I realize we're all focused on the 2008 elections, and rightly so, but if I may interrupt that for a moment to bring a bit of interesting news for 2009: According to a well-placed City Hall source, former Governor of Texas Mark White has been making phone calls about running for Mayor of Houston, and may have decided to do it. That's all I know at this point, so I can't say it's carved in stone, but I can believe that there's something to it. The why, I'm less certain about. I'm not really sure what he brings to a race that already features two over-fifty white guys - maybe he'd be a landing place for disillusioned Peter Brown fans. Governor White was an early supporter of Council Member Jolanda Jones, and he's certainly capable of raising a bunch of money, so all jokes aside he'd be a serious contender if this is for real. If so, you can say you heard it here first.

UPDATE: The Chron confirms it.

Former Texas Gov. Mark W. White is considering whether to run for mayor of Houston in 2009.

"It's a prospect," he said in telephone interview today.

The Democratic businessman, who grew up in Houston and served as governor from 1983 to 1987, added, "I have talked to a number of people (about running) and have been very pleased by their response."

[...]

White said he learned as Texas governor that solving the social problems of the state's largest cities would tremendously ease state services.

"We could reduce the prison population 60 percent" by further addressing urban problems, he said.