The race for Houston mayor is heating up with U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and State Sen. John Whitmire are clashing swords over public safety, ethics, and racial relations. Whitmire holds a tentative lead, but Jackson Lee is not backing down, the Houston Chronicle reported after the faceoff in Monday's debate.
Whitmire, who snagged 42% of likely voters according to the latest poll, lobbed accusations at outgoing Mayor Sylvester Turner for corruption in city contract procedures. Pointedly, he attacked the Hobby Airport contract, as revealed at the debate hosted by FOX 26 and the American Turkish Business Council. Meanwhile, behind the polls, Jackson Lee harbored criticism for Whitmire's long political tenure, lacking, in her view, tangible benefits for Houstonians.
As early voting commences, Whitmire has a seven-point lead, according to a new poll by Houston Public Media/Houston Chronicle/UH Political Science and Population Health. The report snagged by Houston Public Media indicates real traction among key demographics for Whitmire.
In a debate moment, Jackson Lee ripped into Whitmire over disproportionate rates of incarceration amongst black and brown communities during his time as chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. The congresswoman promised a hopeful Houston that would not see city services and staff cuts under her watch, a stark contrast to the impending fiscal cliff as federal pandemic relief dries up, as articulated by UH political scientist Jeronimo Cortina.
Jackson Lee shares the spotlight on public safety focusing on job creation and intervention strategies.
The outcome of the runoff election will be on Dec. 9.
