Although many fellow kossacks, and even those in the MSM, mock, scoff and sometimes deride the use of social networking sites such as Facebook, I wanted to take this opportunity to share Mayor Bill White's comments on R-Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison'srun for Governor against everyone's favorite secession happy governor, Rick Perry.
I'm also encouraging fellow Texans to support Bill White in his run for TX - US Senate.
I'm a newbie Kossack and Houston, Texas native who left for California in the early 1990's and moved back in 2005. When I returned, I found Houston changed, by and large for the better. Although he has not fixed the heat, humidity, and giant mosquitoes Houston is cursed with, Mayor White has been one of the most popular and effective mayors in Houston's recent history.
A very brief highlight of Mayor White's three terms as well some snippets from our Facebook friendship including his quote on Hutchison below the fold.
Houston Mayor Bill White's first term started in January 2004.
During this term, Houston hosted Super Bowl XXXVIII, the 2004 MLB All-Star Game, the 2006 NBA All-Star Game and the 2005 World Series. These events have been great boosts to Houston's economy. He also led the building of Houston's Metro light rail system.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, thousands of residents of New Orleans were displaced. Bill White offered refuge for the victims in Houston's Astrodome and George R. Brown Convention Center. He also set up programs to help them find long-term housing, job placement, and education within Houston. He was later awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his service in the light of this catastrophe.
When I moved to Houston in 2005, White was just beginning his second term. I was impressed with not only what he had been able to accomplish in Houston (METRO light rail in the oil & gas capitol?) but also in his response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike.
During his second term, White focused his work on improving graduation rates in the city's high schools, enforcing air pollution standards, reducing the possibility of flooding in newer areas, adopted a more flexible system of working hours, and capitalized even further on his business experience to create public-private initiatives with private business and community organizations to stimulate growth in the city's most neglected subdivisions.
Things haven't always been smooth sailing for the mayor:
In 2007, the FBI released a report showing an increase in Houston's murder rate. While some speculated about the impact of Hurricane Katrina victims who settled on the Southwest side of town, Mayor White released a statement concerning the FBI's findings:
"With the regard to the 2006 figures now being reported, the FBI calculated a murder rate per 100,000 people for Houston based on census estimates of a 2,073,729 population as of July 1, 2005. That was before Houston’s population swelled by well over 100,000 people. On the basis of U.S. Post Office change of address information we estimated the 2006 population at 2,198,755. While it is normally fair to make year-to-year comparisons based on population estimates that lag crimes by a year or more, the unusual increase in Houston’s population for 2006 makes our City’s figures for the murder rate per 100,000 not quite comparable to the rate in other communities in 2005."
Mayor White's third term began in January 2008 with his inauguration at the Discovery Green Park.
White made fighting pollution in and around the Houston area a top concern during his third term. He forced Houston's largest refinery Lyondell Chemical Company, located along the Houston Ship Channel, to publicly defend its carcinogenic emissions. This received criticism from some businesses claiming White overstepped his powers as mayor, however he has received great praise from the citizens of Houston. In thanks to his fighting of pollution in Houston, White was awarded the HERO Award (Houston-Galveston Environmental Research & Outreach Award) in September 15, 2008.
In August 2008, White traveled to Stavanger, Norway, one of Houston's sister cities, for an energy conference. On June 9, 2008, White revealed plans to increase solar energy capacity for the city of Houston. Solar panels were installed on the Code Enforcement building and the roof of the City Hall Annex building. Houston was chosen as one of the U.S. cities in the Solar America Cities program designed increase the use of solar technology. The U.S. Department of Energy is providing assistance to the city in expanding its solar energy capacity.
White remains incredibly popular in Houston. In December 2008, White announce he has decided to run for the United States Senate seat currently held by Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison, should she resign from her seat to challenge Governor Rick Perry, as expected. White has since created a campaign website.
After reading a well-written diary here on kos, I posted the following question to the mayor via Facebook on May 14 and quickly the received the following response from Mayor White regarding Sen Kay Bailey Hutchison:
Me: Can you comment?
"Houston Mayor Bill White is going around publicly telling people that Hutchison has assured him she'll resign in time for a May 2010 special election. White is hot for that Senate seat and has been gearing up his machine for that senatorial run, hoping to break the Democratic Party's long-running losing streak in the state.
But why would Hutchison tell the Democratic White about her intentions and not people of her own party? Seems bizarre. One theory is that former Lt. Gov. Fred Ben Barnes, the guy that got George W. Bush his cushy National Guard gig and a supposed Democrat, is close to both, and is making sure that White and Hutchison coordinate their near-term plans so they don't end up running for the same office. Beats me if that's true."
May 14 at 2:23pm
Mayor Bill White:
Sen. Hutchison told me and others that she would resign in circumstances creating a special election. There is no plot. She is obviously running for Governor. The timing is up to her. I'll just try to do what is right for Texas if people want me to work for them in DC.
Me:
Thanks Mayor!
For veteran Kossacks who are still reading, I'm hoping you can help me link back to the original diary. As a newbie here, I searched and searched but my patience and lack of sufficient coffee got the best of me and I gave up. I know you can (and will) put this into context for the rest of us.
I'm also impressed by the fact that White interacts with Houstonians via the Social Networking site, Facebook. Mayor White posts when and what his meetings are, and about certain events and issues happening in Houston. Here are a few closing shots from Mayor White's Facebook status updates:
Mayor Bill White Memorial Day. Texas has had the second-largest number of men and women serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the Houston area alone we have lost more than 100 last year. Let us keep their families in our prayers, and those who serve and have served. Last week a young soldier was flying home with me, in a flight to Austin, in a casket in the belly of a plane. Thank you! We won't forget.
Mayor Bill White Chuck Hayes--a blue collar worker. Aaron Brooks--they said he was too small. Battier--class, smarts, and defense. Artest--won't back down. Scola--intensity personified. Landry--take it to the hole. Half the payroll injured. Game 7 against the hottest team in the league.
Mayor Bill White I am rereading Vol II of Shelby Foote's history of the Civil War, Fredricksburg to Meridien. The Vicksburg campaign right now. Biked 28 miles this am as part of a Red Cross benefit, then office paperwork and a church service in the afternoon. I do spend time at night responding to emails to my Senate campaign at bill@billwhitefortexas.com.