Archive for 2002

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HCDP chair race, council members want to run city wide, Joe Householder back in town, Mark Lee and Barry Smitherman are in the race for Controller

Friday, December 6th, 2002

The Gossips hear the race for Harris County Democratic Chair is getting crowded. Besides Attorney Gerry Birnbirg (that is Gerry with a G) you can add Attorney Roland Garcia is also looking at running for the position and so is Attorney Dalia Stokes the President of the River Oaks Democratic Women. The Gossips knows all three and they are sane and they would all be great Chairs, but it is a terrible job and no one in their right mind would want to have the responsibility to try and rebuild the Democratic party in Houston.

The Gossips hear that three present District City Council members are either running for at-large open seats on the Houston City Council or thinking about it. You can put Mark Ellis in at-large Dist. 1 and pencil in Bert Keller for the number 4 position and perhaps Mark Goldberg in number 5. That would open up the District G and District C seats.

And Joe Householder is back in town and the Gossips are happy. Joe a former radio newsman and then PR guy for Vinson-Elkins and Mayor Brown just got back from helping the Governor of Iowa win reelection and signed up with Varoga, Rice and Shalett a winning political consulting firm in Houston. He will be head up their public affairs department.

Last month, Des Moines Register columnist Rob Borsellino called Householder one of the Bright spots of the 2002 campaign season in Iowa, noting, He’s not like some of those other flacks and staffers – self-important folks who dodge tough questions. The Gossips knew that for many years.

And dont forget like a local weekly newspaper did, Attorney Mark Lee is running for City Controller and look for Barry Smitherman to be the GOP favorite in that race. That race also has Annise Parker and Bruce Tatro for now and perhaps more to come.

George gstrong@political.com _____________________________________________________________________ GEORGE STRONG and ASSOCIATES ** See Us At ** http://www.political.com Providing Government Relations-Political Consulting-and Political Buttons! Ph713-526-3606,Fax 713-528-3688

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George Christian

Wednesday, December 4th, 2002

Many words have been written about my friend George Christian who passed away last week. And he should be remembered. I have almost thirty years of history with this fine man.

I seldom remember the first time I meet a person. I dont know why that is, but I do remember the first time I met George Christian. I was a young executive assistant to the Mayor of Houston and George came to visit Mayor Fred Hofheinz with one of his clients. I assume it was someone with Brown and Root but that is not important. I remember being very impressed by the former Press Secretary to President Johnson. George was down to early, friendly, interesting and easy going. Not a person who would claim to be a VIP and want to be treated as such.

Later when I left the Mayors office and joined Houston Natural Gas (which became Enron) we had an issue before the Texas Legislature. It was called the Coal Slurry Pipeline bill. And we need a wise person in Austin to guide us. I recommended George Christian and his then colleague Tom Hagen. Hagen had just left the office of a very important elected official and was working for George. Their firm and a Houston law firm helped guide the bill through the process and it were not easy. The Railroads strongly opposed this proposed way of shipping coal to Texas. They wanted it to be hauled by train while we wanted to grind it up and mix it with water and ship it by pipeline to Texas. With Georges help we passed that bill and it is still on the books but has never been used.

Georges firm was on a retainer to the corporation for many years and while his wise counsel and advice were valuable his friendship to me was even more important. When I was needing someone to help me with politics or legislation he was there. When I thought about putting together a lobbying/media firm he was ready to give advice and his time. He did return calls and made friends regardless of the own political stand.

Over the years George and I saw each other at political events and during the Texas Legislative Sessions. His smile and warmth was needed even more as the Legislature became more partisan and not as friendly as in the years past.

As William McKenzie said in the Dallas Morning News We should pause in honor when politics loses one of its good ones. It is a noble calling. And it needs people of perspective, humor and gentleness. George Christian had those traits. In abundance. They deserve our praise. So does George Christian’s example.

I agree, George will be missed in the halls of the Capitol and missed by the generations of Texas political and corporate leaders who first learned the rules of the legislative and political game from George Christian.

