Governor Greg Abbott (center) could eventually have to appoint someone to fill in for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee if she does not win her battle with pancreatic cancer. PEOPLE ON THE MOVE... If Gov. Abbott is forced to step in, he's already vetted Richard Johnson, III (top left), and he's also very familiar with former City Councilman Dwight Boykins (bottom left). Still, the name Deric Muhammad (right) was mentioned on KCOH 1230 AM, THE SOURCE, by Hall of Fame sportscaster Ralph Cooper yesterday.
Don Samuel (left), Ralph Cooper (second from left), Paris Eley (Second from right), Jerri P. Beasly (right), and Michael Harris are five African Americans who have influential voices who can influence "THE BLACK COMMUNITY" to become engaged on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, in the most consequential election of our lifetimes.
Richard R. Johnson, III, would make an excellent Congressman if selected by Governor Greg Abbott in the event he needs to appoint someone to the U.S. Congress to represent the 18th Congressional District of Texas if Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee cannot finish her term or passes away while in office.
Former Houston City Councilman Dwight Boykins is a strong leader who could step in for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee if called upon by Gov. Greg Abbott if the Honorable Congresswoman cannot finish her term.
Deric Muhammad wasn't on our radar as a potential successor if Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee could not finish her term. However, Hall of Fame sports broadcaster Raph Cooper mentioned his name on KCOH 1230, the SOURCE, yesterday (Wednesday, June 12, 2024) as someone who should be considered.
I’m Aubrey R. Taylor, the Houston Business Connections Newspaper publisher and investigative reporter. I have conducted investigations in Harris County, Texas, since the 1990s and plan to closely monitor the “ABSENTEE BALLOT FLOW” between now and Tuesday, November 5, 2024, for the upcoming Presidential Election in Harris County, Texas.
Could Gov. Abbott appoint Richard Johnson, Dwight Boykins, or Deric Muhammad if Congresswoman Lee Dies in Office?
AUBREY R. TAYLOR REPORTS©
As the Juneteenth Holiday approaches on Saturday, June 15, 2024, important information is still not flowing freely into Black communities throughout Texas. Remember, enslaved Black people in Texas didn’t find out about their freedom until two full years after enslaved Black people in other states back during the 1800s. And it breaks my heart to inform you that in 2024, things haven’t changed much in Texas – regarding information being able to flow freely throughout the Lone Star State without censorship.
Blacks in Texas are stuck in a time warp and at a severe disadvantage when it comes to getting unfiltered news. You must understand that the four most prominent media companies own most of America’s news networks. That’s why when you see a story break, all articles related to a given topic appear to be the same and have the same narrative and theme.
When it comes to traditional Black-owned news outlets, many of them are taking the facts of what has already been written by white reporters and then just repackaging their stories and peddling them to “THE BLACK COMMUNITY” under the guise of it being original.
Most African American newspapers are members of the National Newspapers Association of America (NNPA), which relies heavily on advertising revenue from corporations to survive. Therefore, many have to conform or risk the prospects of going out of business if they dare to publish investigative reports similar to what you see published by my company, Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, the publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper.
The major players in the media industry are Comcast, The Walt Disney Company, AT&T, and News Corporation. These four news outlets (cooperatively) own nearly every television network, newspaper, website, and radio station in America.
The four companies I’ve mentioned are, for the most part, filtering the news that’s finding its way onto our newsfeeds, news apps, and social media pages and disseminating it into our “AFRICAN AMERICAN HOMES” to influence how we vote at the ballot box.
“VETTED BLACK MEN.”
I'm sure Governor Greg Abbott is already familiar with Richard A. Johnson, III, Ed.D., and former Houston City Councilman Dwight Boykins, whom his administration has already vetted.
Remember, Gov. Abbott recently appointed Richard A. Johnson, III, Ed.D, to the Texas Southern University Board of Regents for a term that won’t expire until February 1, 2029, which shows you what he thinks of Johnson already. That said, my investigative team has also vetted both (Johnson and Boykins) over the years.
