WITH NEWLY ELECTED CITY COUNCILMAN C.O. BRADFORD COURT IS NOW IN SESSION!

TOUGH QUESTIONS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO USE CITY DOLLARS!


For a minute I thought I was in a courtroom. "Answer the question, yes or no." Those are some of the tough words you're likely to hear at Houston's City Council these days. And it's all coming from one man. He's former HPD Chief turned City Councilman C.O. Bradford.

The lawyer by trade doesn't believe in a free ride for department heads who come before the governing body. On Monday Alfred Moran, head of the city's Administration and Regulatory Affairs department, found himself facing some tough questions at the Public Safety Committee meeting. Moran wasn't alone. Some of Bradford's former employees from HPD also made an appearance. They weren't given a pass either.

Watching Bradford is more like watching a tough prosecutor in court than a politician. There are no smiles, jokes, or pleasantries. The former top cop wants just the facts.

The Insite had a chance to chat with him only briefly before an interview. I asked him how it was going on his new job. He said he's found some good things and bad things in city government. He also says he's still learning a lot about his new position as an elected official.

Bradford also seems to be a fiscal conservative when it comes to spending city dollars. He wants a detailed and thorough explanation on where the money is going and why.

If you get a chance to go to City Hall on a council day don't forget it's a governing body and not a court of law because with Bradford court is now in session!