HOUSTON – A prominent local attorney has reportedly offered to serve as lead counsel for Houston firefighters pro bono in the event a recently approved proposition yields litigation.
Earlier this month, Tony Buzbee of The Buzbee Law Firm in Houston weighed in on the controversial Proposition B, which set equality in pay between the city’s police officers and firefighters, stating his willingness to represent the firefighters should Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner proceed with legal action.
Turner has made it no secret his opposition to Prop B, which approximately 300,000 voted in support of on Election Night. The mayor asserted that Prop B will spur layoffs within the fire department and other city services.
Houston City Council on Nov. 28 voted to approve a professional services agreement with Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP to represent the city in a potential fray over Prop B.
Buzbee, in turn, insinuated that the city suing because of Prop B would hurt taxpayers.
"There is absolutely no reason to waste taxpayer money on litigation," he said in a statement released by his office.
A Marine veteran who sits on The Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System, Buzbee is reported to have interest in succeeding Turner as the Houston’s chief executive. The attorney plans to run in the 2019 mayoral election.