Candidates and groups are out block-walking, phone-banking and working the polls for the Pasadena, Texas city races.
The city has become infamous for anti-Latino statements and actions from the mayor and city officials. Most recently the mayor had to apologize for calling a Latino councilmember “boy” and the Parks director turned out the lights before a Latino Pony Baseball League game. The recent redistricting was overthrown in court as at least partially due to a desire to diminish Latino voting rights.
There are seven candidates running for mayor and seventeen for eight council seats. Five of the candidates for mayor are Republican, one candidate has voted in Democratic primaries but has not been active in politics or in city government, and Pat Van Houte is the Democratic at-large councilmember.
Some of the groups active in turning out the vote in Pasadena for Democrats and progressives are LULAC, Tejano Democrats, Indivisible Houston, Texas Organizing Project, Harris County Democrats, Battleground Democrats, Area Five Democrats, and Bay Area New Democrats. This is in addition to all the candidates and their campaigns.
Pat Van Houte has been endorsed by the Houston Chronicle as having a record of standing up for the hard fight and persisting in fighting for all the people. She would be a break with the past and a fresh start for Pasadena.
Of the races in the Houston area, the Pasadena Mayoral election has been called the most consequential by the Houston progressive blog, Off the Kuff.
Despite the interest and activity early voting turnout so far has been pitiful for a city of 154,000 people. Latino voters are estimated at 42% and Black and Asian combined less than 5%. Unfortunately, under 10% voter turnout is typical for Texas local off-year elections. Four years ago voter turnout was under 4400. After five days 1611 in person votes (PDF) have been cast in Pasadena.vo