If you are unfamiliar with Richard A. Johnson, who challenged Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee on March 6, 2018, in the Democratic Party Primary race for the 18th Congressional District, he’s solid.
“SERGEANT JOHNSON.”
Richard A. Johnson, III, Ed.D. of Houston, is the director of the Booker T. Washington Initiative at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. During the 85th and 86th Texas Legislatures, he served as chief of staff and a senior policy analyst for a Texas House of Representatives member, according to a press release published by the Governor’s office a few months ago.
Johnson was an educator for over 20 years and has extensive experience in teaching and research. He is a former member and vice president of the Houston Chapter of the Texas Association of Black Psychologists, a former member of the American Psychological Association, Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education, Texas Association of Black School Educators, National Academic Advising Association, and the Houston Business and Professional Men’s Club. He is a member of the Wiley College and Texas Southern University Alumni associations and a life member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Additionally, he is the former president of 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston and the Louisiana Prison Chapel Foundation and former Chair of the NAACP Higher Education Committee. Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Government from Wiley College, a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, and a Doctor of Education in Education Administration from Texas Southern University. Additionally, he served in the US Army after college, obtaining the rank of sergeant.
“WHAT’S UNFOLDING.”
Hall of Fame radio sportscaster Ralph Cooper of KCOH AM 1230, THE SOURCE, waded over into politics and mentioned a few names of people who are possibly eyeing the 18th Congressional District seat yesterday (Wednesday, June 12, 2024) at 8:30 a.m. in a special appearance on Paris Eley’s “The Morning Magazine with Paris Eley,” in Houston, Texas.
While the Honorable Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee hasn’t passed away, her condition, from what I understand, is worsening with each passing day.
The people surrounding Congresswoman Lee are selfish, egotistical, and ignorant. In short, these folks don’t care about “THE BLACK COMMUNITY,” and their handling of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s transition to glory is proof positive that there’s a severe lack of leadership among Black elected officials who are members of the “ELLIS/TURNER/LEE” regime.
If Congresswoman Lee can hold a little longer, I hope that the idiots surrounding her will come to their senses and allow new blood and fresh ideas to spring forth.
As a community, we can ill afford to continue to follow asinine so-called Black leaders who only care about themselves and their inner circle of friends and comrades. What’s playing out in Harris County, Texas, is a scenario where we’ve got the blind leading the blind.
“EYES OF TEXAS.”
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s legacy is in tatters because a handful of folks who don’t know what they’re doing are running the show. And on top of that, they don’t even realize that the “EYES OF TEXAS’ and the world have shifted toward Harris County, Texas.
Suppose Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee passes away while in office. In that case, Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, can appoint her replacement or call a “SPECIAL ELECTION,” which could inevitably include as many as twenty to thirty hungry potential candidates.
The devil is a liar. The name of former City of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner keeps floating around, and I’m sick of it. “SLY” needs to go sit his tail down somewhere. Sylvester Turner could be in worse condition than the Honorable Congresswoman and has no business running for public office again – in life.
What should the citizens of the 18th Congressional District be concerned about?
The sheer stupidity of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s handlers is beginning to show. Their best hand is to have Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee announce who she would like to succeed her while she can still speak and make her intentions known to her constituents.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is becoming weaker daily, but she still has unbelievable connectivity to the people of the 18th Congressional District of Texas. As such, her voice still matters significantly to the people who love and cherish her and are grieving for her.
It’s unfair to the constituents of the 18th Congressional District to keep them in the dark. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is an elected official, and her constituents deserve to be kept abreast of her worsening health condition as a matter of public concern.
Furthermore, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s constituents deserve to have a say in who represents them in the United States Congress, should the inevitable occur – which is a distinct possibility given the fact she’s possibly already in "STAGE FOUR" of her battle with “PANCREATIC CANCER,” the most formidable opponent she’s faced.
Listen. From what I understand, the only thing the Democrats can do at their upcoming 2024 Democratic National Convention, which will be held at the United Center from August 19 to 22 in Chicago, Illinois, is pick the nominee to run if Congresswoman Lee can’t finish her term.
