Ex-councilwoman enters mayoral race
Former Houston city councilwoman Sue Lovell announced Monday she is running for mayor, becoming the fourth major candidate aiming to deny Mayor Sylvester Turner a second term in November.
Lovell made the announcement in a news release posted on her campaign website. She joins a field that includes District D Councilman Dwight Boykins, trial lawyer Tony Buzbee, businessman Bill King and at least five lesser-known candidates.
In her announcement, Lovell emphasized her tenure as chair of the City Council transportation committee and advocacy for LGBTQ rights. She served three terms on council from 2006 to 2012, including a stint as vice mayor pro tem.
“Now, more than ever, our citizens trust that public safety will be a priority, that the services they pay for will be delivered efficiently and on time, and that there will be an investment in the city's infrastructure and their quality of life,” Lovell said in a statement. “I will honor that trust and deliver on those commitments.”
Speculation had abounded for months that Lovell would join
the race, representing a challenge to Turner from his left. Lovell also has established herself as an ally to the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, working for a political action committee that supported Proposition B during last year’s midterm election.
The ballot referendum, which passed with about 59 percent voter approval, granted firefighters the same pay as police officers of corresponding rank and seniority. In May, a judge ruled the measure unconstitutional and void.
Lovell has sided with the union in its ongoing labor dispute with Turner and sharply criticized the mayor on social media for his stances on Prop B.
The firefighters recently endorsed Boykins for mayor.
Though Lovell’s name last appeared on the city ballot in 2009, she has remained visible in the community for the last decade and likely maintains some recognition among voters, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston.
“She’s been out office for awhile, but there are still a lot of people that know and respect her,” Rottinghaus said.
Lovell is likely to cut into the mayor’s progressive base, said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University. Before Lovell joined the race, Jones said, “Turner was going to be the preferred choice of most liberal Anglos.” Those voters are more likely to support Lovell than King, Buzbee or Boykins, Jones said.
Her candidacy also increases the odds the November election will result in a runoff, because the fractured field will likely prevent any candidate from reaching at least 50 percent of the vote, Jones said. In that case, the race would head to a runoff between the top two finishers.
Lovell also is a past president of the Houston GLBT caucus. The group endorsed Turner in 2015.
On Monday, Turner’s campaign manager, Jake Burns, wrote in an email to the group that Turner’s campaign would mail a check to the group for $4,660, covering 170 new caucus memberships.
Turner’s campaign also cut the caucus a check for $3,040 in 2015, covering at least 76 memberships, according to his spokesperson Sue Davis. At the time, Davis said such donations are “something that’s done every year.”
She declined Monday to comment on Lovell’s candidacy or the GLBT caucus email.
In a statement, Buzbee said he welcomed Lovell to the race.
“Although we likely won’t agree on all issues, I have no doubt she loves Houston as much as do I, and I respect her views,” Buzbee said.
King’s campaign, like Buzbee, framed Lovell’s candidacy as an indictment of Turner, noting the size of the field looking to unseat him. King’s campaign also made the case that he is best positioned to beat Turner.
The less prominent mayoral candidates who have filed treasurer’s reports with the city secretary’s office are: Kendall Baker, Derrick Broze, Anton Dowls, Naoufal Houjami and Demetria Smith.