Jared Woodill, chairman of the Harris Country Republican Party is exactly why I have grown so tired of writing about politics. Instead of recognizing that local politics is about making certain that the potholes are filled, the garbage is picked, and the cable TV works, Woodfill is more concerned about “standing up for Conservative values.” In other words, partisan bickering and obstruction are far more important than insuring that the city of Houston can provide basic services to it’s citizens.
So, Mr. Woodfill…here’s your DUMB@$$ AWARD.
The Harris County Republican Party has a warning for Republicans on Houston’s City Council: Be careful about supporting Mayor Bill White.
In recent weeks, as the popular Democratic mayor was taking flak over of his Safe Clear freeway towing ordinance, the local GOP saw two opportunities to humiliate him on the council.
Instead, White garnered enough Republican support to prevail on both issues, maintaining Safe Clear with modifications and spending up to $100,000 for an outside law firm to defend his Proposition 1 spending cap in court.
“There’s a lot of disappointment that the mayor was able to get Republican council members to support him,” said Jared Woodfill, chairman of the Harris County Republican Party.
The City Council is officially nonpartisan, but eight of its 14 members are Republicans. That’s enough to defeat anything the mayor proposes, even with White casting the 15th vote.
“We’re not looking for council members who are going to go along and get along,” Woodfill said. “We’re looking for council members who are going to stand up for conservative values.”
And if Gerry Birnbirg, the Chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party was the voicing these views, Woodfill would be the first hyprocrite in line waiting to hoist him on his own petard.
Apparently, taking care of the people’s business is far less important than advancing Woodfill’s Conservative agenda. Here’s a question for you, Jared: what part of “officially nonpartisan” do you not understand??
Woodfill said the Harris County Republican Party has a good relationship with Republican council members and is not planning immediate action against them.
But he said the party is keeping a closer eye on them and may take more aggressive stances if they continue to vote for what he called liberal positions.
City Council members don’t run as members of a party, but Woodfill said the GOP executive committee could influence their political aspirations through such measures as endorsing an opponent and putting out “score cards” on their votes.
“Our goal is to educate our constituents on how people vote and to hold people accountable,” Woodfill said.
But two local political scientists said what really rankles the Republican Party is that White sometimes acts like a Republican, making him one of the few Democrats regarded as a rising political star in conservative Texas.
Why is Woodfill so unwilling to recognize that a City Council member’s primary responsibility is to take care of the business of the city? That is why the Houston City Council is officially nonpartisan. Or is Woodfill really so ignorant and narrowly focused that he would rather see the city grind to a halt as long as the “Conservative agenda” is being advanced? Now THAT’S responsible leadership, eh?
City Council members do not legislate on moral issues. They have no input on abortion, welfare, or any any other hot button issue that Conservative Republicans obsess over. Council members make certain the streets are paved and the garbage is picked up. All Woodfill has managed to do is to expose himself and the GOP for what they are: more concerned about narrow ideological conformity on all levels than with the efficient and professional delivery of government services. If this isn’t DUMB@$$ AWARD-worthy, I don’t know what is.
This sort of behavior is reprehensible no matter what side of the political fence it emanates from. Mayor Bill White and the City Council should be commended for coming together and working to move Houston forward, not chided for failing to advance some narrow-minded partisan agenda. Potholes, garbage, and cable service do not differentiate between Republicans and Democrats. While Council members are by nature political animals, they should all be commended for their willingness to work together for the good of the city of Houston. After all, this is what they were elected to do.
In the meantime, how about we set Jared Woodfill adrift on an ice floe with a box of Captain America comic books,some Penthouse magazines, and a bottle of baby oil? It’s more than he deserves, but it would get rid of a major-league DUMB@$$, eh?
This is yet another example of Republicans eating their young. Jared Woodfill (attorney at law) has apparently forgotten, if indeed he ever knew, that some people seek elective office because they want to help govern, not to impose ideological purity. Republicans on City Council apparently support Mayor White because they agree with him. Woodfill didn't get the memo; it's Democrats who are supposed to be "obstuctionists".
"And if Bev Harris, the Chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party was the voicing these views, Woodfill would be the first hyprocrite in line waiting to hoist her on her own petard."
Psst...the chair of the HCDP is Gerry Birnbirg, not Bev Harris.
Thanks, Chuck. This is, of course, I suppose what happens when you have no fact-checking staff. Budget cuts, don'tcha know??
1) I'm a bit pissed off about Jared making this statement to the press.
2) I completely agree with him.
Time and again in recent months, the Harris County GOP Executive Committee (that means all of us elected precinct chairs) have passed resolutions on matters --you know, the sense of the party on matters of public concern -- and time and again these so-called Republicans have turned around and gone against those standards. But they will all be back whoring for contributions for their reelection/run for higher office.
What am I talking about.
SafeClear -- we supported killing it, but they try to keep it around.
Hiring outside legal council -- we said that Houston should use its $10,000,000-a-year Legal Deartment to defend itself in court, not hire politically connected outside counsel when a big case comes along.
Prop 1 & 2 -- we supported Prop 2, they backed the mayor's Prop 1, and then voted to hire utside counsel when the Mayor refused to implement Prop 2 and we sued.
I could go on, but the point is that these so-called Republicans are ignoring what theRepublicans want in order to support Mayor White, whose actions in recent week have proven him to be liar who desn't give a rat's ass about public safety.