HOUSTON – Mudslinging is a normal part of political campaigning as much as shaking hands and kissing babies. One local attorney with aspirations of one day leading the City of Houston, however, took it a step further.
The brewing electoral rivalry between Tony Buzbee and Houston Mayor Sylvester yielded another flashpoint, with the former this time resorting to using animal excrement to express his disdain for the latter.
At a press conference held at his mayoral campaign headquarters on Jan. 18, Buzbee addressed the gathered media with a wheelbarrow of manure placed in front of his lectern.
Buzbee brought in the horse dung to emphasize that “something stinks in City Hall.” He proceeded to criticize Turner for purportedly awarding city contracts in exchange for campaign donations.
“That stinks pretty bad,” stated Buzbee, looking at the manure to stress his point.
Buzbee expressed his interest in running in the city’s mayoral race in 2020 late last October. In an interview with KRIV-TV, the attorney openly criticized the city’s leadership and declared that he can do better as chief executive of the country’s fourth largest city.
Buzbee also took issue with Turner’s plans to pursue legal action over Proposition B, which grants Houston firefighters pay parity with Houston Police Department officers. He offered to serve as lead counsel for Houston firefighters pro bono in the event goes to court.
Prior to Christmas, Buzbee and Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 341 President Patrick M. “Marty” Lancton called on the mayor to settle the Prop B row.