Tony Buzbee, a high-wattage trial lawyer, big-time political donor and Texas A&M University System regent, says he is running to be the mayor of Houston in 2019.
“The mayor’s race in Houston traditionally has been as boring as watching paint dry,” Buzbee said on Fox26 Houston Tuesday night, when he announced his bid. “I think that we have a city that is above average with below average leadership, and I’m considering very seriously, because there’s a lot of people asking me to do this, running for the mayor of this town.”
When pressed, Buzbee confirmed he is running and would donate his mayoral salary, if elected, to “a random voter that I choose every year.”
[…]
Buzbee, a former Marine, has a roster of high-profile clients to his name, including former Republican Gov. Rick Perry, whom he successfully defended in an abuse-of-power case.
Buzbee was appointed to the A&M System Board of Regents in 2013, by Perry, and has been known to host raucous and politician-studded parties at his River Oaks mansion, including a 2016 fundraiser for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Last year, he was rebuked by a local homeowner’s association after he parked an operational World War II-era tank outside his house.
So basically, one part Ben Hall, one part Bill King, and one part MAGA bro. If that’s not a winning combination, I don’t know what is. The Chron has more.
Not a big fan of Turner here, but Ill vote for him over a Trump mega donor. Thats just gonna kill his chances.
Did Trump even get 35 percent in the City of Houston?
Buzbee has lots of money….better start spending it now because Turner can raise as much as Buzbee can spend. And the ads write themselves.
In re: Trump in Houston, I’m sure the answer is No, but I don’t have the exact data. I do have data from 2012 thanks to the city bond issue, and from 2008 since I asked for it from the County Clerk. Obama received about 61% in the city of Houston in both those races. I have a really hard time imagining Trump getting anywhere close to the 38% or so that John McCain and Mitt Romney got.
BTW, I will have this data for 2018, thanks to the two city propositions on the ballot.
I assumed he was a Democrat, being a trial lawyer. He got rich shaking down companies who actually build things and provide services. I wouldn’t say he has any experience applicable to running a city. He also supported David Dewhurst. Yuk!
Would he get any crossover votes from Dems disillusioned with Sly? Other than his apparently recent support of Trump, he’s got a Dem pedigree.
Bill, corporations that “build things” would run roughshod over the populace if there were not mechanisms in place to hold their feet to the fire (that’s NOT an invitation for you to lecture us on how the market would handle such details if only given a chance). It’s amusing that you have such a weird belief about what professions are off-limits to Republicans. If I ever have to hire an attorney, my concern will be how skillful they are, not their political party affiliation.
I don’t think you can put him in a box, though his recent $90,000 contributions to the Harris County Democratic Party definitely puts him in the Democrat column. He did fund raise for Sylvester Turner, as well as Adrian Garcia. On the other hand, he was also appointed by Rick Perry as regent to Texas A & M, and fund raised for Trump. According to Rice University’s political analyst Mark Jones, Buzbee’s wealth, name, and identity make him a serious contender. Much like Trump, he’s said he’s not a politician. People are sick of politicians, so having that kind of experience is not necessarily a plus. Will see who else decides to run, but should definitely be an interesting race.
Will never vote nor support anyone that helped or supported Trump.
I’m less interested in him than I am in hearing who these people who asked him to run are, ‘cause they don’t sound like they have any sense, either.
I cannot imagine any significant Republican support for Buzbee. Bill King would draw more such voters, if he chose to seek a rematch.