Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I don't think that Mayor John Whitmyer really cares what
the for riskve wing of his party thinks about endorsing
him or not. I think he's made that fairly clear
in his comments about let him speak for himself. Mary Witmeyer,
welcome back to our show. Do you feel like I
feel like you're getting the John Fetterman treatment? What do
you think?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I'm fine. I'm very positive about the direction we're going.
And Kunt Franklin, Jimmy, I don't have time for politics.
You know, politics is count frank had election time. I've
made no secret that I worked across the aisle. I've
gotten much accomplished with that model in Austin I have.
(00:39):
I just don't worry about someone's party identity if they
want to help me fix Houston, and I'll use that
same position going forward. The Democratic Party has never endorsed
someone in a city election, so it's really a much
ado about nothing. But I'm so focused on public safety's
(01:00):
improving our infrastructure. I find it kind of silly and
a distraction.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yeah, I don't blame you fulfilling that way. There's obviously
your concern is the city itself and running efficiency and
making the city safe. I know that supposedly according to
the story. I so, anyway, you are admonished for representing
a fundraier going to a fundraiser for Representati Dan Crenshaw.
Why did you go to the fundraiser? Was that just
(01:27):
an effort once again to reach across the aisle with
people who can work with you.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
You know, it's out of respect for his public service.
First of all, he's made sacrifices as your soldier, so
I respect him. I don't agree with him on all
of his positions, but I'm certain he doesn't agree with me.
I just went out of respect because I was asked to.
It was in a residence that I've been to Democratic
(01:52):
fundraisers also, so you know, it was part of my
collaboration with people that can help the city of Houston.
I understand who governs Austin and Washington. I need their resources,
and we're doing quite well. We have the best legislative
session in memory. We're working with the administration in Washington
(02:14):
to help us with our water treatment plant that was
built in nineteen fifty four on the East Side furnishes
sixty percent of Houston's water. We've got to get it
updated and helping us with the homeless population.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Public safety, I can go own it on.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
I'm not going to jeopardize Houston's funding because someone doesn't
want me to talk to someone from the other party.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
That is how we're getting things done.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Have there been other areas of frection involving law enforcement,
for example, cooperating with ice, other areas. You know, you've
made your public safety campaign very well known. You're tough
on crime. You want to get criminals off the street,
you want to punish criminals. There are a lot of
progressive Democrats who don't like that particular aspect of what
(03:00):
you stand for.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
You know, I just said again, don't worry about politics.
I'm on a mission to make Houston a safer city.
We've got to get ready for the World Cup next summer.
We're the most prepared big city in the nation. FIFA
calls us the grown up city because we're so business like.
So I just can't worry about politics at this stage.
(03:26):
Some people can't get over the last election, which is unfortunate.
You know, we had an election I won. We're moving forward.
I've brought a great team to city Hall. They're honest,
they're professional, we're really working practically me around the clock.
It's a seven twenty four a week job. I get
emergency calls here in the night. I certainly stay in
(03:49):
contact with our police chief, our fire chief. I'm on
call to attend an event, go to the hospital, to
be with families. Uh.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
You know, I've prepared my entire life for this job.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
I was asked by Houstonians to leave the legislature. It
was a tough decision, and uh, we're getting things done.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I really appreciate the goodwill of Houstonians. I go out
in public, everyone is so kind. So to worry about
a partisan minority effort of a few activists, I just
don't worry about it. Yeah, it's just unfortunately part of
the job. It's a distraction. It's silly, but we are
singlely focused on improving Houston and we're getting there.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
One last one for you serve before we let you go,
And how busy you are, and that is you've decided
to run for reelection. Clearly you feel like you need
another four year term to get all the things accomplished
that you want to accomplish. Has this job been even
more difficult than even you thought it would be?
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I guess I had.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
I've discovered more messages than I thought existed. The city finances.
We've been able to balance city budget without raising taxes
or fees.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I'm still committed to that. We're going to do it
next year as well.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
So it's twenty four departments, so I had to put
my team in place.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
But I've discovered that.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You know, I've spent about two years getting messes cleaned up.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
We still have some work to do. You know.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I've had to replace directors, replace the entire Housing Authority
that wastefully spend one hundred and thirty million dollars on
the environmental sensitive location.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
The Sports Authority was not getting the job done.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
I could go through all the changes we've made. Now
we want to finish our mission. I didn't plan to
announce ree election at this point, but you know, I
was kind of pushed into it to let everyone know.
I had some detractors say, oh, he won't run. Well,
that's just not true. We're working hard and we're on
(05:56):
a roll, and we're not about to stop from election time.
We want both terms to complete our mission of public safety, infrastructure,
quality of life issues. And I could go on and
on with the improvements that we're making. I hear it
from citizens. The morale of our police and fire has
never been higher. I believe the morale of Houstonians is
(06:18):
high because they realize they've got an honest, transparent mayor
that just wants to get the job done. I don't
have time for politics, i don't have a lot of patience.
I'm willing to give eight of the remaining best years
of my life to Houstonians, and people are responding very positively.
So thank you for allowing me to talk this morning.
I'm getting fired up and I'm ready to.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Go to work.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Could hear that? Thank you, sir? And having Merry Christmas.
Thanks for your time this morning.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Be safe.
