IS ANNISE PARKER GOING NEGATIVE OR JUST POINTING OUT THE FACTS?

PARKER: PETER BROWN IS USING HIS OWN MONEY AND LOCKE DOESN'T HAVE MORE CASH ON HAND THAN I DO!

This is something I haven't seen in the race for Mayor of Houston so far. That's a candidate attacking another. I could be wrong and I don't want to pass judgement. But when I read City Controller and candidate for Mayor Annise Parker's press release it left me with that impression. Keep in mind, I could be wrong. But here's the press release and you be the judge and let me know if you think she's gone negative and into attack mode:

The candidates for mayor filed their finance reports today – and the big story here is Annise Parker.

Everybody thought Gene Locke would have three times as much money. But Annise Parker has more.

Because he has a limited base of support, Brown is having to spend his personal wealth to try to buy his way into the mayor's office. Let's remember, in 2003 Bill White started out with little name ID. That's the position Brown is in. It took White – who did have an actual base of support – $6 million to get into a runoff spot.

Bottom line – the big story is Annise Parker:

• Parker has more cash on hand than Locke.
• Parker has more than three times as many individual donations as Locke, and almost twice as many as Brown and Locke combined.
• Locke is spending almost twice as much money per month as Parker – simply trying to catch up to the substantial lead Parker entered the race with and continues to grow.
• Locke's campaign stated that the evidence of "campaign strength" was raising $383,000 in the last 30 days. But Parker raised more than that during the last 30 days. (If the last 30 days is the mark of campaign strength, it's worth noting that Parker raised 47% of her total contributions in the last 30 days of the period, while Locke raised 33% of his total contributions during that time.)

One thing is clear: Annise Parker is not only the candidate who started out with a strong lead – she's the candidate who continues to grow that lead. Parker's dollars were raised from more individual donors than any other candidate. Parker’s small dollar donors live on a budget, give wisely and will give again and again during this important campaign to steer Houston through tough economic challenges.

As Houston’s elected City Controller, Annise Parker directs Houston’s financial investments and manages billions of tax dollars. Her record of independent audits has cut waste and saved the city money to use for priorities like public safety, after-school programs, and economic development. A businesswoman and neighborhood leader, Parker also served on Houston’s City Council. She spent 20 years in the oil and gas industry before entering public service.

Parker is a candidate for mayor of Houston in the November 3, 2009 election. Learn more on her website at:www.anniseparker.com.