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Nina To\/ The Cougar<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone should be smiling this morning because the people of Houston<\/a> are smiling, because they\u2019ve elected a mayor who is going to listen to them, a mayor who is known for solving problems.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Two years have passed since John Whitmire made this triumphant statement during his inauguration as mayor.\u00a0Looking back at this, once a hopeful moment in Houston history has led many Houstonians, including me, to crease our mouths into a frown.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Whitmire\u2019s tenure following his inauguration has been riddled with controversy, backlash and even expulsion<\/a> by his own political party. <\/p>\n His term of office has been encompassed by an attitude of dismissiveness, bureaucratic inadequacy and regressive policies. This leaves many Whitmire voters, such as myself, regretting<\/a> their voting decision.<\/p>\n Disappointment<\/p>\n Whitmire was supposed to be a hopeful page-turning moment in Houston\u2019s history, a candidate who, on paper, seemed worthy to lead the fourth-largest city in America. He represented Houston in the Texas legislature for 50 years, was the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate and served on many important Senate committees.<\/p>\n During Whitmire\u2019s campaign, he emphasized that his mix of experience, pragmatism and efficiency was the right approach for Houston. He also argued that his background and connections in the Texas legislature could bring real change.\u00a0<\/p>\n This resonated with me and many other voters who felt the Sylvester Turner administration was passive in enacting meaningful change in the city. As a result, Houston seemed to decline<\/a> in the wider American sphere.<\/p>\n Whitmire ultimately succeeded in his mayoral bid, garnering 64.4% of Houston\u2019s total votes and endorsements across the political spectrum, from the Houston Chronicle to Tillman Fertitta<\/a>. The city was behind him.\u00a0<\/p>\n Two years later, the bright, vivid picture of Houston that many voters had envisioned had faded, painted over by the gray reality of Whitmire\u2019s time in office.<\/p>\n Whitmire\u2019s actions and behavior over the past two years have contradicted much of the agenda he outlined in his speech and campaign. Instead of being understanding and attentive<\/a>, he has been disengaged and dismissive; his pragmatism has disappeared and the transparent, honest administration he promised has been discredited by evasion and lies.<\/p>\n For instance, Whitmire has struggled to take a practical approach to raising taxes amid Houston\u2019s $227 million <\/a>budget deficit. As tough a decision as it might be, his cuts to METRO funding and reduction of city administration leave him very short-handed on other options to reduce the deficit.<\/p>\n Sylvester Turner\u2019s candidacy was marked by a lack of transparency and honesty, something Whitmire vowed to undo in his administration.\u00a0<\/p>\n Leadership failures<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Whitmire has rolled back on his promise<\/a> not to divert drainage funds, investing<\/a> in the demolition of buildings. This is a problem for many Houstonians, and a survey of voter priorities for the mayor ranked infrastructure in the top 3 at 73%<\/a>, with drainage and water supply included.<\/p>\n In addition, Whitmire has been evasive<\/a> about ICE\u2019s involvement in Houston, tiptoeing around the issue and leaving Houston residents uninformed. A well-explained statement from Whitmire can clarify what powers his administration has in the matter, but he has been too weak-willed to be honest.<\/p>\n Most importantly, Whitmire does not possess the qualities that a public servant, much less a mayor, should have: understanding and adequately articulating his actions.\u00a0<\/p>\n When faced with the question of efforts to recall him, he described the efforts as \u201csilly,\u201d <\/a>dismissing the recall as petty rather than addressing the concerns of his constituents.\u00a0<\/p>\n