Eckels: going, going ...

So, the big political news around Harris County today is that County Judge Robert Eckels will step down. It's not like nobody expected the announcement — rumors have been going around for at least a couple of weeks — and it's not like we know when Eckels will quit or what he'll do afterward, but still, it's big news. Right?

Eckels, reportedly fighting back tears, began his goodbye during Thursday's State of the County address: "Today, the time is right," he said. "I had a friend who told me, 'You never become what you want to be while remaining where you are.' Harris County is moving forward, and it's time for me to do the same." (Sounds a whole lot like a breakup line to us — or maybe something off one of those cheesy teen dramas.) Eckels didn't specify what he'll do when he's no longer chief of the county; he's rumored to have been considering a job in the private sector, but spokeswoman Gloria Roemer told the AP that Eckels may run for office in 2008 or 2010. Or not. "It all depends on what comes up," she said. (Eckels had also mentioned running for office in an interview with KHOU last month.)

He did say he'll remain in office at least until the county Commissioners Court considers its annual budget next month and will vote with the commissioners for his successor, which means it's almost a certainty that the next county judge will be a Republican: Eckels plus the two Republican commissioners would outvote the two Democratic commissioners. The new judge will serve until late 2008, when an election will be held for someone to fill out the remaining two years of Eckels' term. The next election for a full term will come in 2010. BlogHouston and Off the Kuff agree that the right time for Eckels to step down really would have been before the November election, which would have given voters the chance to pick his replacement — especially considering that Eckels said he's been planning his resignation for a long time. And politics is usually such a clean thing.

Some names are being kicked around for Eckels' replacement, including transportation consultant Ed Emmett, a former state representative, and District Clerk Charles Bacarisse. And KTRK's Miya Shay reports that David Mincberg, director of housing for the city of Houston and a former Harris County Democratic chairman, is planning to run in the 2008 special election. Much more to come, we're sure.