It’s pretty clear who the MAGAts are running for Houston City Council. There aren’t many. There are some true conservatives running such as City Councilman Dave Martin, Twila Carter, Martina Lemond Dixon and others. And then there are the MAGAt republicans. Two of them.
Tony Buzbee. What can you say about a guy who spent $13 Million in a losing effort for Mayor? Now he is spending $500,000 to run for a city council race. He is endorsed by former City Council Member Greg Travis who many called for him to resign because of racist comments he made. In his race for Mayor he attempted to court both sides of the aisle and failing miserably. He was boo-ed out of a Democratic Party meeting. He even lost an endorsement from Steven Hotze. And he had a fundraiser for Donald Trump. That is a MAGAt Republican. The Houston Chronicle has endorsed his opponent.
Fred Flickinger. Running for Houston City Council District E covering Kingwood and Clear Lake. Like Buzbee Flickinger is financing his campaign with over $100,000 of his own money. He is endorsed by the MAGAts of the party including CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen and State Representative Little Baby Briscoe Cain. The Houston Chronicle has endorsed his opponent.
There are two real conservatives running against the MAGAts. Vote for the conservatives.
What is with all the violence in the Republican Party?
A right wing blogger, Aubrey Taylor, who publishes an online publication called Houston Business Connections, (It’s a blog) was indicted yesterday for assaulting the chair of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee campaign. He has ties to Steven Hotze an extreme far right influencer of the Harris County Republican Party who also has been charged with a felony, although much more serious. From The Texas Tribune:
Conservative activist Steven Hotze on Wednesday was indicted on two felony charges related to his alleged involvement in an air conditioning repairman being held at gunpoint in 2020 during a bizarre search for fraudulent mail ballots that did not exist, according to his attorney, Gary Polland.
A former Houston Policeman held an AC repairman at gun point because he thought the truck had thousands of illegal mail in ballots. He was also indicted. The AC repairman has filed a civil suit. This is some strange shit involving the US Marshalls, Texas Lt Governor Dan Patricks brother, and a recorded phone call. Do yourself a favor and read The Washington Post article.
Back to Aubrey Taylor. Taylor is accused of harassing and assaulting a 66 year old volunteer with the Lee campaign at the campaign office. Taylor is a relatively young buck. He has been charged with a felony assault of an elderly person. Taylor has retained Jared Woodfill as his attorney for a civil suit claiming he knocked the shit out of the old man in self defense. Jared is also representing Hotze. Jared was once the Chair of the Harris County Republican Party. Jared himself has had a run in with the law resulting in a raid by the FBI.
How fucked up is this? I mean seriously. As a blogger I’ve been known to be a bit extreme. I might have cussed the living shit out of State Representative Dennis Paul in the greenbelt behind my house after the Uvalde shooting but I would never resort to knocking the shit out of him. I mean, come on! Who does that?
This ought to be interesting. In the meantime Democrats should steer clear of this dude.
According to his latest campaign finance report Buzbee has raised just over $550,000, with $550,000 coming from his own pocket. When he unsuccessfully ran for Mayor in 2019 he spent $13 Million of his own money. He got his ass kicked.
In her latest report City Council Member Mary Nan Huffman raised $77,895, a pretty good amount for an 8 day out report and for a district race.
District G is a high rent district which includes River Oaks. Hopefully the voters are wealthy, not stupid.
Notes: Gilbert Garcia, running for Mayor, is self financing his campaign as is Fred Flickinger running for City Council District E. Lee Kaplan’s majority of his donations are from a personal loan. Other notables that are funding their campaigns with their own money include Melanie Miles, Julian Ramirez, Obioha “Obes” Nwabara, Ericka McCrutcheon, Roy Morales, Shannan Nobles, and Orlando Sanchez.
Fred Flickinger is running for Houston City Council District E (Clear Lake and Kingwood) against Martina Lemond Dixon. Both are Republicans. One is a MAGAt.
Flickinger has been endorsed by the extremists of the party including CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen who has ties to Defend Texas Liberty, State Representative “Little Baby” Briscoe Cain, an election denier, State Representative Dennis Paul, the coward of the Party, and True Texas Project the organization identified as “anti-government” by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Bowen has spent his time on the CCISD board being a disruption. He has embraced chaos. His connections to Defend Texas Liberty and white supremacists is extremely troubling. He is endorsing Flickinger and has endorsed Tony Buzbee in the past. Dennis Paul is considered “Furniture” in the Texas Legislature. He just sits there and does nothing while young members of the Executive Committee are shot to death. His greatest contribution are thoughts and prayers. Little Baby Briscoe Cain is an election denier who traveled to Pennsylvania to help Trump overturn the election.
Flickinger is a MAGA Republican and is self financing his campaign just like Buzbee. Flickinger would be another disruption on City Council. He would bring Scott Bowen’s chaos to the City. We don’t need chaos. We need common sense. We need someone who will work on a non-partisan basis to improve the services provided by the city.
