What would possess a mayor of one of the largest cities in the country to go “full middle school childish” and leave a comment on a fellow elected official’s Facebook page, calling their fiancé a “nerd”?
Someone, please call Houston Mayor John Whitmire’s office to find out. And while you’re at it, see if Whitmire’s social media dealings were the reason behind what some Houstonians are calling his administration’s seeming lack of preparedness for Hurricane Beryl.
Any-who.
Many view the since-deleted post as an outward sign of something bubbling just below the surface between Whitmire and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, whose bridal shower pics posted on Facebook were the objects to which Whitmire applied his commentary.
While most who viewed Hidalgo’s pics shared their congratulations, Whitmire did so too, but in a way that suggested there may be some animus between the two.
“Wonderful. He sure looks like a nerd,” read Whitmire’s entire post.
Mary Benton, Whitmire’s chief of communications and senior advisor, downgraded his comment to joke status.
“Mayor John Whitmire was having a lighthearted moment and meant no harm. He congratulates the happy couple and wishes them well,” she stated.
But what about before that? You know, the press conference incident?
On May 16, when the region’s top two elected officials held their first joint press conference, an air of discord was apparent to anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear.
The press briefing was in response to the unexpected windstorm that caused eight deaths, widespread power outages and significant damage to Houston-area buildings and infrastructure.
At one point during the all-the-way-live news briefing, there appeared to be a brushing aside or demeaning of Hidalgo’s position as Harris County Judge when Whitmire attempted to pass her over to allow other elected officials gathered to make comments first.
Hidalgo was not having it and asserted herself onto the podium/mic space. While doing so, she immediately reminded Whitmire that protocol suggests it is standard operating procedure for Houston’s mayor and Harris County’s judge to be the first two individuals to address the public on such matters.
Hidalgo, who was visibly offended, stated, before addressing the issue of wind damage, that another reason her voice was critical to all Houston-area viewers of the event was because she has traditionally interpreted comments for the area’s robust Spanish-speaking population.
The seemingly standoffish relationship between the two in that moment was made even more frosty when Whitmire, referring to press conference speakers, remarked, “I’m glad I made the approval list,” as Hidalgo stood ready to speak at the podium.
Her response: “Mayor, this is a disaster. Now is not the time.”
Day-yum. Did she just “Not Like Us” Houston’s mayor?
Though the two were together days later at another press conference that went down without incident, many who study local politics for a living opined that issues remained.
“Ironically, in hot, steamy Houston, we’re in the middle of a cold war between these two powerful elected officials,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston.
Multiple local and national political scientists agree that cooperation and coordination in messaging and service delivery for cities and counties experiencing natural disasters are critical. Houston has a long history of city and county leaders working in lockstep, moving beyond political party affiliations to provide Houston and Harris County residents with information that could literally be life-saving.
If for no other reason, the Bayou City’s track record of witnessing multiple mayors and Harris County judges work together like a well-oiled machine, delivering consistent, coordinated messages, magnified the seeming tension between the two political titans.
Rice University’s Bob Stein told another local media publication that consistent, unified messaging from area political leaders plays a major role in getting residents to heed warnings and recommendations about hurricane preparation measures, for example, or calls for area evacuations.
Countless political scientists, community activists and laypersons alike have come to the same, though unconfirmed, conclusion that any bad blood between Hidalgo and Whitmire traces its genesis to Hidalgo’s decision to endorse U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Whitmire’s opponent in the city’s last mayoral election.
Texas Southern University professor of political science and public administration Dr. Michael O. Adams believes whatever beef exists, regardless of its origins, needs to be squashed.
“In terms of natural disasters, I think we need to put the political bickering aside,” shared Adams. “Helping people should not be viewed through the lens of partisan politics. You have to go beyond that and talk about the purpose of government and providing services to everyone that lives in the area.”
