Annise Parker Leads Houston Mayoral Race in Latest Poll

Annise Parker, Houston's openly lesbian city controller, takes a major lead in the race to be mayor of the nation's fourth largest city, according to a KHOU/KUHF poll:

"Parker leads former city attorney Gene Locke 49 percent to 36 percent, according to a poll released Thursday by Rice University in Houston. Parker has never made her sexual orientation a secret or a focal point during her six years on the City Council and the last six years as controller. But it took a more prominent role in the mayor's race in the weeks leading up to the runoff as anti-gay activists and conservative religious groups have endorsed Locke and sent out mailers condemning Parker's 'homosexual behavior.' Locke has been trying to distance himself from anti-gay attacks while courting conservative voters who could tip the race in his favor. Rice political science professor Robert Stein, who oversaw the poll, said the attention on Parker's sexual orientation has probably hurt Locke more than her. 'It denied Locke an opportunity to win over traditional white liberal Democrats,' Stein said."

Parker has been the subject of  vicious mailings sent to thousands of Houstonians that targeted her sexuality. The mailings have been linked to several of the largest donors to the Locke campaign.

Parker finished first in the general election November 3rd. The runoff is December 12th. Annise Parker's campaign site is HERE.

Comments

[dfs]

good stuff. Houston proper has become pretty liberal as the inner city gentrification has taken place. some of those suburbs, not so much.

[Mad Professah]

This will be interesting to see of Annise can pull this off--I think she will.

[Dave in Houston]

This is good news. We're very excited about tomorrow's election. I am hoping and praying that Annise can pull this off. She is a stellar candidate and the best this city has seen in some time. Locke is old school and it seems that his gaybaiting is backfiring.

[kayman]

Well, that's an interesting turn of events after the anti-gay mailings were out and about in Houston. If Parker does win, Houston will surpass Portland as the largest city in the nation with an out-of-the-closet gay mayor.