What struck me most however was not, as mentioned in the story I link to below (which you should read), that Mr. Garcia's announcement speech was short on accomplishments and policy and long on 'personal story', it was expected that he would try to gloss over the fact that, while in office, he's been closer to the artist that provides the court rendering for newscasts rather than an active participant. No, what surprised us the most is that in his resignation letter he appears to be implying that he was the wrong guy for the job.
Garcia makes it official, joining crowded field for Mayor. Rebecca Elliott & Gabrielle Banks, HoustonChronicle.com ($$$)
(As is usual, the Chron does not want you to read their actual journalism (preferring instead you watch slideshows) so we quote very selectively and urge you to go read the entire story.)
In a letter Wednesday informing the court of his decision, Garcia, a Democrat, offered the court his "counsel and input." He urged the commissioners and judge to appoint an independent or another Democrat and to avoid choosing any law enforcement official who has aspirations of further elected office.Emphasis mine.
On the first point one would expect Mr. Garcia to wave the partisan flag (a little). Of course, when he ran for the office originally he downplayed (or didn't mention much) the fact that he was a Democrat, preferring instead to focus on the many allegations that plagued his Republican predecessor. In fact he did a good job distracting from the fact that he wasn't all that qualified to be a Sheriff in the first place.
On the second point. Isn't Garcia describing himself here? Isn't Garcia a 'law enforcement official who has aspirations of further elected office"? Never mind that he's resigning from a position with huge public safety implications to further those aspirations?
According to reports morale within the Harris County Sheriff's Department is at an all time low. The Harris County Jail is a shambles and the crime clearance rates are near the bottom of the State rankings. So, from that perspective, clearing the way for another individual to come in and try and get a handle on this mess is probably overdue.
I'm just amazed that, either through bad advice or bad judgment, Mr. Garcia was able to write without irony that the Harris County Commissioner's Court should select someone as his replacement that is decidedly only like him in party affiliation. For all of the important bits that do matter, Garcia is suggesting that he was the wrong man at the wrong time in the wrong job.
Call it me but that's not an ideal way to kick-off a campaign. Whoever he hired to handle campaign strategy has to be in a bar somewhere right now ordering it.
