Endorsement shifts: Pastors to Locke, Brown to Parker

A week after the November election, Annise Parker’s campaign appears to be gaining some steam.  On Tuesday afternoon, Peter Brown, the third place finisher in the race, threw his support behind Parker.  The endorsement follows a series of analysis by local political watchers that showed Parker either winning or finishing a strong second in many of the precincts.  In fact, Parker's campaign manager Adam Harris feels so strongly about their position that he released an internal memo. Download Parker-internal

 

The endorsement by Brown should help solidify her inside The Loop base, something she already had a pretty strong foothold in anyway.

However, the endorsement game isn’t a simple one to play.  Locke and Brown were stuck in a back and forth debate over who had the endorsement of the African American community.  Brown had three prominent African American ministers on his side.  After Brown backed Parker, Pastor William Lawson, Bishop James Dixon, and Rev. D.Z. Cofield switched sides.  They moved from Brown to Locke.  That means Brown’s supporters will probably split, something our political consultant Dr. Richard Murray has predicted all along.  Half will go to Parker, half will go to Locke.

Is that confusing enough?  Unfortunately, there is no simple answer.  With Locke and Parker very similar on the issues, the biggest voting bloc of questionable voters are actually the conservatives.  Voters in Republican heavy West Houston, Kingwood, and Clear Lake have no natural candidate to gravitate toward.  Some politicos have said they will stay home.  Others wonder if conservatives are less likely to vote for an African American or an openly gay woman.  Either way, I think a good number of this crucial voting block will be showing up.  These are dedicated voters.  They vote for the school board, they vote for bonds, they even turn up for precinct chair elections.

 

So, let the campaign continue.

Comments

[JJMB]

What's a moderate to conservative voter to do? Annise Parker and Peter Brown are teaming up against Gene Locke and much of the business community, police, firefighters, realtors, etc. Obviously, Locke is a Democrat too, but the more liberal/left wing of that party seems to be lining up with Parker-Brown. Meanwhile, it seems like Locke has reached out and tried to show that he will represent a broader spectrum of Houstonians. Roy Morales probably won't make an endorsement, but it looks like almost all of his voters should head for Gene Locke.

[SMILL]

Tacky moment brought to you by: Gene Locke.

[KH]

Locke has already desperately tried to get the support of west side Republicans and failed miserably. Republicans don't want some big spender like Locke, promising everyone new stadiums and new museums. Both Locke and Parker are big liberals, but Parker is practically a Republican in the way she runs the budget. They're going to go with her.

[Don Large]

Roy Morales voters will switch to Controller Parker. Her proven track record on fiscal issues contrasts with Gene Locke's. Furthermore, Republican voters in Kingwood will remember that Gene Locke was instrumental in pushing through Kingwood annexation. Those dedicated Kingwood voters won't forget that apostasy, will not vote for Gene Locke under any circumstances, and accordingly, will cast their votes for Controller Parker.

Warmly yours,

DON LARGE

[aj]

What's interesting is that Parker has done more for the African-American community over the last ten years than her opponent, Mr. Locke. For example:

As a Council member, Parker worked with community leaders like Ruby Mosely in Acres Home and Vivian Harris in Hiram Clarke to craft an ordinance that allows the city to fine and shut down motels that cater to prostitutes and drug dealers.
When their district councilman ignored their request, African American community leaders, including Cora Johnson, turned to Annise Parker for help.

As an at-large Council member, Parker successfully fought to have a community center built in Carverdale Park, which is located in a predominately African American neighborhood.

As Controller, Parker led an audit of Taser use by the Houston Police Department. Her audit highlighted the fact that African American men are the most likely to be tased and called for increased training of officers to ensure that this disparity does not continue. The current police chief did not want to accept her findings. As mayor, she will appoint a police chief who understands that racial disparities in law enforcement are unacceptable.

As Controller, Parker initiated the Bank on Houston program to encourage people with no banking relationship to open a bank account. Statistics show that minorities are disproportionately less likely to have a bank account. People without a bank account can fall prey to the check cashing and pay-day lending operations and can fall victim to criminals who know that they carry large amounts of cash on them. Annise’s goal was to have 10,000 new accounts opened in the first year; that goal was reached in just the first quarter of this year.

As Controller, Annise worked to get Unity Bank approved as both a city depository bank and a MWBE certified bank and deposited city funds with them.

Hopefully Houston's African-American community will look closely at her record and how she has been a fighter for all Houstonians.

[JD]

ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE BLACKS FOR BLACKS IF YOU WILL LOOK AT ALL THE ELECTION RESULTS COUNTRY WIDE 95-98% OF BLACKS GO FOR THIER CANDIDATE

[charli]

Who is the girl in the yellow dress with them? I have seen her in other photos and am guessing it is Locke's daughter?