The Debate, live blog

8:00 The debate ends. Share your thoughts with me. Look for a complete wrap up on Eyewitness News at Ten.

7:48 All three male Mayoral candidates are wearing red dominated ties.  Roy Morales just invited Disney to build a theme park in Houston.

7:39 Locke says Brown and Parker have refused to sound the alarm about the City budget:  "quiet as a church mouse."  Parker says she can't help if if her opponents are "confused" about the budget.

7:30 The City Budget:  Morales says he will give himself, and everyone department head a pay cut. Brown says there will be no new taxes, be a more efficient goverment. Parker says no new taxes.  Locke says it's not appropriate to raise taxes in tough times.

7:15 question on public safety:  Locke points out he was endorsed by police union, Morales says former Mayor Lee Brown cut police cadet classes, Brown wants to get officers from behind desks to streets, Parker says safety is a main concern.

7:07 1st question: how to keep jobs in Houston.  Brown answers: I want to creat an office of economic development. Parker describes Houston as a $4 billion dollar corporation. Locke points to his business plan on his website.  Morales touts his conservative leadership

7:03 Debate begins!  Each candidate is giving a 45 second opening statement.  Everyone is on point so far.  It's obvious they've prepared. A lot.

Comments

[John W. Mikus]

Why can't the City keep its parks clean and green like the County? What will you do to provide more City parks for Houstonians? Parks are so scarce that adults chase children away from playing fields.

[Steve]

I don't have a Twiiter acct so I will post my ? here. What do the candidates think about making simple marijuana possession the lowest police priority in an effort to save police resources for more critical needs.

[roy juch]

Question for the debate:
Why can't all the various police authorities be combined as they are in Los Angeles? Wouldn't a consolidation of this sort be economically beneficial to the city and the tax payers?

[Dawn]

As a wife of one Houston's Finest, I would like to ask all candidates what their plans are to value, motivate, and give a voice to the men and women that are putting their lives at risk each and everyday (HPD officers/HFD). We hear a lot about police accountability, but what about the accountability that these departments have to listen to their officer's concerns and issues, and also the accountability citizens should have in obeying laws and the commands of officers.

[DEE]

AS A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, I HAVE VOTED FOR CANDIDATES, TRUSTING THEIR CAMPAIGN PROMISES; SOME WERE NEVER FULLFILLED. ISSUES THAT PLAGUE SUNNYSIDE /SOUTH PARK /3RD WARD / ACRES HOMES / DENVER HARBOR AND OTHER COMMUNITIES INCLUDE WEEDED, LITTERED LOTS AND DITCHES, DUMPING AND THE CONTINUED DETERIATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS. IT TAKES MONTHS FOR THE CITY LEGAL DEPT TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF VACANT PROPERTIES, AS THE DETERIATION CONTINUES. I RECENTLY SAW MY DISTRICT REP ON TV WHEN THERE WAS A HOME INVASION. IN THE PAST 2 YEARS, I HAVE NOT SEEN MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES. WHAT WILL YOUR ADMINISTRATION DO THAT WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE CURRENT AND PAST ADMINISTRATIONS?

DALE

[Amanda]

I am very upset about this debate. I don't live in Houston and am missing my favorite shows that are supposed to be on ABC tonight. When will they be shown? Rude...

[AR]

So far no fireworks. They all say they are going to find more efficiencies, manage the City better, etc. etc. Seems like the City is a mess, but they all still "support" and/or "work closely with" Bill White. LOL!

Big yawner!

[James]

Roy Morales said today on the radio is that all the other candidates have all voted in the past 9 election cycles in the democrat primary. Ok, how many election cycles have YOU even voted in at all Mr. Morales?

Before you showed up here in Houston from San Antonio just to start running for office every year, did you even vote AT ALL back in Bexar County?

[Gee]

I know less about them now than before they started...

[AR]

That's an hour of my life I'll never get back.

[James]

Well, people don't know much about Mr. Locke, but as possibly the next and second black mayor Houston has had, he is articulate and intelligent, whereas Lee Brown seemed like he didn't pass the 6th grade, was basically incompetent and if anyone remembered his debate appearances, it was borderline remedial! Thank you Mr. Locke. You seem like you have your "stuff" together, compared to Lee Brown who would have had to get a dictionary to know what the word "stuff" even was...if he could have looked it up?

[KB]

How can it be? I am pretty sure Peter Brown is the same old guy that ran me out of his yard 40 years ago?

[Patricia]

To the Mayoral Candidates,

These are my comments in regards to our home and community...Houston.

