Gary Wade Sends Letter to the Editor Regarding City of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

2019

GARY WADE: “What Has Mayor Turner Really Done for us?”

OPINIONS -HAND BOOK-

Gary Wade is a Concerned Houstonian Voicing His Opinion GARY WADE: “Let me set the record straight — back in 2015 I was the #1 supporter for our current Mayor — BUT NOT ANY MORE!” PUBLISHED BY AUBREYRTAYLORCOMMUNICATIONS - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Mayor Sylvester Turner will be running for re-election on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Tony Buzbee is running for Mayor of Houston,Texas on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

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HOUSTON - 2019

“Election info published by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications. All Rights Reserved.”

What’s Pay-To Play?

It’s no secret that “BIG-TIME DONORS” have privileges at City Hall. But not everyone who donates to a candidates’ campaign is looking for contractual opportunities.

Sometimes donors are simply seeking access; at other times the donor may be seeking to influence a policy decision. However, in a lot of cases, by donating of their time, and or treasure, donors are just trying to support the person whom they believe best represents their ideals, interests, and beliefs. Unfortunately, however, as stated by many candidates currently running for mayor of Houston in the Tuesday, November 5, 2019, General Election — PAY-TO-PLAY POLITICS is indeed a big problem in the City of Houston.

What is PAY-TO-PLAY POLITICS? in short, this term is used to refer to a system where people pay money or donate to a campaign to become a player once the candidate takes office — the donation is sort of their rights of passage.

Got an opinion? Please email your “Letter to the Editor” to me for consideration at: aubreyrtaylor.gmail.com

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AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS 957 NASA Parkway #251 Houston, Texas 77058

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Experience vs. Integrity

Email your letter to: aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com

By Gary Wade COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER

Let me set the record straight — back In 2015 I was the #1 supporter for our current Mayor.

I block walked, I financially supported the Mayor, I did everything I could to provide support to Mayor Turner, and I was privileged to be invited to the victory party.

For over 25 years Sylvester Turner wanted to be the Mayor of Houston.

The third time for him was the charm. If anyone should know about the word integrity, it should be Mayor Turner.

GARY WADE Before winning the election then-candidate, Sylvester Turner promised many from the African American Community that things would change. No change occurred, and this is not second-hand information, these statements I heard directly from Sylvester myself. My personal

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Letter to the Editor

“The opinions published in this ‘LETTER TO THE EDITOR” only reflects the opinion of the author of the submitted letter. This opinion does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of any Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers, advertisers or sponsors.”

friend(s) and colleagues chauffeured then-candidate Sylvester Turner around this city during the campaign, and he promised that if he won the election, he would make sure that my friend(s) loyal service would not be forgotten. After winning the election, my friend and his colleagues got dropped like a hot potato. What happened to Turner’s integrity?

Let’s look at another important issue that matters to the African American Community.

When Sylvester Turner became the Mayor of Houston, instead of selecting a Chief of Police from among the ranks, he goes outside of the city and brings in a Police Chief from San Antonio. Get a rope!!!

Don’t get me wrong, I think Chief Art Acevedo is a great guy, but whatever happened to loyalty to our local talent?

Mayor Turner also had the opportunity to appoint an African American Police Chief. Troy Fenner is a home-grown local product more than qualified to be the Police Chief. In fact, as of today, Troy Fenner is the Asst. Police Chief. Mayor Turner are you saying that Troy Fenner is not qualified to be the Chief of Police of Houston, Texas?

If you are not saying so, your selection certainly suggests that Troy Fenner is not qualified.

Today our Fire Chief happens to be from El Paso Texas. Mr. Sam Pena, who I do not personally know. But I do know Rick Flanagan, Her-

Experience vs. Integrity

bert Griffin, and Kevin Alexander, to name a few African American firefighters who just so happen to be from Houston, and is more than qualified to head up the Houston Fire Department. With so much local talent, why did you choose Sam Pena and not someone from Houston?

There are many major decisions that Mayor Turner could have made that would have had a significant impact and would have benefitted the African American community.

GARY WADE: “Mayor Sylvester Turner passed on the opportunity to nominate Theldon Branch as the first African American Port of Houston Chairman earlier this year.�

BRANCH

CAMPO

FITZGERALD

Mayor Turner had the chance to nominate the first African American Port of Houston Chairman as well. Theldon Branch, who many in the African American community thought was a highly qualified individual, and someone who has pretty much always supported Mayor Turner. According to Mayor Turner he did not have the support of the county. What does that have to do with the price of tea in China? It is undisputed that

Mayor Turner should have nominated Theldon Branch. What happened Mayor? But he instead nominated, Ric Campo who eventually won the chairmanship in a tight vote over Clyde Fitzgerald, someone who many people thought was more qualified.

You were also told that Karun Sreerama was a bad choice for the public works director, Mayor Turner. But you chose him anyway. Why? Is it because the Indo community wrote you a fat check for your campaign? Where was the integrity in that choice?

I could go on and on about the lack of integrity that Mayor Turner has shown to the African American community, but the point of this “letter to the editor” is to question our Mayor’s integrity especially when it comes down to the African American community-at-large.

The title of this “letter to the editor” is Integrity vs. Experience. It is undisputed that Mayor Turner has political experience. The question is does he have integrity.