“The people must inevitably elect Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s replacement in the United States Congress,” I understand. Suppose there is a special election for the 18th Congressional District of Texas. In that case, Texas Governor Greg Abbott will decide what date an election will occur under the US Constitution’s House Vacancy Clause. Remember, the Constitution leaves the timing up to the states. Texas law sets the same deadlines for special elections for vacancies in the United States Congress as for our Texas state Legislature vacancies.
According to state guidelines and my source, “If it’s not an emergency, a special election typically happens on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.” However, if an emergency occurs, Gov. Greg Abbott could call an emergency election, but the "EMERGENCY ELECTION" would have to be at least 36 days after he ordered it.
If Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee were to withdraw from her reelection campaign at least 74 days before the election or by about mid-August (Thursday, August 15, 2024), the Democratic National Committee could then nominate a replacement candidate who would appear on the Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Presidential Election ballot as the Democratic nominee for the 18th Congressional District of Texas.
“CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS.”
From what I understand, for the Democratic National Committee to intervene and choose the nominee who would appear on the November 5, 2024, ballot, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee would have had to have been diagnosed with a “CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS” after the regular filing deadline (Monday, December 11, 2023), for the primary election which occurred back on “SUPER TUESDAY” (Tuesday, March 5, 2024), where the Honorable Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, defeated Amanda Edwards and Robert Slater by a wide margin.
For the "CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS" scenario to come into play, where the Democratic National Committee could intervene and choose the nominee for the 18th Congressional District who would appear on the upcoming Tuesday, November 5, 2024, ballot, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee would have had to have been diagnosed with her “CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS” sometime after the regular filing deadline (Monday, December 11, 2023), to appear on “SUPER TUESDAY” primary ballot.
Remember, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s Campaign did not give her constituents or the general public a specific date when she received her cancer diagnosis. However, my sources have already given me the date and time when Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee received the news that she had pancreatic cancer from her doctors.
“POSSIBLE CONTENDERS.”
State Rep. Jolanda Jones, State Rep. Jarvis Johnson, former Councilman Dwight Boykins, former Councilwoman Amanda Edwards, Houston Branch NAACP President Bishop James Dixon, former vice chair of the Texas Democratic Party Carla Brailey, former Mayor Sylvester Turner, TSU Board Member Richard Johnson, Vince Duncan currently collecting signatures to run as an independent, and the list goes on and continues to grow by the day as Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s conditions worsen.
Famous broadcaster Ralph Cooper mentioned a guy I’m very impressed with and who has been for years – activist/organizer Deric Muhammad- who has been quietly doing his thing.
Unlike many other would-be contenders for the 18th Congressional District, Muhammad appears to be a “WORK-HORSE,” not a “SHOW-HORSE,” from what I have witnessed.
For those who don’t know him, Deric Muhammad spends much time working to restore the lives of Black male youths—without much fanfare.
A Houston-based “ACTIVIST/ORGANIZER,” Muhammad has been addressing issues related to Social Justice, Black Male Development, Police Brutality, Racial Inequality, and other critical issues facing our beloved nation in inner-city communities all across America.
According to Muhammad’s website, he prides himself on being an “ON THE GROUND WATCHMAN” in the fight for Justice and Equality. From the outside looking in, I believe Ralph Cooper used his KCOH AM 1230 platform on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, to mention Deric Muhammad because he’s familiar with the work ethic of this young man.
Whether Deric Muhammad could emerge from a “SPECIAL ELECTION” is debatable. However, if he had the backing of folks like the hall of fame sportscaster Ralph Cooper, he could have a fighting chance in an election decided by older voters who could be influenced and swayed by influential folks like Ralph Cooper, whom they’ve grown to trust over the years.
“SPEAKING OF TRUST.”
A new study just released by the Pew Research Center is giving us greater insight into why many “BLACKS AMERICANS” are beginning to either stay home or look for options, and even being drawn to President Donald J. Trump, even though he’s a convicted felon.
