Time for Houston to move forward with harmony

Marcellus, a minor character in William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” famously describes the warped world of the title character as “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”

While far from being in the state Shakespeare’s Denmark was in his famous work, all is not well with the state of Houston city government these days.

Following an emotionally charged city council election, the vitriol expressed by some among the council for their fellow members has not subsided, with Mayor Steve Frost playing the role of ringleader of the Houston City Council circus. Political in-fighting at the council was highlighted by a long-standing feud between Frost and Councilman Roger Purcell. Frost’s decision late this past week to resign as mayor and from the council should be an opportunity for the council to put its petty in-fighting aside. While we’re hopeful for the residents of Houston that this will happen, we fear it may not.

Frost cited family concerns and irresolvable conflicts with others on the council as reasons for his resignation, which was called for recently when Frost informed the council he planned to extend a 30-day leave into March to attend to family matters. Frost made the correct decision and should not be vilified for doing so. Family comes first and Frost was right to give up the council seat rather than extend his leave of absence and try to retain his role in his absence.

Already, Councilman Lee Himes, a Frost supporter, is skeptical whether the council can put its unrest to rest as members jockey to be the next mayor.

“The drama’s going to get a lot worse,” he said.

Worse?

This is hardly incentive for any other civic-minded Houston residents to step forward and accept the responsibility of serving out the remainder of Frost’s term on council. The council will be calling for interested persons to throw their names in the hat. It is the city’s job to make certain that anyone interested in serving is treated with respect and fairness, no matter their political leanings or personal alliances.

The process of choosing a new council member to take Frost’s seat and a new mayor must be conducted in a way that doesn’t pit council members against each other. Council members don’t have to like each other on a personal level in order to work effectively and efficiently for their community, a lesson we hope Houston City Council can take to heart as it moves forward.

We know there may always be, as Shakespeare’s Hamlet put it in his famous soliloquy, “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” in the lives of anyone who takes a political office. But if there is mutual respect among those serving on an elected body, and for the offices they hold, debate can be civil, productive and positive. It has to be. And voters have a right to expect it.