The very definition of integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles and moral uprightness — the state of being whole and undivided.

Mayor Turner has not shown that he has integrity. It’s often said, “politicians will say what they have to say to get elected.” It is no doubt that Mayor Turner has a lot of “experience” when it comes to saying whatever he has to say to win.

The time is now, however, that we must not just choose a representative of our interest simply because of the color of their skin — but for the content of their character. Just because a person has experience does not mean that they have integrity.

Letter to the Editor

“The opinions published in this ‘LETTER TO THE EDITOR” only reflects the opinion of the author of the submitted letter. This opinion does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of any Houston Business Connections Newspaper readers, advertisers or sponsors.”

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Positions Drawn on the ballot for the Tues., November 5, 2019 General Election

Mayor

Demetria Smith Naoufal Houjami Victoria Romero Roy J. Vasquez Kendall Baker Derrick Broze Sue Lovell Bill King Sylvester Turner Tony Buzbee Dwight A. Boykins Johnny “J.T.” Taylor

Council Member, District — A

Mehdi Cherkaoui Amy Peck Marina Angelica Coryat Lois Myers George Harry Zoes Iesheia Ayers-Myers

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Council Member, District — B

Alice Kirkmon Ben White, Jr. Karen “KKC” KossieChernyshev Robin J. Anderson Broderick F. Butler Alvin D. Byrd Cynthia Bailey Prince E.W. Bryant II Karisma D. Gillam Tarsha Jackson Kenneth Perkins Renee Jefferson Smith Huey German-Wilson Alyson Quintana

Council Member, District — C Kevin Walker Amanda Wolfe Michelle Gianz Sean P. Marshall Gladys House Mary Jane Smith

HOUSTON - 2019

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Bob Nowak Abbie Kamin Daphne Scarbrough Candelario Cervantez Greg Meyers Shelley Kennedy

Council Member, District — D Jerome Provost Ken Moore Carolyn Evans-Shabazz T. “Nissi” Hamilton Carla Brailey Mike Grissom Travis McGee Brad “Scarface” Jordan Dontrell L. Montgomery Anthony Kirk Allen Dennis Griffin Rashad Cave Terrill D. Thomas Marlon A. Christian Andrew C. Burks, Jr.

Council Member, District — E Dave Martin Sam Cleveland

Council Member, District — F Tiffany D. Thomas Jesus Zachary Zamora G. “John” Nguyen Richard Nguyen Anthony Nelson Van Huynh

Council Member, District — G Tom Baker Greg Travis Crystal Pletka

Council Member, District — H

Gaby Salcedo Cynthia Reyes-Revilla Karla Cisneros Isabel Longoria

Council Member, District — I

Robert Gallegos Richard “Rick” Gonzales

Council Member, District — J Andrew “Drew” Patterson Barry Curtis Sandra Rodriguez Nelvin Adriatico Federico “Freddie” Cuellar II Edward Pollard Rafael Galvan

Council Member, District — K Gerry Vander-Lyn Martha Castex-Tatum Kim Sauke

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Council Member, At-Large

Council Member, At-Large

Mike Knox Georgia Provost Raj Salhotra Yolanda Navarro Flores Larry Blackmon

Ericka McCrutcheon Tiko Hausman James “Joe” Joseph Jennifer Laney Nick Hellyar Bill Baldwin Jason Rowe Anthony Dolcefino Christel Bastida Javier Gonzalez Letitia Plummer

— Position #1

Council Member, At-Large — Position #2

David W. Robinson Willie R. Davis M. “Griff” Griffin Emily Muñoz Detoto Jim Honey

Council Member, At-Large — Position #3

Jose Carlos Gonzalez Michael Kubosh Marcel McClinton Janaeya Carmouche

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— Position #4

Council Member, At-Large — Position #5

J. Brad Batteau Ralph “Rafa” Garcia Catherine Garcia Flowers Eric Dick Sonia Rivera Michelle Bonton Sallie Alcorn Ashton P. Woods Marvin McNeese, Jr.

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Controller Chris Brown will be running for re-election on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Orlando Sanchez is running for Controller, Texas on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

HOUSTON - 2019

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Victoria Romero is running for Mayor of Houston, Texas on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Roy J. Vasquez is running for Mayor of Houston, Texas on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

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“Election info published by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications. All Rights Reserved.”

Sue Lovell is running for Mayor of Houston, Texas on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Kendall Baker is running for Mayor of Houston, Texas on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

HOUSTON - 2019

“Election info published by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications. All Rights Reserved.”

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Naoufal Houjami is running for Mayor of Houston, Texas on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Demetria Smith is running for Mayor of Houston, Texas on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

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HOUSTON - 2019

“Election info published by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications. All Rights Reserved.”

Johnny “J.T.” Taylor is running for Mayor of Houston, Texas on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Derrick Broze is running for Mayor of Houston, Texas on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

HOUSTON - 2019

“Election info published by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications. All Rights Reserved.”

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Dwight Boykins is running for Mayor of Houston, Texas on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Bill King is running for Mayor of Houston, Texas on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

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HOUSTON - 2019

“Election info published by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications. All Rights Reserved.”