TODAY, MAYOR; MONDAY, OTHER RACES.
The city needs the mayor’s progressive, but pragmatic, approach to challenging policies.
Bats aren’t blind. The Great Wall of China is not really visible from space. And vaccines do not cause autism.
Many people believe these myths because they’ve heard them repeated enough times. Statements that are familiar start to feel right, regardless of accuracy.
It’s called illusory truth effect. And it’s been a powerful weapon in Houston’s rough-and-tumble mayoral race.
Houstonians have been told — at forums, in news articles, and in a barrage of TV ads — that Mayor Sylvester Turner’s tenure has been mired in corruption, that Houston has grown into a dangerous place under his watch, that he ignored the will of the people on firefighter raises.
If true, this editorial board would have no qualms about recommending that voters throw the bum out.
But facts — the real ones, scrutinized thoroughly by the Chronicle’s reporters in the newsroom — show a different picture.
While weak ethics rules make pay-toplay politics a perennial concern in Houston and Harris County politics, Turner’s opponents have failed to land a bombshell that proves he has abused his power. The most high-profile attempt to discredit Turner, involving a $95,000 “executive internship” created at the airport for a man who called Turner his mentor, fizzled after it was reported that the salary was in line with the employee’s experience and education, including three advanced degrees.
While Houston’s violent crime has risen 6 percent during Turner’s tenure, FBI data show the rate of nonviolent crime has fallen 9 percent and overall crime has dropped 6 percent. Houston, like many major cities across America, has experienced a significant drop in crime over the past 30 years.
On Prop B, the voter-approved measure that granted firefighters pay parity with police — and, on average, a 29 percent raise in a cash-strapped, revenuecapped city — the mayor made good on his word to implement the measure, and the consequences, including layoffs, before the police union successfully overturned it in court.
Despite all the smear attempts, here’s what continues to shine about Turner: This Acres Home native who rose from humble roots to attend Harvard Law and become an influential member of the Texas House of Representatives is a walking testament to our city of opportunity.
He wasted no time during his first term accomplishing his No. 1 priority, and the thing his past and present opponent Bill King claimed he couldn’t do: broker a historic pension deal and get it passed by the Texas Legislature. The accomplishment, while far from perfect, saved Houston from possible bankruptcy tied to the city’s long-festering $5.6 billion pension crisis.
Turner has had stumbles — some perhaps exacerbated by his well-known thin skin, stubborn grudges and tendency to micromanage. Turner needs to remain laser-focused on Harvey victims, slashing any red tape and performance issues that are delaying home repairs. He needs to prioritize resiliency and flood prevention over the demands of influential builders.
We have no doubt that King, a former Kemah mayor who narrowly lost to Turner during a runoff four years ago, deeply cares about Houston and has a deep knowledge of city policy that Turner would do well to tap, as he did with another former mayoral rival.
Among other challengers in the crowded field, Councilman Dwight Boykins may be the most amiable and we hope his passion for public service propels him to future runs.
The candidate most likely to push Turner into a runoff, trial lawyer Tony Buzbee, has self-funded his campaign to the tune of $10 million. He’s brought passion and, well, creativity, to the typical ho-hum dryness of mayoral politicking. While he may have turned heads, and perhaps noses, with his colorful animal metaphors — horse manure and hogs, oh my! — we’re looking for substance, experience and true vision.
Turner has that vision — along with the drive to see it through to reality. His progressive heart, checked by a defiantly pragmatic sensibility, is what propels his hopeful agenda for our dynamic, diverse city, including an aggressive climate plan, a tireless effort to diversity Houston’s economy by drawing more startups and tech firms and a desperately needed neighborhood revitalization program known as Complete Communities.
The mayor’s stance against Prop B, which cost him longtime support from firefighters, has been depicted time and again as a betrayal of heroes or even democracy itself.
Bats aren’t blind and neither are we. Prop B showed Turner was willing to do the right thing even when it was the hard thing. That’s the vision Houston needs, and it’s why we recommend Sylvester Turner, once again, for mayor.