The Stace Slate – November 2023 Election

Well, it’s that time again. It’s time to vote. Early voting begins October 23 and ends on November 3. And Election Day is on November 7. You may vote at any of the county’s Vote Centers. Find yours here.

So, here are the choices on my own ballot:

• State of Texas Prop 1 – NO
• State of Texas Prop 2 – YES
• State of Texas Prop 3 – NO
• State of Texas Prop 4 – NO
• State of Texas Prop 5 – YES
• State of Texas Prop 6 – YES
• State of Texas Prop 7 – NO
• State of Texas Prop 8 – YES
• State of Texas Prop 9 – YES
• State of Texas Prop 10 – NO
• State of Texas Prop 11 – YES
• State of Texas Prop 12 – YES
• State of Texas Prop 13 – NO
• State of Texas Prop 14 – YES
• Harris County Hospital District Prop A – YES
• City of Houston Mayor – Sheila Jackson Lee
• City Council At Large 1 – Leah Wolfthal
• City Council At Large 2 – Holly Flynn Vilaseca
• City Council At Large 3 – Richard Cantu
• City Council At Large 4 – Letitia Plummer
• City Council At Large 5 – Sally Alcorn
• City Controller – Chris Hollins
• City of Houston District F – NO PICK
• City of Houston Prop A – YES
• City of Houston Prop B – YES

Explanation

My first choice for Mayor would have been Robert Gallegos because of his experience at City Hall and his willingness to stand up for what is right. Unfortunately for Gallegos, I know I really do not want Whitmire in office and I am a definite NO for most everyone else on the ballot for various reasons, except SJL. Whatever polling has been done tells us that a run-off will be between Sheila Jackson Lee and Whitmire. A message needs to be sent early on that Jackson Lee is the best choice because she has a track record of standing up for the people and will always have them in mind. SJL says it best, “Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are,” and there is much to be said about some of Whitmire’s right-wing supporters.

And the local fish wrap must learn that playing for both teams in some vain attempt at bipartisanship doesn’t get us anywhere as a community, especially when one team is filled with fascist election deniers who never have the people in mind. Whitmire has been deadset on playing that game–a game in which the people lose and politicians gain–for most of his 50 years in office. So, I’m with Sheila Jackson Lee.

Whatever their reason for walking lock-step with Whitmire, I must say I’m disappointed with some in the local Latino establishment for looking away from Whitmire’s connections to election deniers. These are the same election deniers who constantly attack County Judge Lina Hidalgo and our Democratic judges. Latino elected officials and their influencers must do better than just aim for political opportunism and expediency.

My picks for AL2 and AL3 were obvious ones. Both Holly Flynn Vilaseca and Richard Cantu have been elected policymakers and have led on important issues that affect us every day. Plummer in AL4 has taken stands in favor of police reform and rent reform, so my enthusiasm for her hasn’t waned. In AL5, I have not been impressed with the incumbent like some of my friends in politics, but the opposition isn’t even on the radar. In AL1, Leah Wolfthal seems to have made more of an effort in her communications to address the diverse community that is Houston on issues that matter–infrastructure and illegal dumping. And in my own district, the incumbent is unopposed, so it doesn’t matter what I say. The obvious choice for City Controller is Chris Hollins.

Whatever you do, VOTE EARLY!

Other Races not on my ballot:

• District I – Joaquin Martinez
• District H – Mario Castillo
• District J – As a former resident, I can say that more choices are needed–at the very least one progressive candidate. The incumbent is an overfunded political opportunist with right-wing tendencies in a dismally low turnout district. Playing the fear game against him will not work as a strategy, but there was a lot to work with to point out the incumbent’s weaknesses that the opponent avoided in favor of social media shouting matches. Unfortunately, this is a lost opportunity to defeat an incumbent with an obviously large price tag hanging from him.
• District B – Tarsha Jackson