Who do you trust on Public Safety?
The Annise Parker and Gene Locke campaigns released their initial runoff ads this week.
In Parker’s “Leader” ad she proudly acknowledges that the Houston Chronicle has endorsed her and decides to concentrate on public safety as the theme for her message.
The ad comes with some controversy though. The Houston Police Officers’ Union released a press-bulletin in which they claim the ad “is playing fast and loose with the truth.”
Although it is not specifically stated in the press release, one may surmise they are talking about the following line: “Endorsed by Houston Police Officers 7 Times in a Row”
Gary Blankinship, president of the 5,000-plus member Houston Police Officers’ Union, says, “The truth is, in past elections we did support her, however recently she lost our support and our trust. Houston police do not support Ms. Parker because she has no plan to support the police department or help officers fight crime in Houston.”
To a voter not in tune with the election the four-second assertion in Parker’s ad is misleading.
While the allegation that she does not “plan to support the police department” comes as a soft blow, it could have been a knockout punch if the HPOU delivered a straightforward message that made Annise Parker look like a weak candidate who was soft on crime.
Instead they bring up the fact that she “opposed funding to fight gang violence” back in 1998…yet she still managed to get their endorsement that next election cycle.
Locke’s “Safe” ad, like Parker’s, concentrates
on the public-safety theme. It is obviously an attack on Parker’s
leadership ability, which is the correct approach the Locke campaign
should engage
The ad asks, “Will your neighborhood be safe? With Annise Parker for Mayor?” It then adds, “Houston Police Officers say Annise Parker is soft on crime.”
Then, at about the ten-second mark, comes the dramatic statement that “Parker will ‘take apart’ the police department.”
Now, if that does not scare the living daylights out of you nothing will.
In
all actuality, to add context to the last claim: Parker indeed made
that pledge…gasp…but one must read it in context to understand
it.
The question was:
If you become mayor, when you become
mayor, what would you do differently in any of the city departments in
terms of structure or make-up, because obviously you will have to be
thinking about that ahead. So if there is anything that you can think
of now that says “This is an area of concern that I would have to
address immediately”?
Parker responded:
I would take apart the
police department. I want a complete shake-up. I would like a new
police chief. I want to rethink how we do policing in the City of
Houston.
Locke’s ad is well-produced and does a great job at targeting the core demographic that it was intended for.
The
ad leaves a prospective voter questioning Parker’s leadership
abilities. Why does the Houston Police Officer’s Union take such a
strong stance against Parker? Why is it that after holding public
office for over 10 years Parker has not developed the relationships
to maintain the endorsement of HPOU?
Locke can argue
effectively that he is obviously the right choice because Parker does
not have the trust and support of the law enforcement community and he
— after a long stint in private life — has come in, developed a
relationship, and gained the support of law enforcement right under her
nose.
Although Parker has obtained four other police union
endorsements, it sends a bad message when the most prominent police
union has not only failed to endorse her but they decide to question
her credibility as a candidate.
After reviewing both Locke and
Parker’s positions on public safety courtesy of their websites, there was only one stark difference … Police Chief Harold Hurtt.
Parker
has made it public that she is disappointed with his quality of service
and a new chief will be appointed if she were elected. On the other
side, Locke has remained silent on the issue. It also makes the
decision a bit harder when one learns that Hurtt donated $1,000 to
the Locke campaign in late May.
Although the candidates are nearly
identical on the issue of public safety, the HPOU trusts Gene Locke.
The question comes down to: Who do you trust?
Click here to learn
more about Gene Locke’s 7-Point Plan. Click here to learn more about
Annise Parker’s Safe Streets, Tough Choices.
This article appears in Nov 26 – Dec 2, 2009.