We need a Mayor and City Council that is willing and able to work together for the greater good of Houston's citizens.

They need to be honest and trustworthy..period.

We need to work towards becoming Energy responsible; using Solar and Wind Power and whatever energy efficient tools we can to become responsible and independent. As the Energy Capital; let's become the example.

Let's recycle everything we can.

Show us that our City Leaders are Financially responsible in every decision that is made with our money.

Police, Fire and Emergency services need to always be a vital priority. It seems that whenever our Budget goes wrong we hear about cuts to those departments. Why would this EVER be a good idea???

I for one am tired of business as usual as politicians promise anything they can until they get into office; then for whatever reason those good intentions are lost to Special Interests and Big Business dictating our path.

We can resolve these issues. It is not impossible. We need to do this!

[Demetrius]

Not one question about Illegal Immigration (Houston's sanctuary status)????????

This is a joke

[Lance Griffith]

"Have you ever told a lie to get a vote?"

That was my favorite question!

I only believed Locke and Parker (more Parker than Locke but I think they are both honest people)... Brown and Morales was a bit shifty in their body language when they were answering.

Now we need to see who wins and if they lied, especially about how they are going to get the Houston Business & Technology community booming.

Wanna hear more from the candidates. Come to the State of the City Technology Report Oct 13th with all 4 candidates... see www.nstaworld.org for details!

[Miya Shay Fan]

Was it just me or does Gene Locke remind you of Lee Brown and corruption? I can already see all of the corrupt friends of Locke that will get contracts and have been promised favors. This man sickens me Miya. He looks down on women. It was so obvious by his non-verbal communication. He is threatened by strong women. that look he gave her mad eit solid for me. I am with Parker. Morales has probably lied to his boyfriends and Brown is so old he can't recall his last glass of wine.

[End Illegal Sanctuary City]

Why was not one question about 287g asked? Here we have a Mayor trying to play God and then we have Locke lying on talk radio after he told Latinos he would never support the program. Liar! Liar! You Lie Gene Lee Brown Locke. We need to end these illegals coming here to prostitute.

[cedric]

peter brown should save his money its time for your 100 year old but to sit down. you cant buy all houstonian's. you dont have a clue of whats going on . come out of space please. Parker , how is your wife doing? you dont have a clue of what is going on in this city, you cant keep good records count money please have a seat . morales: who is this guy ? he dont have clue. locke is the only man for this job . a man for all people.. great job locke keep up the good work .

[Bob]

I was amazed that the debate was as effective as it was with such short response times, but then again city officials should be able to think quick on their feet. The ABC13 reporters kept the pace in check and did a super job! What I really watch for in debates is not some canned philosophy of how to approach problems (reciting their campaign ads...written by others), but the exact/specific plans they would institute that incorporate measurable plans for implementation which builds an assessment and accountablity piece to effectively access their progress. Based on these factors. Parker won hands down. She never looked at notes, stayed focused on the question and did not recite wild/unreasonable claims. Morales comments often skirted the topic and responses were clearly out of touch. Bring back billboards to bring back jobs?! (Our city has been cleaned up from visual pollution by significantly reducing those eye sores) Bring in Disney? (That would take years - even if they were possibly intestersed)Locke's response to bringing tourist into Houston included tours of the medical center. I am sure a mother and father from San Antonio with children will book vacations to tour the medical center! (Where will they park? Doctors and nurses will have children running around distracting them from their important work!) Brown's continuing message was "do more with less." Really Mr. Brown? Isn't that the basics of management and fiscal responsibility taught in junior high? Parker was the real winner focusing on measurable changes and creative approaches to solve our wonderful cities current challenges and fiscal slump. After all, we are fairing far better than many other municipal governments. BUT, we can always do more and Parker is the one that seems to have the sense, background, and ideas to keep Houston moving in a forward direction.

[BunchoCrap]

This debate was about the old White Man, the Lesbian, the racist Mexican American and the corrupt Black man. Just tell the truth and stop inventing responses about never lying. How about this for an answer. Brown: I will never lie about wanting to die in office because I don't want to die; Morales: I will never lie about my hatred for illegal aliens because even though I am Hispanic I think all of the illegals shoudl be deprted; Parker: I will never lie about my earning a degree from Rice and working for Republcians because quite frankly I know Republcians prefer me; Locke: I will never lie about my desire, or lack theroef, to take a bribe.

[Lee Brown]

My fellow Houstonians: Do not worry. I am making sure to pull the strings from nearby for my brother, GENE LOCKE. Please vote for him. We have too much to lose with kickbacks if he does not get elected.