What most non-Black Americans don’t understand or don’t want to understand is that African Americans don’t trust the system for a plethora of reasons.
But most importantly, many Blacks have personally witnessed injustices or have watched a family member endure an unjust system at the hands of a criminal justice system where poor people don’t stand a chance and are, in many cases, pleading out to crimes that they did not commit in some cases.
According to the “PEW STUDY SURVEY” I mentioned, 8 in 10 Black Americans surveyed agree with the statement that “Black people are more likely to be incarcerated because prisons want to make money on the backs of Black people.”
In the same “PEW STUDY SURVEY,” an astonishing 6 in 10 Black adults surveyed agreed that institutions such as the criminal justice system and policing are designed to hold Black people back.
Many Americans don’t even know that the criminal justice system is a privatized industry that’s driving dollars, just like what occurred back during the days of slavery. What I am talking about right now is spelled out in our beloved United States Constitution.
The 13th Amendment to our United States Constitution says, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
So, in essence, our entire criminal justice system is fundamentally flawed and is nothing more than an extension of the slave trade when it comes to poor Black people.
What you have to remember is that Black people only make up about 12% of the overall population in the United States. However, 32% of the inmates sitting in state and federal institutions back in 2022 were Black.
White people back in 2022 were underrepresented in the ranks of prisons. In reality, white folks make up over 70% of the US population; however, only 31% of the inmates were white. When it comes to Hispanic people, like Blacks, they were overrepresented but only slightly comprising around 23% of prisoners, according to data published by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
With the knowledge that I just shared, you should be able to understand why Democrats could be making a colossal mistake by brandishing former President Donald Trump as a convicted felon between now and the upcoming Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Presidential Election taking place.
What unsuspecting “DEMOCRAT LEADERS” are doing by trying to brand former President Donald Trump as a convicted felon is giving him what’s known as "STREET CREDIBILITY" in the Black community and making him more relatable (even beloved) by Black people.
Why? Remember, according to the “PEW STUDY SURVEY” I mentioned, 8 in 10 Black Americans surveyed agree with the statement that “Black people are more likely to be incarcerated because prisons want to make money on the backs of Black people.”
And the “PEW STUDY SURVEY” also revealed that more than 6 in 10 Black adults surveyed agreed that institutions such as the criminal justice system and policing are designed to hold Black people back.
The only thing that’s separating former President Donald J. Trump with his felony convictions and Blacks who find themselves in the crosshairs of the criminal justice system is the fact that Trump has the financial means to hire quality legal representation – but that didn’t help him avoid a criminal conviction.
Thus, many Black males can relate to Trump’s current legal dilemma and can relate to what he’s going through. And strangely, they are on pulling for Trump to beat the system, whether he’s guilty of the crimes he’s convicted of – or not.
“BACK TO SHE-JACK.”
While Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s team has tightened up their circle in a feeble attempt to prevent leaks, “SHE-JACK” not showing up for her "PRAYER VIGIL" is a tell-tale sign that she’s not doing well these days.
When did you know that Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee would not show up for the cameras?
For nearly 50 years, Ralph Cooper, inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in November of 2020, has been one of the hardest-working sportscasters in America. When Ralph talks, people listen and pay attention to his words.
You have to remember that when Ralph Cooper started, he was often one of the only journalists inside the press box, which allowed him to witness a lot and see the world from a vantage point different from most people.
I’m sure Ralph Cooper has experienced discrimination and unfair treatment over the 50 years he’s been a sportscaster. Sure, things have changed significantly over the last few decades as the thinking of executives controlling the radio industry has evolved. But the more things change, the more they remain the same, as the old saying goes.
Listen. In many regards, it doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about the business of sports, politics, business, or governmental entities. Black folks are going to continue to be incarcerated at higher rates than other ethnic groups unless we start electing better representation at the ballot box.
Is it because of the proverbial "CRABS IN A BUCKET" mentality that’s holding us back as a people? Or is it the fact that “BLACKS ARE UNTRUSTING” of systems?