I don't think that Mayor John Whitmyer really cares what
the for riskve wing of his party thinks about endorsing
him or not. I think he's made that fairly clear
in his comments about let him speak for himself. Mary Witmeyer,
welcome back to our show. Do you feel like I
feel like you're getting the John Fetterman treatment? What do
you think?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I'm fine. I'm very positive about the direction we're going.
And Kunt Franklin, Jimmy, I don't have time for politics.
You know, politics is count frank had election time. I've
made no secret that I worked across the aisle. I've
gotten much accomplished with that model in Austin I have.
(00:39):
I just don't worry about someone's party identity if they
want to help me fix Houston, and I'll use that
same position going forward. The Democratic Party has never endorsed
someone in a city election, so it's really a much
ado about nothing. But I'm so focused on public safety's
(01:00):
improving our infrastructure. I find it kind of silly and
a distraction.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yeah, I don't blame you fulfilling that way. There's obviously
your concern is the city itself and running efficiency and
making the city safe. I know that supposedly according to
the story. I so, anyway, you are admonished for representing
a fundraier going to a fundraiser for Representati Dan Crenshaw.
Why did you go to the fundraiser? Was that just
(01:27):
an effort once again to reach across the aisle with
people who can work with you.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
You know, it's out of respect for his public service.
First of all, he's made sacrifices as your soldier, so
I respect him. I don't agree with him on all
of his positions, but I'm certain he doesn't agree with me.
I just went out of respect because I was asked to.
It was in a residence that I've been to Democratic
(01:52):
fundraisers also, so you know, it was part of my
collaboration with people that can help the city of Houston.
I understand who governs Austin and Washington. I need their resources,
and we're doing quite well. We have the best legislative
session in memory. We're working with the administration in Washington
(02:14):
to help us with our water treatment plant that was
built in nineteen fifty four on the East Side furnishes
sixty percent of Houston's water. We've got to get it
updated and helping us with the homeless population.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Public safety, I can go own it on.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
I'm not going to jeopardize Houston's funding because someone doesn't
want me to talk to someone from the other party.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
That is how we're getting things done.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Have there been other areas of frection involving law enforcement,
for example, cooperating with ice, other areas. You know, you've
made your public safety campaign very well known. You're tough
on crime. You want to get criminals off the street,
you want to punish criminals. There are a lot of
progressive Democrats who don't like that particular aspect of what
(03:00):
you stand for.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
You know, I just said again, don't worry about politics.
I'm on a mission to make Houston a safer city.
We've got to get ready for the World Cup next summer.
We're the most prepared big city in the nation. FIFA
calls us the grown up city because we're so business like.
So I just can't worry about politics at this stage.
(03:26):
Some people can't get over the last election, which is unfortunate.
You know, we had an election I won. We're moving forward.
I've brought a great team to city Hall. They're honest,
they're professional, we're really working practically me around the clock.
It's a seven twenty four a week job. I get
emergency calls here in the night. I certainly stay in
(03:49):
contact with our police chief, our fire chief. I'm on
call to attend an event, go to the hospital, to
be with families. Uh.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
You know, I've prepared my entire life for this job.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
I was asked by Houstonians to leave the legislature. It
was a tough decision, and uh, we're getting things done.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I really appreciate the goodwill of Houstonians. I go out
in public, everyone is so kind. So to worry about
a partisan minority effort of a few activists, I just
don't worry about it. Yeah, it's just unfortunately part of
the job. It's a distraction. It's silly, but we are
singlely focused on improving Houston and we're getting there.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
One last one for you serve before we let you go,
And how busy you are, and that is you've decided
to run for reelection. Clearly you feel like you need
another four year term to get all the things accomplished
that you want to accomplish. Has this job been even
more difficult than even you thought it would be?
Speaker 3 (04:51):
I guess I had.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
I've discovered more messages than I thought existed. The city finances.
We've been able to balance city budget without raising taxes
or fees.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I'm still committed to that. We're going to do it
next year as well.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
So it's twenty four departments, so I had to put
my team in place.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
But I've discovered that.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You know, I've spent about two years getting messes cleaned up.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
We still have some work to do. You know.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I've had to replace directors, replace the entire Housing Authority
that wastefully spend one hundred and thirty million dollars on
the environmental sensitive location.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
The Sports Authority was not getting the job done.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
I could go through all the changes we've made. Now
we want to finish our mission. I didn't plan to
announce ree election at this point, but you know, I
was kind of pushed into it to let everyone know.
I had some detractors say, oh, he won't run. Well,
that's just not true. We're working hard and we're on
(05:56):
a roll, and we're not about to stop from election time.
We want both terms to complete our mission of public safety, infrastructure,
quality of life issues. And I could go on and
on with the improvements that we're making. I hear it
from citizens. The morale of our police and fire has
never been higher. I believe the morale of Houstonians is
(06:18):
high because they realize they've got an honest, transparent mayor
that just wants to get the job done. I don't
have time for politics, i don't have a lot of patience.
I'm willing to give eight of the remaining best years
of my life to Houstonians, and people are responding very positively.
So thank you for allowing me to talk this morning.
I'm getting fired up and I'm ready to.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Go to work.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Could hear that? Thank you, sir? And having Merry Christmas.
Thanks for your time this morning.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Be safe.
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