While the Republican Presidential candidates are trekking around South Carolina, some of their politics may have slipped into Houston’s City Hall this week.

It only took the second City Council meeting of the year for tension to arise at the Council table. Chris Moran has this story in the Chronicle discussing the “dust up”. That seems to be an apt description.

However, underneath the tense words and discussion were strains of partisanship. City Council is technically non-partisan but many District Council Members represent populations that are affiliated with one party or another. Helena Brown, the new District A Council Member, has been aligned with the Tea Party.

In fairness to her, the points she made on an agenda item were similar to remarks she made on the campaign trail. She was consistent in her messaging. However, the items she chose to address were not really right for the message and stirred the ire of her colleagues. It has long been a standing tradition that District Council Members do not target their colleagues’ projects. Her table mates also observed that she appeared to be reading her comments from her cell phone.

Council Member Brown brings a different perspective to the Council table and as she learns the ropes and unwritten rules, will be a consistent conservative voice delivering a repetitive message on finance and spending.

Meanwhile, a long-term financial planning committee began to release their draconian recommendations for the City’s future fiscal health. The reactions among those effected and the Council Members were expected.

The goal of the committee is to look outward 25 – 30 years at the City’s financial health. With 20 years of term limits, long-term outlooks have become shorter and shorter. Elected Officials only serve a maximum of 6 years. They can focus on immediate needs and even talk about the long-term but the next Administration may go in a completely different direction.

I think the idea of a committee to look at the long-term is an appropriate task and visionary. However, I think many of their preliminary recommendations are the most extreme. Their ideas will spur debate and discussion, though and that is more than we normally do with eyes to the long-term.

Let’s keep it going. Good policy debates are good for democracy!