As We Face Authoritarian Threat, Whitmire Says Problem Is Chris Hollins-Whitmire Silent On Anti-Democratic Extreme Right

*Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes & Observations for October 18th. Election Day is in 18 days on November 5th & Early Voting begins in 3 days on October 21st.

*Silent about the clear prospect of authoritarianism from the right, about the real chance that just months from now there will mass deportations in Houston & sitting on almost $10 million in campaign cash on hand while doing nothing in the 2024 campaign, Mayor John Whitmire has decided the problem is City Controller Chris Hollins. (Above is Mayor Whitmire at his press conference yesterday off the HTV feed.)

From The Houston Landing:

"Mayor John Whitmire and City Controller Chris Hollins traded barbs in dueling press conferences Thursday, each alleging the other has conflicts of interest by providing special access to private companies looking to do business with the city...Whitmire said this is the first time the specific sponsorships have been offered by the controller’s office, but city events are regularly financially supported by corporations – including the mayor's taste of the city address last month.....Hollins and Whitmire have found themselves on opposite sides of city financial decisions since their elections as recently as last month when discussing a change in the property tax rate....Hollins, in turn, called Whitmire a “walking conflict of interest” as his campaign for mayor accepted donations from the firefighter union before advocating for its contract...“This is a huge nothing burger that is meant to distract from the mayor’s failed leadership on fiscal responsibility at the city,” Hollins said."

​Mayor Whitmire everyday has opportunity to confront the massive threat to Houston from the Trump/Vance/Musk campaign and the right. It's the biggest issue before the city today. Mayor Whitmire has spent his 50 years in politics successfully navigating the systems that brought us to this point. He is much more likely to be an enabler of fascism than an active opponent. 

* The Houston Landing has a useful article on what all the different types of Harris County judgeships are about. I really did not know what the different benches are tasked with doing. The first two courts mentioned, the 1st and 14th Courts of Appeals, are a big deal in this election. They cover a ten county area and are at current controlled by Democrats.  Check here to see the Democrats on the ballot in these races.  

* Here are today's listings from the Harris County Democratic Party of candidates who have contributed so far to the Coordinated Victory campaign of the party. And here is a list of who has knocked doors. There are different ways in which elected officials and well-financed challengers can help. These lists don't tell all. But with so much at stake, it is important to know who among the people we vote for have met the challenge of showing up for us.    

* The Marshall Project did a survey of the presidential voting preferences of inmates. In a Houston Chronicle article about the survey it was reported that Texas inmates strongly prefer Trump. 

From the Chronicle: 

Of the 659 people who responded to the survey in Texas, around 53% said they preferred Trump, compared to 27% for Vice President Kamala Harris, according to the survey by the Marshall Project.  

Maybe criminals are not good people. ​

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