Do yourself a favor, do your neighbors a favor, and don’t put Flickinger in office. His opponent is a very well qualified, experienced, conservative, candidate.
In a nutshell. I’m working on why I would vote this way for each listed below. I have posted my reasoning for City Races.
Houston City Council Mayor: John Whitmire Controller: Dave Martin District E: Martina Lemond Dixon At Large 1: Conchita Reyes At Large 2: Nick Hellyar At Large 3: Richard Cantu At Large 4: Leticia Plummer At Large 5: Sallie Alcorn
Let’s just jump in. Early voting starts tomorrow, Oct 23.
Mayor: Senator John Whitmire. I’m not happy that Whitmire received support from MAGAt Mattress Mac but we are at a time where the constant bickering needs to stop between various parts of the city. I believe Whitmire can make progress on that issue. He has the experience to do the job. He has a record of successfully reaching across the aisle to make progress, something many “Progressives” forget to do. Whitmire has championed progressive causes and has delivered throughout his career again something “Progressives” seem to have forgotten. I’m hoping his experience will result in a stronger police force while providing protection for all the citizens of Houston. I’m hoping for fair pay for our Firefighters. I’m also hoping that my recycling bin is picked up on time!
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has the experience to run the city. Unfortunately, like it or not, deserving or not, the Congresswoman is a lightning rod for the right much like Ted Cruz is for the left. But unlike Ted Cruz I doubt she would get boo-ed at a parade. Lee comes from a Congressional district that she can and has won by simply putting her name on the ballot. Houston is different, diverse, and unfortunately she will drive out the crazies to vote against her and will work against her if elected. If she doesn’t win I have to wonder if she would put her name on the ballot for re-election in her Congressional district. She would win.
Controller. Council Member Dave Martin. I’ve said my peace about the candidates. I initially thought the Deputy Controller, Shannon Nobles, was the best candidate and on paper she still is but she had an opportunity to screen with the Houston Chronicle but declined. It’s bothering enough for me to tip to Dave Martin. Martin has what it takes to be Controller. He has the formal education in accounting, the accounting background in the corporate world, and 8 years serving as Chair of the Budget Committee for the city of Houston. As I have said before, if you need someone to represent you in court hire a lawyer. If you need someone to manage your $6 Billion budget hire an accountant. Martin is an accountant. Chris Hollins is a lawyer. QED
District E (Clear Lake): Martina Lemond Dixon. She has the experience. She is well qualified to be a Council Member. She is a Republican but one that I believe everyone could work with in a non partisan way. She is by far the most qualified of the two running. Endorsed by the Houston Chronicle.
At Large 1: Conchita Shelly Reyes. An excellent candidate. Endorsed by the Houston Chronicle. Young, energetic, experienced. She is a great candidate running against other great candidates like Leah Wolfthal.
At Large 2: Nick Hellyar. There are some great candidates in this race including Holly Vilaseca, Marina Coryat and Danielle Bass but Nick, not only has a slew of endorsements, he has the applicable experience to be productive on day one. He is endorsed by the Chronicle.
At Large 3: Richard Cantu. Cantu has an excellent list of endorsements including Sheriff Gonzalez, Commissioners Garcia and Briones, Congresswoman Garcia, and many, many more. He has excellent experience with the City of Houston and is currently an elected official with the Harris County Department of Education. Endorsed by the Houston Chronicle.
At Large 4: Council Member Letitia Plummer. She is the incumbent. The Houston Chronicle has recommended another term. As do I.
At Large 5: Council Member Sallie Alcorn. The best candidate of the entire bunch of candidates running for At Large Positions. Endorsed by the Houston Chronicle because she is just an awesome City Council Member. By far one of the best!
The last time we saw Buzbee running for office he was trampled by Mayor Turner. Buzbee spent around $12 Million of his own money to get a Texas sized ass whooping. Now he is at it again challenging the incumbent Mary Nan Huffman.
As with his other campaign, Buzbee is self financing. So far he has reported raising $17,383, spent $259,946, has $7,437 COH, and loaned his campaign $250,000.
Mary Nan has reported raising $31,100, spent $37,937, has $99,398 COH with no loans.
The voters in Houston sent Buzbee’s rich ass packing 4 years ago. Hopefully the rich ass voters in District G sends his rich ass packing in November.
The Houston Chronicle has endorsed Richard Cantu for At-Large 3. From the Chronicle:
Perhaps it was coincidence that Richard Cantu, 54, sat in the center of the table at our screening with candidates for this race, but we found him to have the right mix of personal and professional experience while also seeming to speak to the largest groups of Houstonians.
Cantu is my favorite also. He has elected official experience as a Trustee with the Harris County Department of Education as well as applicable experience working with and in the City of Houston.
Posted by johncoby 
Bay Area Houston 