Is Harris County ready for Bill White Jr. as judge?
Friend of Bill David Mincberg hopes so:
Democrat David Mincberg called for ethics reforms in county government and a focus on environmental quality Monday as he filed papers to run for Harris County judge.
Mincberg, former chairman of the county Democratic Party, expects no significant opposition in the March primary for the job of Harris County government chief. County Judge Ed Emmett, appointed to the position this year after the resignation of Robert Eckels, faces former District Clerk Charles Bacarisse in the Republican primary.
"The public has lost confidence in Harris County's leadership, which is out of touch, indebted to big donors who 'pay to play' for county contracts and raises taxes via appraisals while pretending to cut tax rates," Mincberg said. "There is no focus on the critical issues of growth, jobs and quality of life."
Harris County residents have not lost confidence in Harris County's leadership. On the contrary, when a government focuses "on the critical issues of growth, jobs and quality of life," that's when the problems start. When government stays out of those critical issues, people and businesses thrive.
On his website Mincberg says, "The office of County Judge requires a person with great understanding of and experience in financial management and a leader with the skills necessary to implement the number of reforms and improvement so vital to Harris County's future success." Any Democrat advocating "reforms and improvement" means government heavy-handedness and regulation. We can look at Bill White's leadership in Houston as the example.
Mincberg says he wants to focus on ethics reforms, but interestingly, nowhere in the Chronicle's story does Alan Bernstein mention Mincberg's time as head of Houston's Department of Housing and Community Development, the Housing Authority of the City of Houston, and the Houston Housing Finance Corp. And on Mincberg's website, it is only briefly mentioned.
The best remedies for any ethics issues are transparency and a watchdog media. Everything possible should be made available online, and local media should thoroughly cover all local issues. When has the Chronicle ever covered Harris County politics, except in the most superficial manner? It took KTRK-13's Wayne Dolcefino to unearth Jerry Eversole's problems. And the Chronicle's Houston coverage isn't overly aggressive -- Mrs. White won't allow that.
So let's unearth details of Mincberg's tenure as the $1 per-year head of Houston's Housing Authorities. Let's see how this businessman runs things. We've heard there might some interesting tidbits if a full accounting emerged.
And if Mincberg really wants to run on a platform of ethics reform, let's find out where this Houston insider stood on the city's Yellow Cab contract, including the airport shuttle disaster that put a local company out of business; and on a long-term, no-bid airport concession contract. Give us the quotes where he came out against "big donors who 'pay to play'" for city business.
We certainly won't see that in Houston's Daily Information Source, because Mincberg's wife works for the Chronicle. We can expect nothing but glowing reviews for the Democrat candidate for Harris County Judge.
The critical issues for Harris County are public safety and public infrastructure -- roads and flooding. We don't need Bill White-lite micromanaging county residents' lives. You can bet Mayor White has already been whispering "county-wide smoking ban" in Mincberg's ear. If I recall correctly, Houston complained to the county that its lack of a smoking ban was harming Houston businesses, since smokers could go to restaurants and bars outside city limits. And just think of all the new red-light camera opportunities outside MayorWhiteChiefHurtt's reach.
Most likely Mincberg will aim to keep a low profile for now, counting on a bruising battle between Judge Emmett and Charles Bacarrise. Then with the Chronicle on his side, FOB Mincberg can run as an above-the-fray candidate, spouting soothing platitudes of "change."
In the big picture, Harris County is running just fine, as local governments go. Mincberg's idea of change will translate into regulation and stealth-taxes, à la Bill White.
CORRECTION: We are informed that David Mincberg's wife, Lainie Gordon, no longer works for the Chronicle.
ANNE ADDS: Excellent! Now there's no reason for the Chronicle not to dive into Mincberg's record as head of Houston's housing authorities.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 12/18/07 08:22 AM | Print |
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