How Good a Mayor Was Bill White?
(Ed. note: In the run-up to Bill White's expected entrance into the governor's race on Friday, we wanted to get an insider's perspective on what sort of mayor he was, whether the hype on issues like crime and traffic is justified, what his personality and temperament tell us about the kind of candidate — and governor — he'd be, and how both Democrats and Republicans would critique his performance in purely ideological terms. We've asked two of Houston's most thoughtful political observers, Charles Kuffner, of the progressive Off the Kuff blog, and David Benzion, of the ...
Comments (5)
JJ Baskin
Seems to me that a competent consensus-builder would be a vast improvement for the Governor's office.
I think one of the reasons Bill White was a great mayor is why he would make a great governor: he was a mayor for all the citizens of Houston, not just a plurality of supporters and idealistically-pure voters.
Rorschach
Lets see, there is the bit where White tried to evict a bunch of retarded people from the only home most have ever known so that he could sell the land to a developer to build condos, and ended up selling the land to them at 80% of their early budget.
There's the hybrid vehicles that White insisted that the city buy that cost 65% more than a comparable gasoline vehicle and only get about 15% better gas mileage. and the LNG trucks that he insisted on that never see the outside of a repair shop.
There's the millions that the city has spent on "art" that never actually seems to be delivered.
There's the postage stamp sized "park" that White condemned when Ed Wolfe was unable to force the elderly owners to agree to let him finance the purchase price over 20 years so that he could complete his condo project.
There's the hundreds of millions of dollars that METRO owes the city in mobility funds that he has let them slide on paying.
There's the 1400 to 5000 police officers that the city is short of that we can't seem to find the money for (here's a hint, lets cut out wasting money on hybrids and art and letting METRO slide on it's legal obligations....maybe we'll find some of that money then....)
John Robert BEHRMAN
Kuff's argument that White would be a better Governor than Senator is powerful and persuasive: Benszion's critique reinforces Kuff's logic
So, why not take it to the next step:
Would White make a better Lt. Governor than Governor?
He or his wife would probably rather <i>be</i> Senator than Governor, Governor than Lt. Governor. Here's the downside: First, it would not be as prestigous or fun. Second, it needs to be terminal -- a life in politics and government, not a stepping stone to higher office.
But, what could Bill White do best, and what would best serve the interests of his party, his state, the people who will be voting?
<b>Lt. Governor</b>
It is an office requiring fairness and boldness in mediation of partisan disbutes, something Bill White is very good at.
It is an executive job requiring direct management of the highest echelon of Texas government and a profound understanding of the rest of the federal, state, and local government. Bill is best at this.
It will have profound and lasting effects for generations.
<b>Governor?</b?
This is a job for a charismatic ticket-leader who can work effectively outside of and around Texas government.
This takes a lot of time devoted to working the fringe issues and most backward parts of the state.
Today, it calls for a highly partisan leader.
Aren't future generations what we should be thinking of, not serial office-seeking?
Since the Civil War, Texas has had generations of first-rate <i>politicos</i>. But, I suggest that today, we need a powerful <i>troika</i>: Gilbert, White, Radnofsky. These are very different, but equally smart and conscientious, politicians in very different slots.
None of these three is much a team-player. I am sure they would not see each other as equals at first. But, I do not see Texas government meeting the challenges it has without three very powerful horses in harness.
Rorschach
No Benzion's point is that White has spent the city into a hole it will never be able to climb out of and he will do the same thing to the State if allowed to. Just ask Bob Lemer.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/21619848/Lemer-Farb-Roberts-assessment-of-City-of-Houston-Finances-22-October-2009
JJ Baskin
Charles, David, and The Texas Tribune:
Thank you for demonstrating respectful and civil discourse. These exchanges are clever, well-researched, well-written, and thoughtful. Were only our leaders to demonstrate the same.
I, of course, must side with Charles. Since his sage days at The Trinitonian (1984-1988), I have know that one cannot win a debate with Kuff.
It also helps that I agree with him about Bill White.