"Alexandra del Moral Mealer, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s former Republican opponent, dropped her lawsuit challenging the results of the election she lost last November by over 18,000 votes, according to court documents filed Thursday.....Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee called Mealer's lawsuit a "waste of time and resources." 

She didn’t win the election and she wasn’t going to win the election contest, yet she insisted on continuing to spread conspiracy theories in an attempt to overturn the will of the voters," Menefee said in a statement Thursday. "It’s time for the other losing Republican candidates to drop their lawsuits as well."...... Sartaj Bal, another GOP candidate, also dropped his lawsuit Thursday. "Again, we have zero admissible evidence in our possession at this time and in my opinion it’s game over until we do — if we ever do," Bal wrote."

I've had the sign you see with me with here at the Weekly John Cornyn Houston Office Protest and other places for many months now. I'll have to retire it now. Or least until Ms. Mealer begins some new round of bad actions.  

​The Houston Democracy Project is working everyday to make democracy a top issue in 2023 Houston politics and to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

Please share word of the Project and support the effort with your donation.

Houston City Council At-Large #3 candidate Ethan Michelle Ganz has strong pro-democracy language on their campaign website.    

Here is what they say:

"This year the state legislature attacked cities, counties and marginalized communities. The state's power grab against local governments and individual residents residents is very concerning. We will want someone sitting at the table who is willing to stand against the big government bullies. We will want someone to speak truth to power. We will want someone with the courage and integrity to defend our democracy and stand with the will of the people."    

​It's important to acknowledge candidates with the insight to see threats to democracy as an essential issue in Houston politics. 

Candidate Ganz recently had a long conversation with the Houston Democracy Project. They had pro-democracy language on the campaign website already.

Four candidates have added pro-democracy language to their website after talking to the Houston Democracy Project.  They are Conchita Reyes in At-Large #1, Obes Nwabara for At-Large #2, Donnell Cooper for At-Large #3 and Ivan Sanchez in District J. 

The Houston Democracy Project is working everyday to make protection and expansion of democracy a top issue in 2023 Houston city politics & to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston.  

Protecting democracy is a big issue in Houston city politics. We've lost our elected school board in what just 60 years ago was a Jim Crow city. Local Republican voters, candidates and officials are strongly aligned with the authoritarian vision of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. We need to be ready to respond, organize and protect ourselves.  

Please share word of the Project and support the effort with your donation.