The Chron sticks with incumbent Rep. Gene Green in CD29.
Rep. Gene Green
Former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia can point to 23 years on the Houston police force, six years on City Council, where he served as mayor pro tem, and six years as sheriff of Harris County, the third-largest sheriff’s department in the country. Despite long-festering problems in the Harris County Jail he ultimately was unable to resolve, his is a stellar record of public service.
Now he wants to extend it. In the wake of his unsuccessful run for mayor, the 55-year-old native Houstonian announced that he would challenge veteran congressman Gene Green, a fellow Democrat and family friend, in a bid to represent the 29th Congressional District. Also running is political neophyte Dominique Garcia.
Why? That’s the question local political junkies are asking about the former sheriff. Why now and why this seat? That’s also the question district voters will have to ponder as they decide whether to replace an experienced elected official with a solid record of service and a well-earned reputation for responding to his constituents’ needs.
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Garcia contends that it’s time for the district to elect an Hispanic, particularly in the face of mounting insults and attacks on Hispanics from the likes of Donald Trump. He also insists that the incumbent has been too cozy with the National Rifle Association. In addition to gun safety, his priorities include boosting educational opportunity, reforming immigration procedures, dealing with traffic congestion and growing the economy.
We’re glad that both challengers are running; in principle, the process works best when incumbents have to respond to challenges, particularly when they’ve been in office for a long time. This particular district, though, has been well served by the incumbent.
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We respect Adrian Garcia’s record of service to the community, service that we expect will continue in one form or another, but we see no need at this time to make a change in the 29th Congressional District. Along with the financial arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and a number of local Hispanic organizations, we endorse Gene Green.
I can’t say I’m surprised by this. If you frame the question the way the Chron has – why here, and why now? – you’re probably going to answer it in favor of the incumbent, who is very well regarded and has a lot of institutional support. I think Garcia is smart to hit Green over guns – if there was ever a time to make that an issue in a Democratic primary, it’s now – and also on environmental issues. He’d have a trifecta if he could attack Green cleanly on immigration matters, but as we know, he can’t manage that, and in fact he has taken some fire from Green for his enthusiastic support of 287(g) while Sheriff. Whatever the outcome here – I make Green the favorite, but I agree with those who say that higher turnout will benefit Garcia – I’m glad to see these topics get discussed. Family fights like this can be painful and awkward, but they’re also necessary.