Political change
Election-year turbulence and turnover is the kind of development voters should welcome.
Like long-quiescent kernels inside the popcorn machine at River Oaks Theater, local politicos are suddenly beginning to feel the heat. For reasons not altogether clear — Donald Trump craziness? A broken system of governance? — elected officials or would-be elected officials are beginning to hop, crackle and pop. Those are signs and sounds of a healthy democracy, a welcome portent of invigorating change.
There’s no great mystery about Houston Congressman Gene Green’s decision to retire. At 70, he’s served in the U.S. House since 1993, preceded by 20 years in the Texas Legislature. His retirement opens the door yet again for a Latino to represent the 29th Congressional District. A district that encompasses east Houston and parts of Pasadena, the 29th was drawn in 1991 to reflect the area’s predominantly Hispanic population, but Green has been its sole representative — in large part because he’s been an exemplary public servant.
Former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia tried to unseat the veteran lawmaker last year in a race that left a residue of hard feelings between the candidates and among their supporters. Garcia, who also lost a bid for Houston mayor, appears ready to try again. State Sen. Sylvia Garcia and state Rep. Armando Walle are running, while state Rep. Carol Alvarado and attorney Beto Cardenas are mulling. One thing we hope will not change, whoever Green’s successor turns out to be, is his record of constituent service and his unstinting focus on issues of importance to his working-class district.
There’s activity on the Republican side, as well. U.S. Rep. Ted Poe has announced he’ll be retiring after his current term. He’s one of several Texas Republicans in both Congress and the state Legislature who have decided to “spend more time with the family” or otherwise occupy themselves post-public service. Poe’s announcement follows those of U.S. Reps. Lamar Smith of San Antonio, Jeb Hensarling of Dallas and Sam Johnson of Richardson, three Republicans who have announced their imminent departure.
Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott apparently has come to the conclusion that there’s no room under the Capitol dome for that increasingly rare species of politician known as republican us moderatus. The governor is targeting state Rep. Sarah Davis, a moderate Republican who represents West University and who has earned the ire of the governor and the local tea party establishment for not voting in lockstep with the hard right. (The image that comes to mind for Abbott’s lawmaking minions is a line of elbow-swinging, goose-stepping North Korean soldiers on Pyongyang parade.)
Abbott’s unseemly intrusion is unlikely to knock off Davis, who, despite being elected in the tea party wave of 2010, is a worthy reflection of her moderate, independentminded district. She’s aware, even if the governor isn’t, that her district is more likely to send a Democrat to Austin than a right-winger in the Abbott-Patrick-Paxton mode.
Whatever happens in Davis’ House District 134 next year, we’re happy for the governor to stir the pot. We’d be happy to see even more election-year turbulence and turnover. One glaring example: Harris County Commissioners Court, where moss tends to grow like a thick felt rug on the backs of incumbents, needs fresh faces. An increasingly urban county needs new ideas as it confronts challenges from Mother Nature and elsewhere.
It’s time for a little snap and crackle at the courthouse. Time for new perspectives and energetic challengers at every level. Time for voters to take notice.