No matter your stance, it has become clear that “BLACK PEOPLE” as the “DOMINANT VOTING BLOC” in American politics isn’t being respected, valued, or treated right by either of these two major political parties.
“CLOSING THOUGHTS.”
On Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Harris County, Texas, the (HCAD) Harris Central Appraisal District “RUNOFF ELECTIONS” four candidates are running for office, and none of them have any respect for “THE BLACK MEDIA” from what I can see. That said, it’s clear that the (HCDP) Harris County Democratic Party continues to boycott “BLACK OWNED MEDIA OUTLETS” as they’ve done for years.
In my opinion, even if Mike Doyle, the chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party, does not like my publication (Houston Business Connections Newspaper), the Houston Defender, the Houston Forward Times, the Houston Sun, the Houston Style Magazine, the D-Mars Business Journal, that does not justify the (HCDP) not supporting media outlets like KCOH AM 1230, owned by Roberta Rose Ramirez (Pueblo de Galilea, LLC), and hosts an urban talk and contemporary format.
Ralph Cooper, Don Samuel, Paris Eley, Michael Harris, and Jerry P. Beasley are some of the most vital voices in the “BLACK COMMUNITY” who could have helped to drive out their predominantly “BLACK LISTENERS” to the polls during the early voting period which began on Monday, June 3, 2024, and ended on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, if the Harris County Democratic Party Chairman (Mike Doyle), had any respect for Black folks, and reached out to them for assistance.
Instead of reaching out to myself or “THE GOOD FOLKS” over at KCOH AM 1230, the Harris County Democratic Party Chairman (Mike Doyle) has made a serious tactical blunder. He could shift momentum in favor of the Harris County Republican Party Chairman (Cindy Siegel), heading into the most consequential “PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION” of our lifetimes.
As “JUNETEENTH” approaches, which is also election day, I am strongly encouraging my nonpartisan readership to support Kyle Scott in the race for (HCAD) Harris Central Appraisal District, Board of Directors, Place 2, and Ericka McCrutcheon, in the race for (HCAD) Harris Central Appraisal District, Board of Directors, Place 3, in Harris County, Texas.
The polls will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2024, for the (HCAD) runoff races, where Kyle Scott and Ericka McCrutcheon, endorsed by Cindy Siegel, chairman of the Harris County Republican Party, look outstanding. Comparatively speaking, Mike Doyle, the chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party, allowed himself to get suckered into making endorsements for Melissa Noriega and Pelumi Adeleke in these nonpartisan races.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS
EMAIL: aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com
957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
DIRECT CONTACT:
(281)788-3033
Kyle Scott (Republican), Melissa Noriega (Democrat), Ericka McCutcheon (Republican), and Pelumi Adeleke (Democrat) are the candidates running for HCAD, Director, At-Large, Place 2, and HCAD, Director, At-Large, Place 3, on Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Harris County, Texas.
The Harris County Democratic Party has endorsed Melissa Noriega in the race for (HCAD), Director, At-Large, Place 2. Melissa Noriega received 13,647 votes, for 24.97%, to finish as the runner-up in the general election and force a runoff in this race.
The Harris County Republican Party has endorsed Kyle Scott in the race for (HCAD), Director, At-Large, Place 2. In case you don’t remember, Kyle Scott received 25,416 votes, or 46.50%, to emerge from the general election in the first place.
The Harris County Democratic Party has endorsed Pelumi Adeleke in the race for (HCAD), Director, At-Large, Place 3. Pelumi Adeleke received 11,553 votes, for 21.30%, to finish as the runner-up in the general election and force a runoff in this race.
In the race for (HCAD), Director, At-Large, Place 3, the Harris County Republican Party has endorsed Ericka McCutcheon. In case you don’t remember, Ericka McCrutcheon received 22,365 votes, for 41.24%, to emerge from the general election in first place in this race.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS
EMAIL: aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com
957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
DIRECT CONTACT:
(281)788-3033
