Pat Van Houte
There’s a lot of interest in the May elections this year, driven in large part by a newfound level of engagement from progressives and other Trump opponents. Of the races in the Houston area, the most consequential is the Pasadena Mayoral election, where a group of candidates are vying to succeed term-limited Johnny Isbell. Pat Van Houte has served on Pasadena City Council since 2009, and has also served as a foil for Mayor Isbell, in particular on the controversial and now-illegal redistricting plan that Isbell pushed through in 2013. A former employee of the Texas Workforce Commission and Child Protective Services, Van Houte is a graduate of Michigan State University and has lived in Pasadena since 1980. Here’s what we talked about:
I have one more interview for this race in the works. Let me know what you think.
Hello, will you be interviewing Gloria Gallegos as well? When can we expect to see her interview posted? Thank you! Also, lots of work going on with Latino TX PAC on the upcoming Pasadena elections. They have endorsed Gloria for mayor as well as various individuals for City Council and school board elections.
Santana,
Yes, I am also interviewing Gloria Gallegos. I will run that either later this week or next Monday. Thanks for your interest!
I’m curious what factors lead Latino TX PAC to endorse Gloria over Pat.
The Latino Texas PAC made a $10,000 campaign contribution to Gloria Gallegos who’s only voted in two Democratic Primaries. In my opinion, that does not make her a Democrat. I voted for Pat Van Houte by mail two weeks ago, and I am urging all Progressives in Pasadena to do the same!
The progressive Latinos believe that with Trump and Isbell a Democratic Latino can beat a Republican White in Pasadena. I don’t think so. Pat Van Houte has a chance to beat Moon or Talton or Wagner, Gloria Gallegos very probably doesn’t. This is still Pasadena.
The interview illustrates that Pat is not a politician despite 8 years on Pasadena City Council. Ask her a question about top priorities as mayor and you get an over six-minute lecture on sidewalks, streets, and abandoned buildings. She is loaded with knowledge and has block-walked all areas for well over a year but should simplify and focus more.
I don’t have a spreadsheet of the 2016 precinct presidential or the statewide judges vote but in the 2015 at-large council races Van Houte won with 51.7% to 48.3% and Del Toro lost 39.1% to Morrison at 60.9%. The biggest difference was Del Toro was obviously Latino.