Houston proves that a major U.S populous can focus on critical qualifications with open minds when it comes to a high-office election. On Saturday, December 12th 2009, Houstonians do what Dalasites couldn’t do in the last mayoral election. Houston elects Annise Parker as the first openly gay Mayor in major U.S. city. Houston with over 2 million residents is the 4th largest city in the United States.
In a runoff election held yesterday, Dem-Annise Parker won the mayoral election with 53% of the votes to her rival Gene Locke’s 47% (numbers rounded). November’s election was too close to bring in a new Mayor Elect along with several other city positions. Houston has been in a financial turmoil over the past 18 months and eagerly fought for new direction.
- AP – Photo: Annise Parker (center) celebrates with partner Kathy Hubbard (left)
Mayor Elect Parker promised her constitutes that her sexual identity would bear no influence on her management of the the city. In a post win acceptance announcement she also stated that she knows what it means for to have won the election and is proud make history.
Houston Mayor Elect Annise Parker “Tonight the voters of Houston have opened the doors to history – I acknowledge that. I embrace that. I know what this win means to many of us who thought we could never achieve high office. I know what it means. I understand, because I feel it, too. But now, from this moment, let us join as one community. We are united in one goal in making this city the city that it can be, should be, might be, will be.”
Neither November’s elections or December’s runoff made major national headlines prior to the final votes. Even without the national press looking on, Mayor Elect Parker did face aggressive local woes against her campaign. But that only came when the race (in November) was down to two and she was considered a threat by the conservative right and religious groups. A smear campaign consisting of phone calls, faxes, and fliers ensued full-on proclaiming Parker would move to legalize same-sex marriage in Houston and expand gay rights.
While the anti-gay effort did have an impact, Houstonians were able look past the viscous attacks and focus on personally proven qualifications and skills needed to get the job done.
In 2007, Dallas mayor candidate Ed Oakley, a long running and successful City Councilman faced the similar anti-gay campaigns and lost the election in what was otherwise a close race with the now current mayor, Tom Leppert. As with Parker, Oakely’s sexual orientation did not become an issue until the final weeks of the race.
There were some key differences in the Dallas race that supporters say ultimately lost the election for Oakley. The Dallas election made international headlines when Time Magazine ran an article on Ed Oakley as possibly being the first mayor of a major U.S. city. The Dallas Monring News followed suit with the gay angle, making a big deal out of it. Shortly thereafter, the anti-gay campaign attacks started,
Oakley, in what could have seemed a cornered counter attack, responded by going after his opponent’s character in a negative manner as opposed to sticking with the issues. As a result Oakley may have shown his own character in a negative light.
Perhaps Parker learned from this mistake. Instead of countering a very personal attack against her opponent, Locke, she stuck with the issues of the city and pressed those issues in her favor while highlighting the negatives of her opponent’s qualifications and past experience to handle the job efficiently. It was a strategy that worked.
Congratulations Houston!
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