City controller candidates raise voices
Candidates for city controller embraced a more activist approach to Houston’s second-highest political post Saturday, months after saying they hoped to establish a less adversarial relationship with the mayor.
Perpetually overshadowed in Houston’s strong-mayor form of government that affords the controller no policy-making power, many past city controllers were known for using the post as a bully pulpit to criticize mayoral policy, and later a launching pad for higher office.
Earlier this year, the five declared controller candidates indicated they would depart from this mold.
However, that tone shifted at a forum in Sunnyside, where three of the candidates addressed a predominantly African-- American crowd gathered at a neighborhood community center.
“It’s the second-highest elected official in city government, and it needs to be independent to provide a check and balance on the office in power,” said former City Councilman Jew Don Boney, who went on to say the controller must not be an ally or lapdog to the mayor.
The city’s chief financial officer is tasked with performing audits, preparing financial statements and managing Houston’s investments and debt, though the office holder has no vote on City Council.
Still, Boney stressed the controller ought not approach the role bureaucratically.
“This is not an election for the chief bookkeeper of Houston,” Boney said. “We hire CPAs.”
Bill Frazer, 2013 controller runner-up, who touts himself as the only certified public accountant in the race, was not in attendance. Former Houston Community College board member Carroll Robinson also missed the bulk of the forum, walking in during closing remarks.
Meanwhile, deputy controller Chris Brown edged closer to the idea of a controller at odds with the mayor, albeit more gingerly.
Brown said the relationship between mayor and controller should depend on the state of the city’s fiscal affairs.
“In times of great surplus, where there’s a lot of money, I think the mayor and the controller should be adversaries, because that’s the time when the mayor’s gonna say, ‘Hey, we’ve got tons of money. Let’s just go spend it,’ ” Brown said.
“But,” he added, “I think in the times when we have difficult financial problems, there needs to be more of a concerted effort to work together to solve the financial problems in the city.”
With the city facing a $126 million deficit, Brown’s remarks suggest his approach to the job would likely be similar to that of Controller Ron Green, who has not had a combative relationship with Mayor Annise Parker.
Before assuming office, Parker served as city controller for six years.
Former Metro board member Dwight Jefferson was of a similar mind.
“I think that the mayor and the controller should work as equals,” said Jefferson, who previously described the controller’s job as ministerial.
He said city leadership should work together to “ensure the best outcome for the city.”
Much of the forum hosted by the Southeast Precinct Judges Council was dedicated to explaining what the little-known controller’s job entails, the opening question being: “What the devil does the controller do and why do you want to do that?”
Boney, Brown and Jefferson also voiced their support for Houston’s current system of electing its controller, an appointed post in many other cities.