Repeated Calls for Gene to Come Clean

Last week, Annise Parker came under attack from the Gene Locke campaign for budgets that were wholeheartedly supported by progressives on City Council, including Mayor Bill White.

Apparently, Locke was trying to win over some Republican voters by sounding more conservative.  Too bad he’s never given back any of the $17 Million in tax money he’s made in the last six years for his special interest law firm.  If anything, it seems he still wants his firm to make money off the Taxpayer Trough.

The Parker campaign has responded with continued calls for Locke to ensure his law firm does not vie for City contracts.

“Lawyer-lobbyist Gene Locke continues to demonstrate his disdain for open and transparent government and his disrespect for the voters,” said Adam Harris, Parker’s campaign manager. “He still refuses to say whether or not he will vote on millions of dollars of city contracts for his law partners if elected mayor.”

“It’s been exactly two weeks since these questions were raised,” continued Harris. “It’s time for lawyer-lobbyist Locke to come clean about his conflicts.”

Locke is a partner in the politically connected law firm of Andrews Kurth. The firm has made more than $17 million in the last six years alone from the City of Houston, METRO, the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority and the Port Authority of Houston, the same public agencies whose board members Locke would appoint as Mayor – while his law firm, Andrews Kurth, continues to bid for contracts from the city and each of those agencies.

And as it turns out, his law firm is still making money from Harris County, even after he decided to run for Mayor.

Locke has also refused to answer a series of questions posed by Texas Watchdog eight weeks ago about his relationship with the Harris County – Houston Sports Authority. According to documents uncovered by Texas Watchdog, Locke was still involved with the authority well after he claimed to have resigned when the campaign began.

The taxpayers deserve answers.