Could Lina Hidalgo and John Whitmire’s stormy relationship impact the Houston area’s response to a hurricane? – Houston Public Media

As the Houston area prepares for the start of what is expected to be an active hurricane season, is the estranged relationship between the region’s two top elected officials a recipe for disaster?

The discord between Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor John Whitmire was noticeable on May 16, when they held their first joint news conference following an unexpected windstorm that caused eight deaths, widespread power outages and significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. At one point, they argued over whether and when other elected officials should take the podium to speak, with Whitmire remarking, “I’m glad I made the endorsement list,” and Hidalgo responding : “Mayor, it’s a disaster. It is not the moment. »

Since then, there has been no indication that the two men have met or resolved their differences, and they have not met for further press conferences, including to discuss recovery efforts after a storm or subsequent severe weather events. .

“Ironically, in the heat and heat of Houston, we are in the middle of a cold war between these two powerful elected officials,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston.

That could pose a problem during the Atlantic hurricane season, which begins Saturday, according to another local political scientist. Bob Stein of Rice University said he has long studied citizen behavior during natural disasters and other emergencies, adding that consistent, unified messaging from leaders is a key factor. to find out if residents were heeding warnings and recommendations regarding evacuations and how to prepare.

Leaders of the county and its largest city have always been in sync in terms of disaster response, according to Stein, who called this type of cooperation “absolutely critical.” Hidalgo and Whitmire’s predecessor, Sylvester Turner, often held joint news conferences and echoed similar sentiments early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The message is important, and when the message isn’t clear and unambiguous and doesn’t come from a reliable, coordinated outcome, people don’t pay attention,” Stein said. “And in this highly polarized political environment, that becomes even more important.”

A Hidalgo spokesperson, who told Houston Chronicle On Wednesday, she plans to run for a third term as a county judge in 2026 and said she wants to improve her relationship with Whitmire, a fellow Democrat elected in December after spending a half-century as a state lawmaker.

A spokesperson for Whitmire downplayed their apparent feud, saying, “The mayor’s and judge’s teams have maintained a high level of open communication, ensuring a smooth and transparent flow of information.” »

“Every day, the mayor and county judge lead in their respective jurisdictions, and there have been no issues related to preparation, rescue, recovery and planning for the hurricane season,” added the spokesperson.

Along those same lines, Rottinghaus said the personal relationship between Hidalgo and Whitmire is less important than their staff’s ability to work together. So he said he wouldn’t expect tensions between them to prevent any subsequent disaster response from the city or county.

Michael O. Adams, a professor of political science and public administration at Texas Southern University, said Whitmire had more emergency resources because the mayor oversaw the Houston Police Department and the Houston Fire Department as well as the city’s emergency management department. While Hidalgo is the chief executive of the county government, which has its own office of emergency management, the county’s four elected commissioners also play an important role in disaster response for the geographic areas they represent, a Adams said.

Cooperation and coordination are nonetheless important in an emergency, according to Adams, who said hurricanes and other extreme weather events also impact surrounding cities and counties whose elected leaders span the political spectrum.

“When it comes to natural disasters, I think we need to put political wrangling aside,” Adams said. “Helping people should not be viewed through the prism of partisan politics. We need to go beyond that and talk about the purpose of government and providing services to everyone who lives in the area. »

Adams, Rottinghaus and Stein said the dispute between Hidalgo and Whitmire appears to have started when Hidalgo supported Whitmire’s mayoral opponent, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. It was “not the wisest decision” on the part of Hidalgo, 31, according to Stein, who said it also appears that Whitmire, 74, is more beholden to political loyalties and more reluctant to repair barriers with the county. judge.

That might never happen, according to Rottinghaus, while Adams said such political squabbles “tend to heal over time.”

It could be sooner rather than later before the next natural disaster, such as a hurricane, hits the Houston area.

“Technically, they’re both Democrats, but they might as well be from different planets,” Stein said. “There isn’t a lot of what I would call goodwill and understanding between the two of them. If a crisis arises, we won’t benefit from their collective wisdom.”