Early voting begins as runoff gets more contentious

If there's one thing we love, it's an election. And the city has been obliging lately. Melissa Noriega and Roy Morales, the two candidates left standing after last month's special election to fill a vacant at-large city council seat, traded remarks on immigration as early voting began yesterday.

Noriega, the clear favorite after garnering 47% of the vote in May, accused Morales of using "fear as a tactic to try to get people worked up." Noriega, like Mayor White and Police Chief Harold Hurtt, believes that dealing with illegal immigration is the federal government's responsibility. She also said that she didn't want to use our short-staffed police department to do something that isn't the city's job in the first place. Morales, on the other hand, argued against Houston becoming a "sanctuary" city for illegal immigrants. He said that he is "against sanctuary" and "against day-labor centers." Houston police have recently become more active in dealing with illegal immigration, but Morales expressed this concern nonetheless.

Melissa Noriega held a happy-beginning-of-early-voting event yesterday. She has been endorsed by knocked-out candidates Sara Owen-Gemoets, Noel Freeman, Kendall Baker, Andy Neill, Alfred Molison and Alfred Mayers. Tom Nixon, who came in third, has endorsed Roy Morales, and said yesterday that "we need to control spending in this city. We need as many candidates in the office of City Council who will make that happen."

Early voting goes through June 12. Election day is Saturday, June 16.