Bay Area Houston

Why are you running? Is a question Democrats are asking and getting no answers.

I mentioned earlier that a relatively newcomer to the Harris County Democratic Party has thrown her name into the hat for Chair. “Newcomer” is a bit generous. Traci Gibson is a young, educated, attorney but her lack of any other qualifications for the job is troubling. Troubling enough for a couple of precinct chairs to send out emails warning others about signing her petition to get on the ballot.

Gibson was recently appointed to be a precinct chair. She has no on the ground experience working her precinct except for getting the title. She has no experience working with the party or advocating for the party or candidates. She has a very troubling voting record, that is, she has none. She hasn’t voted in the last 3 Democratic primaries. She also has a tendency to snap at individuals who ask a very simple question “Why are you running?”. I should know. I was one she snapped at.

But don’t take it from me. Here are some comments from emails sent by various precinct chairs:

Gibson says she has the “strategies and skills” to make Democrats dominate the next HC election. Seriously, from someone who has zero documented experience in politics, recently changed her voter registration to Harris County and just became a precinct chair at the last CEC?

Ms. Gibson did not vote in the 2024 Democratic primary, OR the 2022 primary OR the 2020 primary. Please stop and think about that for a moment — while we Precinct Chairs were out there sweating and block-walking, making phone calls, handing out literature, holding candidate rallies and manning the polls, during three of the most important and stressful primaries in recent history, Ms. Gibson made a conscious decision not to vote as a Democrat.

We should also ask ourselves: Why is she running? {But please don’t ask her why she’s running. She’s blown up on a few people for simply asking this simple question} [told you!] And more importantly — who is behind her?  The speed and style of her campaign suggest that she has powerful backers. Some have speculated about outside influences. Regardless of who’s funding or guiding her, it’s clear that her run is highly coordinated. Her lack of disclosure about her true intentions during meetings with Precinct Chairs — many of whom were invited under the impression that the meetings were not campaign-related — is especially troubling.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand this is excessive.

Harris County Constables are asking for a pay raise from $178,000/year to $293,000, a 65% increase. It is almost double their salary from 2004. This is excessive for a number of reasons.

• There are 8 Constables each responsible for only 1/8 of the County
• The Sheriff who is responsible for the entire County earns $223,000
• The Constable is an administrator job. Even though they carry a gun, law enforcement is not in their job description. They don’t patrol. They don’t confront bad guys. They sit at a desk.
• The County is trying to balance their budget which has a $200 Million shortfall
• No one except for CEOs of insurance companies, gets a 65% increase in pay. Not you. Not me.

Every Constable including our own Phil Sandlin requested the raise. If you don’t know who Phil Sandlin is you are in good company. For $178,000 a year citizens in the community should at least know who you are and what you look like. County Commissioners agreed to the increase by a vote of 3-2. I’m not in favor of this. I think it is excessive and not deserving especially when we are running a deficit. The Houston Chronicle has details.

“The eight constables should take what the sheriff makes and divide it by eight,” said Murray Newman, a criminal defense attorney who’s voiced concerns surrounding the constables previously. “That’s what they deserve to be making. They are supplemental law enforcement, not the marquee players.”

Just an FYI. I have reached out to Traci and have not received a response.

According to the Texas Ethics Commission Traci Gibson has filed an appointment of treasurer for her run for Harris County Democratic Party chair. At a time when unity is needed anyone running for Chair has be questioned. I would like to know why she is running but she has refused to respond.

The current Chair has been in office for just a short time and there is absolutely no reason to challenge him especially by someone with little or no experience for the job. Mike Doyle, the current Chair, has served the party very well. According to an email circulating with the precinct chairs she is a new precinct chair with no voting record in the 2020, 2022, or 2024 Democratic primary and yet she now wants to lead the party. She hasn’t been in the field. She hasn’t been involved with county politics. With these qualifications she is not qualified to run.

I’m waiting for a response from her as well as finding out who is financially supporting and encouraging her to run.

I didn’t know the Houston Press still existed. Decades ago, when they were still in print, they ran a front page story on how I became a consumer advocate. It was a very detailed article and focused on my problem with Ryland Homes. (god rest their sorry ass) I really appreciated the article.

Today they focused on former District Attorney Kim Ogg and it makes her seem petty, vindictive, and still irrelevant. In 2024 she was absolutely trampled in the Democratic Primary losing 75/25 in the early vote totals. Her opponent went on to win the DAs race.

Ogg has been criticized for harassing her enemies including Judge Lina Hidalgo and her staff. Her extensive investigation, involving the Texas Rangers, ended in an ill called press conference including someone with a trombone playing WOMP WOMP in the background. (not really)

A number of cases have since been throw out with the DA claiming the cases lacked necessary evidence to convict. Based upon her past experience it’s probably true. A DA wouldn’t throw out a case after so many resources were spent on it. I just don’t see that happening. Now Ogg wants federal intervention and after sucking up to the republican party she just might get it from the weaponized arm of the department of justice.

I was a big supporter of Ogg for her reelection in 2020 and I’ve been critical of Ogg for her petty arguments with Judge Hidalgo. I’ve been critical of Hidalgo for not taking the high road and whining too much. The resolution prior to the primary passed by a handful of far lefties of the Harris County Democratic Party against Ogg was a waste of time and effort and unnecessary. But if made them feel like they did something productive then more power to them.

Take a few minutes to read the story. It is detailed, pointed, and Ogg deserves every fuckin bit of it.