Mayor-Elect John Whitmire

Blowout. Landslide. Arsekicking. You name it. Nobody predicted a 58,000 vote margin of victory and 64% for State Sen. John Whitmire. May I say Mayor-Elect John Whitmire. The 64% is being called the best showing for an open H-Town mayoral race since Jim McConn’s 66% in 1977. Let me put it this way. It is the best showing for an H-Town mayoral open race since we went with the hybrid single member district – at-large position city council member format in 1979.

It starts out with an outstanding candidate. The Dean put his years of experience and political instincts to work. He communicated with the voters. It was a genuine message. As good as I have ever witnessed. Whitmire is not a BSer and voters saw that.

I know him well. What the voters saw was who he is. He is the real deal.

Think about it. In the November election, Whitmire took incoming from Cong. Sheila Jackson Lee, Gilbert Garcia, Lee Kaplan, Jack Christie, M.J. Khan, Mama Garcia, and Houston Unites via paid negative TV English and Spanish language TV ads, digital ads, direct mail, and at televised debates and forums. We never had to lay a glove on any of our opponents.

Whitmire handled the attacks well at candidate forums and debates. He did not like being on the receiving end of negative campaigning, but the campaign stayed focused and positive. Voters appreciated that.

Whitmire set the pace for the campaign.

Senator Whitmire’s family played a key role in his campaign. Daughters Whitney and Sarah were there every step of the way.  Advising, supporting, and providing valuable input on campaign strategy.

We obviously had the resources to conduct the campaign pretty much we wanted to run from start to finish.  When Cong. Jackson Lee’s campaign launched their attack ads in September, we quickly put together the ad that featured Cong. Sylvia Garcia and State Sen. Carol Alvarado setting the record straight that proved very effective.

We had a tremendous field and voter contact operation that included volunteers, members of organizations who endorsed Sen. Whitmire, and paid staff and workers.

I can’t say enough about the team of professionals and consultants who worked together over the past year. Campaign manager Austin Lyle and Robert Orta led the staff. Labor honcho Linda Morales came on for the runoff. Sue Davis is one of the best at communications and press relations. Ahmed Sharma our social media director, Zac McCrary our pollster, Isaac Baker our ad guru, Kevin Shuvalov our mail consultant, and Marisa Burrill Nickols, our research consultant were first rate pros.

Longtime Whitmire consultant Robert Jara and Jaime Mercado, who I think is one of the best in the business, worked closely with the candidate over the last few months. Diana Patino led the entire team and oversaw a massive political operation. Diana was as steady and cool as they came.  She delegated responsibilities but expected results. She was the final word on major expenditures and strategy decisions. She was tasked to lead the effort by Sen. Whitmire. Diana Patino is the best for sure.

 In case you didn’t notice, Robert Jara, Jaime, and Diana are of the Latino persuasion. I think it has to be a first time in H-Town political history, that the leading consultants on a winning mayoral campaign were Latino.

As for Commentary, I had a front row seat.  By far, the best political operation I have ever seen here locally. I am glad and honored I was a major part.

To my fellow Democrats who tried to demonize State Sen. John Whitmire on abortion, guns, MAGA, Trump, Gov. Abbott, and Dan Patrick, I am not disappointed in you. I just don’t respect you.  Whether you are an elected official or Democratic activist, you are just a POS to me.

We whipped your arse and you don’t have zilch influence at H-Town City Hall come January 1, 2024.

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Today is the filing deadline to run for office in the Texas political party primaries. We will see who ends up running for State Senate District 15. State Rep. Jarvis Johnson has filed for SD 15. His ex-wife, Charlene Johnson has filed for Jarvis’s SD 139 seat. Charlene Johnson currently serves as an HCC trustee.

Folks expect Cong. Sheila Jackson Lee to file for reelection in CD 18.

I am sure there will be surprises today.

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The featured photo is from the staff room on election night at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Congratulations to Mayor-Elect John Whitmire. I am glad to call you a close friend.