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Thursday, August 28, 1997
Failed candidate latest to join Houston mayor
race
HOUSTON (AP) -- An 84-year-old man who brought airconditioning
to Houston's city bus system decades ago has joined the race for
mayor.
Bernard Calkins, who owned the private company that provided
airconditioned bus service to the city, announced his candidacy
Tuesday.
Calkins declared himself "the darkhorse candidate with
a new face."
But for longtime Houston residents, his name -- if not his
face -- may be familiar.
Calkins tried to run for mayor in 1967. But in a highly publicized
action he was disqualified because he was not registered to vote
here. He ran for mayor in 1969 and for an at-large City Council
seat in 1973.
Even before he tried his hand at local politics, Calkins was
a recognized figure in Houston through his direction of Houston
Transit Co.
Hired by the city to provide public transportation, the company
introduced the novelty of airconditioned "dreamliner"
buses.
Calkins sold his share of the bus company in 1968. The city
took over the bus system in 1974, and the Metropolitan Transit
Authority took the wheel in 1979.
Calkins went to work for Metro about that time. He retired
last year as a senior maintenance analyst.
Other candidates in the nonpartisan election on Nov. 4 include
former drug czar Lee Brown, businessman Robert Mosbacher, former
city controller George Greanias, city council members Helen Huey
and Gracie Saenz and Jean-Claude Lanau.
Mayor Bob Lanier cannot run again because of term limits.
Calkins said he would use his business knowledge to provide
long-term financial planning for the city. He alleges that municipal
finances are in poor shape.
Calkins said he plans to spend at least $30,000 of his own
money to advertise his campaign on billboards, radio and elsewhere.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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