Houstonians are getting ready to go to the election polls on November 3 to cast their votes for the 2009 mayoral election.

              This year’s mayoral candidates are Peter Brown, Gene Locke, Roy Morales and Annise Parker.

               In a recent interview, the mayoral candidates expressed their visions for Houston should they become mayor.

Peter Brown

Why do you want to be mayor?

I love Houston, I'm a third-generation Houstonian and I’m committed to the future of our city. I’m dedicated to making Houston an even better place to live, work and raise a family and I’m running for mayor because I believe I have the right experience and vision for our city. My blueprint for an even better Houston contains real solutions to cut crime, grow our economy, improve our quality of life and make city government more efficient, effective and accountable.

What contributions do you want to make as mayor?

I want to make this city better by improving public safety, growing our economy and creating new jobs. I’m committed to improving our quality of life by preventing flooding, strengthening our neighborhoods and increasing transportation choices so that residents don’t have to waste time stuck in traffic. As mayor, I'll use my experience solving problems and getting things done to find real solutions and make this vision become a reality.

What policies do you want to create?

In order to bring new, good-paying jobs to Houston and grow our economy, I've proposed an office of economic development and job creation that will market our city around the world. To reduce crime in our communities, I believe we need neighborhood-oriented policing and with more officers out on patrol and proven strategies to prevent crime before it happen. We need to reduce traffic, prevent flooding and strengthen our electrical grid with strategic investments in high-priority infrastructure projects. And I’d like to see our city government become more efficient and effective, by streamlining city permits and regulations, making city government more transparent, and improving communications between residents and the city.

The best way to accomplish these goals is to have a plan for long-term growth, to lower taxes and streamline city government, and to make city services work effectively and efficiently. My top priority is finding real solutions to the challenges we face, to get results and make Houston even better.

Gene Locke

Why do you want to be mayor?

            I am the candidate in this race most ready to be mayor of Houston.  More than any other candidate, I have the greatest diversity of government, business and personal experience, as well as the vision and passion to lead this city.  I have seen Houston from every angle; as a civil rights activist, a steel worker, a union member, a small business owner, homeowner, city attorney, partner in a large law firm and as a husband and father. 

 What contributions will you make once you are mayor?  

I am the only candidate in this race who has major endorsements from a diversity of organizations and voters including:  republicans, democrats and independents. My supporters are from the east side and the west side, from labor and business. Bringing people together for the good of the city will be my strength. I strongly believe that we can come together to support pro-growth economic policies.   

 What policies do you want to create?

As mayor, I will focus on keeping Houstonians safe, bringing jobs to Houston, and improving transportation, not just in the city, but in the region as part of improving Houston’s special quality of life.  We know the next mayor will face a budget crunch, but we cannot allow a short-term downturn to derail our long-term future.  I do not favor new taxes, but as mayor I will not cut back on basic services.  I will put all options on the table, but I will not balance the budget on the backs of city employees. 

Roy Morales

Why do you want to be mayor?

I want to be able to help those that cannot help themselves. I want to be able to improve the quality of life for everyone but also protect that quality of life for everyone.

What contributions will you make once you are mayor?

I want to make sure that we get in control of the city budget that is crumbling, eliminate unnecessary regulations that are roadblocks to successful businesses, (and) I also want to provide property tax relief to families and businesses.

What policies do you want to create?

I want to look at all the large amounts of ordinances that are hurting business such as SafeClear and make sure that we eliminate the current monopolies created by the current administration.

Annise Parker

Why do you want to be mayor?

I want to be mayor because I believe I can make a difference in my city.

What contributions will you make once you are mayor?

The mayor of Houston leads the city and so sets the division and where the city needs to go but also manages the city and provides for the long term needs of the city. In addition to the day to day management that the trash gets passed, water flows and streets get fixed up, I want to move Houston into the green and renewable energy future and work to make Houston more than an international business than we already are. I want to create and begin to implement a drainage program in the city of Houston and fundamental reorganization of the police department.

What policies do you want to create?

We have an excellent police department but there is a better way to ensure that public safety spending actually makes us safer, so I want to change the way we do policing in Houston. Most of what I am talking about is not a new program but (for us to) do a better job at what we do.