Buzbee headed for runoff

Atlanta native Tony Buzbee is headed to a runoff against Mayor Sylvester Turner. In an interview with KHOU Buzbee says that “this is race 2.0”. Buzbee told the Journal he felt confident going into the election to be the next mayor of Houston, “I wouldn’t have run if I didn’t think I would win.”

“For the next 39 days, this is going to be a full-on slugfest,” Buzbee said. “We’re going to be very specific. We’re going to draw a real distinction between what he has done or failed to do over the last four years, and what we are going to do.” – KHOU

The runoff election will be on December 19th. Buzbee has already won the endorsement from the Houston firefighters according to the Houston Chronicle.

Buzbee recently told the journal that he has received great feedback from those on the street in Houston about becoming the mayor. “People are excited. They are tired of the corruption at City Hall. They are tired of the poor street conditions, of flooding, of not having their trash picked up on time. It is clear that Houstonians are ready for a change.”

He believes his effort will pay off in the runoff, “We have knocked on more than 125,000 doors. I have personally shaken 25,000 hands. Due to this effort, I have learned what truly matters to Houstonians. “

Buzbee feels pretty confident in any lifestyle change, “obviously managing a city the size of Houston is a 24-hour job. But I’ve always worked hard. I’ve been in the public eye for a long time and represented people for a long time. Being mayor will allow me to serve in a different way. “

Even though Buzbee himself labeled himself an outsider he says he believes people took him “seriously because they saw that I was serious about becoming mayor and changing the city for the better. They knew that I had nothing to gain, personally or professionally, from becoming mayor and I was running because I truly wanted to give back to the city that has given so much to me.

Buzbee a Cass County native grew up near the Atlanta State Park. He has been a noted lawyer that has represented clients that include horse trainer Bob Baffert and recording artist Jimmy Buffett. Buzbee has represented multiple governmental entities, including the State of Louisiana, and the Basque Government in the Kingdom of Spain. In 2014, it was announced that Buzbee would be lead counsel for Governor Rick Perry of Texas after Perry was indicted on two felony counts which were later dismissed in 2016. In 2009, Buzbee won the largest jury verdict against British Petroleum (BP) in history. Buzbee is the managing partner of the Buzbee Law Firm in Houston.

In March 2013, Governor Rick Perry appointed Buzbee to the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. He was appointed along with fellow Houston attorney Charles Schwartz and re-appointee Morris Foster.

His term was set to expire on February 1, 2019.

Buzbee is also the partial owner and serves on the Board of Directors of Galveston’s Hometown Bank. He also has served on the Board of Visitors of Texas A&M Galveston, and The Bay Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America according to information on Wikipedia.