New Harris County Sheriff Axes LGBT Liaison Program

[TexasTowelie]

Last month, after finally announcing his candidacy for mayor of Houston, Adrian Garcia stepped down as Harris County Sheriff and county leaders appointed someone strikingly different – an older white Republican lawman who's been itching for job ever since Garcia hinted he might resign to run for mayor.

As with most transitions of power, there was a sweeping, abrupt shakeup within the top ranks when former Precinct 4 Constable Ron Hickman took the reins as sheriff. Just two weeks after his appointment, Hickman had fired numerous people, demoted many others, and replaced his first several commander positions – top brass at the sheriff's office who oversee operations like criminal investigations to the jail – with white men. Garcia told the Houston Chronicle the apparent lack of diversity was “unconscionable,” and Hickman fired back at Garcia while lunching with his base at the Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club's weekly meeting last Thursday.

That Hickman would openly criticize a Democrat whose job he just assumed, or that he'd flood the HCSO administration with his own people, isn't surprising. But apparently Hickman also has a problem with rainbow flags.

David Jennings, a conservative writer who blogs at Big Jolly Politics, attended the downtown Republicans meeting last week and reports that, among other things, Hickman was “incredulous” when someone pointed out the HSCO website featured a small rainbow flag next to an email address to contact someone with the office's LGBT liaison program.

Read more: http://www.houstonpress.com/news/new-harris-county-sheriff-axes-lgbt-liaison-program-7502172

[SusanCalvin]

1. Axes it?

Seriously?? Given our extremely popular mayor, if for no other reason? Welcome to the 21st century, guy......