Soon after the third recall attempt of District 2 Councilman Floyd Price failed, I sat down to interview Gordon Harris, the leader of the recall attempts.
Jason Pearson: I have been following your pursuit to get Floyd Price recalled. It’s been three times and it has not happened. Can you describe each one?
Gordon Harris: Like I say, I am not a politician, but if it takes for me to learn it, not an ordinary politician a politician that’s gonna help the people then that’s what I am doing. So like the first time I understand I did not sign the affidavit. I did not know, but when I turned my forms in, I asked them, Is this everything? Oh yes, it is, everything. Then when I get back to the house a few hours later, Oh, you did not sign the affidavit, so it is invalid. OK, that is part of the learning tree. Then the second time when I go and turn them in, then they sit there and was talking about, well it has to go back to when he ran contested in 2008, because he ran unopposed this last election in 2012. So I said OK. I was gonna wait around but then I had people from the Democratic party call and contact me and say, “Are you still gonna do this?” I was like, yeah. Well, we’re gonna help you this time. And this time, we are going to prove that the community does not want him. We are going to double it. Show the city we are going to double it. So, with the help of others, I turned around and we turned in 1,055 (signatures). But now they turned around and come up with a percentage of the 1,055. Originally, it was told that it was 509 signatures that was needed. And reading the charter as Becky Garza (the city secretary) says, the charter states it’s the last election, not the last contested election. So i got my attorney looking into that right now. And we will speak to the mayor to find out before we take another step forward.
Pearson: Are you still going to pursue it?
Harris: Most definitely.
Pearson: Do you feel like maybe they are trying to protect Floyd Price and keep him from getting recalled?
Harris: Most definitely. See the city is upset, pertaining to that LP&L. Because besides Todd Klein and the Mayor, the rest of the council, they OK’d that. So, yeah most definitely.
Pearson: If you do get Price recalled, how do you feel you are going to change the rhetoric for the community. What do you feel you are going to do differently?
Harris: Well I have people that are business owners in other major cities and with other chambers of commerce that are gonna come in and help me get it done. I’m not just gonna rely on Lubbock’s resources that they have now, as far as getting something done in our community. It is evident that they don’t care, even our councilmen don’t care about what is going on in east Lubbock. They don’t care about development, right along there with him.
Pearson: How has he [Floyd Price] failed the community?
Harris: There are no businesses, there are no jobs, there is nothing: There is nothing for the kids to do. Like I say, jobs is the key issue. People don’t have jobs. Even if you have a person that works at Mcdonald’s, they probably working way out there on Slide Road. It’s nothing in the community. There is nothing that inspires them to do anything else.
Pearson: Do you have people that tell you that you may want to quit? Do you have any doubters?
Harris: No one. Just like when I walked in the restaurant, they don’t even live in east Lubbock. What’s the first thing they say? Don’t give up, because they know that’s the way Lubbock’s reputation has been. It is not what you know, but who you know, and that’s sad.
Pearson: Who made you want to pursue this? What made it click to you that you wanted to run for council and do something better for the community.
Harris: Well I have always been involved in the community my whole life. As being assistant administrator and retired from L.I.S.D., being a referee for 23 years, and all kind of whatever is going on in the community. Whether it’s a club or church. If there is a concert coming, I am helping. If it is a church anniversary going on or something. I always try to be involved in the community.
Pearson: Are you gonna be seen? That is what I get a lot of. We have those barbershop talks and they say they don’t see the councilman now. Are you gonna be seen and more active on the scene?
Harris: Most definitely, I am already there. Been there. Just like him. You got people that say he has the aura that he will walk in the store and not speak to anyone, with his nose up in the air. And then if you ask him a question, he just blow you off. And that’s not a way when the people in the community, you representing them. They voted you in, or even if they did not vote you in, you still representing the community.
Pearson: Have you talked to Floyd Price any doing this process?
Harris: No. If a person goes around this town for years saying that he gave his own mother a ticket, he has no more value that I see to deal with. And I don’t know what significance that is to tell people that, or have done it.
Pearson: Ok let’s hypothetically look at you make it. You get him recalled, and you get voted in. There are only two minorities on the board, you and Victor Hernandez. Everything is a majority vote, with seven on the council. Do you think you will be able to get things passed with that minority number? What if you want something for the east community, and you go for it every time. If the first few times they reject it, are you just gonna quit and stop trying because you can’t get a majority vote?
Harris: No, that’s not me. You can ask anybody in the community, that’s not me. I have been this way my whole life. I have been leaders of organizations, even as far as motorcycle clubs, car clubs, and truck clubs. I have always been the president or the front-runner, you know the go-getter to try to get things done. I won’t be discouraged by that. Especially being a referee for 23 years, you hear a whole lot of hell and you hear a whole lot of no and you just have to blow it off. Blow the whistle, next play, that issue is over with. Keep moving on until the game is won.
Pearson: So you’ve got that fighter heart. It has been three times, but you are still going after it?
Harris: Yeah, most definitely. Anybody in the neighborhood know when I was in my younger days I was a fighter. I won’t bother you, don’t bother me, or the fight is on.
Pearson: What is your motivation to do it?
Harris: It’s for the community, the kids, and the future. You can ask anybody in the community or anybody that knows me. I have a passion for the kids, so that they will have a future. I see what’s going on, especially with young minority males. Whether they are black or Hispanic there is no jobs for them. And I don’t know what it is about this last little generation, but they can’t leave that weed alone and that is a hold-up for them. They can’t go get good jobs, or they can’t get scholarships, or get a career because of that. We need to find a way to change their mind-set. There are better things for you out there in life besides sitting around getting a no-paying job or in and out of trouble. You don’t have to live the life that your parents lived.
Pearson: Five years from now, where will Gordon Harris be?
Harris: On city council
Pearson: You belive that in your heart?
Harris: I believe that in my heart.
Pearson: You said the Democratic party came in and helped you. How many organizations or people came just to help you? What about other professional organizations that have come in to help you, can you speak on a couple of those?
Harris: No, not really too many. Like I say, the Democratic party. And I have even had a Republican tell me that if you want my help, just let me know. But being on the Democratic party, I talked to a friend of mine who is Bubba Sedeno (Lubbock County Commissioner), which I worked on his campaign. He said, let them stay where they are at because it won’t shine too good on you if you allow them to help you as far as going forward. It’s a learning process. But I had teachers, coaches, principals, and pastors.
I have no problem with (being the leader). I like old western movies and old war movies. I have no problems. I have always done it, and I guess I probably always will.
Editor’s note: Attempts to contact Floyd Price were not met with success. It is hoped that an interview with Councilman Price will be obtained and published soon.
About Jason Pearson
