Reflecting on White, Brown

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Roy Reynolds comments on Mayor White and reminisces about his predecessor in today’s Chronicle:

[Mayor] initially concentrated on long-neglected financial restructuring, including the unfunded liabilities of the employee pension fund, to put the city on a firm fiscal base.Few can deny that White has made certain strides in the right direction for the city. But the reason for his popularity might have less to do with his initiatives than outsiders might perceive.

Bill White brought Houston some sorely needed credibility in the city’s head office. He actually kept some campaign promises, including syncing up the green lights downtown. Never mind that the light rail keeps traffic moving in a distinctly staccato manner.

Working with then-County Judge Robert Eckels in giving refuge to victims of Hurricane Katrina was not only noble, but provided a boost to the city’s reputation around the nation.

But honestly, White benefited most from the man he replaced. The lowered bar helped curve up White’s reputation before he ever put a photo of his wife on the mayoral desk. Anyone would have looked good compared with the previous administration of Lee Brown, who inexplicably stuck to Houston like some political napalm of mismanagement.

The day city workers took a crowbar to remove Brown’s photo from the airport sign, flowers began to bloom. Birds chirped. Off in the distance, a small child laughed.

Lee Brown was a constant source of entertainment and embarrassment for many of us. He was EXACTLY the guy you want to follow if you are an ambitious pol. Of course, the Chronicle endorsed Lee Brown repeatedly for mayor, which just goes to show what those sorts of endorsements are worth.


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Kevin Whited is co-founder and publisher of blogHOUSTON. Follow him on twitter: @PubliusTX