George gstrong@political.com _____________________________________________________________________ GEORGE STRONG and ASSOCIATES ** See Us At ** http://www.political.com Providing Government Relations-Political Consulting-and Political Buttons! Ph713-526-3606,Fax 713-528-3688

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A look at the Nov. 5th election in Harris county and the City of Houston

Friday, November 22nd, 2002

A look at the results of the Nov. Election:

So what did the election results show? Yes, the GOP won and yes Rick Perry and John Cornyn won big. Here in Harris County Gov. Rick Perry got 54.8 % over Tony Sanchez. A good win for Perry. In 2000 President George W. Bush got 54.4% in Harris County

In Harris County John Cornyn won by 52.7% over Ron Kirk.

In the county 14000 more votes were cast by straight ticket Republicans then Democrats, the percentage was 51.5% to 47.7%. That was down from the Presidential race in 2000 which the Democrats won by 4000 votes or 49.7% to 49.1%.

In the Harris County part of the 25 CD Chris Bell won by 52% to Tom Reisers 47%. Bell got 55% overall when you include Fort Bend County. In the 25th Ron Kirk won and so did John Sharp. Tony Sanchez lost the Harris County part of the 25th by 47% to 51% for Rick Perry. So the 25th with Fort Bend County is a Democratic seat.

In the City of Houston Tony Sanchez won. He got 51%. Ron Kirk and John Sharp also won the City of Houston by 54%. So, inside the City of Houston Democrats won.

So what does this tell us? The GOP won but did not increase their vote by much in Harris County. In the City of Houston Democrats won and with a good campaign could keep the Mayor seat in the 2003 elections.

Overall the Democrats failed to win the County or to elect a single Democrat to County office. And the prospects are bleak for this to change much before 2008.

George gstrong@political.com _____________________________________________________________________ GEORGE STRONG and ASSOCIATES ** See Us At ** http://www.political.com Providing Government Relations-Political Consulting-and Political Buttons! Ph713-526-3606,Fax 713-528-3688

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Money by Dec. 14, the late train, Locke Liddell in good position, Robinson out of race and Wolff in?

Thursday, November 21st, 2002

The Gossip is back in the gossiping mode after taking a breather.

The Gossips noted that lots of bills are being filed in Austin along with lots of fund raisers. The deadline to raise money if you are in the legislative business in December 14th. That is 30 prior to the start of the 78th Session of the Texas Legislature. So big functions are being planned.

It is also a time that lobbyist dread and so do their check books. For if they bet wrong they have to make an amends by catching the late train and giving funds to those that did get elected. The new Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has one of these late train functions scheduled for Dec. 3 in Austin. You will recall that most of the trade associations endorsed his opponent so now it the time to get right and come up with some campaign funds to help Mr. Dewhurst pay off his debt. It is a time-honored tradition and was done by late Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock many times during his many years in office.

And speaking of the new Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst did show up for a fund raiser for the new Dean of the Texas Senate, John Whitmire. Dewhurst went out of his way to talk about a nonpartisan approach to running the Texas Senate and his remarks were well received by the large audience and by Senator Whitmire.

Senator Whitmire, a Democrat, is with the law firm of Locke Liddell and Sapp a firm which picked most of the statewide Republicans too win and therefore has become a very hot lobbying firm in Austin. It was well regarded anyway but its relationships with the Gov, Lt. Gov, Speaker and AG will mean that it moves up in the list of well-connected law firms.

And in case you missed it Carroll Robinson a Houston At-large City Council member has decided not to run for City Controller. He instead is taking an executive position with TSU. Robinson would have been a serious contender for the Controllers seat.

And it does look like Ed Wolff is serious about running for Mayor. Or at least that is what the Chronicles society editor reported. Interesting to see that in the society pages and not in the political area.

George gstrong@political.com _____________________________________________________________________ GEORGE STRONG and ASSOCIATES ** See Us At ** http://www.political.com Providing Government Relations-Political Consulting-and Political Buttons! Ph713-526-3606,Fax 713-528-3688

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