Mayor, Chron, No Votes

The featured photo is all over the place.

At center top is yesterday’s lead editorial headline in the Chron hard copy. It is about the H-Town City Council vote on how the police department should deal with ICE. Here is the headline:

Mayor’s political coalition shattered

Here is from the editorial:

The Republican-Democratic coalition that brought (Houston Mayor John) Whitmire into power has been shattered. Far too many members of his base see this vote as a betrayal rather than an embrace of smart policy for Houston. That’s unfortunate. 

The police union even rescinded their endorsement of Whitmire and swore they wouldn’t be endorsing him in the future. Apparently the “generational contract” that gave officers a 36.5% pay hike wasn’t enough for them. Future mayoral candidates take note.  

Folks know Commentary will be involved in the mayor’s reelection campaign in 2027. The E-Board is overreacting a tad. I do think the E-Board would love to see the mayor’s support for reelection shattered.  

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At center bottom is today’s lead headline from the Chron hard copy.

The story is about the Proposition A process to put the ICE matter before city council. Here is the headline:

Mayoral power called into question

Proposition A wasn’t approved by the voters under the mayor’s watch. It was approved before he took office. I am sure the Chron would love to see the mayor’s power called into question. The mayor doesn’t talk to the Chron.

H-Town operates under a strong-mayor form of government, probably the strongest-mayor form of government in the USA. If the Chron doesn’t like the power the mayor has, then lead the effort to make a change.

They won’t though.

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Commentary likes my elected officials to show up.   The top of the list for showing up is voting. Voting in all elections. At the center of the featured photo is the Chron E-Board endorsed candidate Joe Panzarella’s voting record. It is provided by the Harris County Clerk’s Elections Department.

According to the record, Panzarella forgot to vote in the general election last year, November 4, 2025. That ballot included the H-Town City Council At-Large 4 special election, the Congressional District 18 special election, and 17 state constitutional amendments.

Panzarella also forgot to vote in the January 31, 2026, CD 18 runoff, held two and a half months ago.

Commentary likes my elected officials to show up. Panzarella is not showing up.

I don’t expect the Chron or the Chron E-Board to ask Panzarella about this. They have already cozied up to him.

He is not the mayor. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Sad and pathetic Chron and Chron E-Board.

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The Astros are 6-10 and on a 7-game losing streak. Our pitchers are pretty dinged up. They wrap up the roadie in Seattle this afternoon.