Houston Democrats to Mike Miles: We will not 'get out of the way'
Chron: Houston Democrats to Mike Miles: We will not 'get out of the way'
After much-maligned Houston Independent School District (HISD) superintendent Mike Miles told lawmakers to "lead, follow, or get out of the way," a group of Texas Democrats fired back: No.
The strongly worded correspondence began after a group of Democrats called for an investigation into Miles' financial dealings after multiple reports found discrepancies in the relationship between Miles and his former charter school network, Third Future Schools. Miles sent lawmakers a letter asking that they focus on the positives of his reign under the HISD state takeover and even took to LinkedIn to defend his leadership and character. Democrats including State House Rep. Gene Wu and newly elected State Senator Molly Cook sent a shorter letter back.
"We have no plans to 'get out of the way,'" Wu wrote in a post on X sharing the letter, which said that the lawmakers "have a duty to scrutinize problematic and potentially illegal activity occurring in our communities and at our schools."
"This is a duty we take seriously, and one which we do not intend to disregard," the letter continued.
When a Spectrum TV report earlier this year alleged that Miles had continued to receive payment from Third Future Schools while HISD superintendent, Miles and the district delayed in responding to the rumors. In a long-winded post on LinkedIn this week, Miles said he would "no longer let serious attacks on my character and integrity go unanswered."
In the spring of 2023, the Texas Education Agency declared it would be taking over the state's largest school district until school ratings improved, installing Miles as superintendent. In the past year, thousands of students and teachers have left the district, but preliminary school ratings from the state do indicate higher academic outcomes. The takeover has outraged students, lawmakers, and parents, hundreds of whom have taken to protesting staff layoffs and cuts under the new district regime.
HISD is also currently seeking a $4.4 billion bond for district improvements, mainly building renovations, although its future hangs in the balance. If approved, it would be the largest bond in state history.
“It's not about age,” Cook said. “It's about coming in with fresh legs and saying, ‘I’m here to help.’ It's about being forward-thinking even as we play defense.”
Chron: Why Houston's Molly Cook is ‘willing to die’ to change Texas politics
Molly Cook has had her fair share of doors slammed in her face. Not metaphorically, but literally. The community organizer and recently elected state senator cut her teeth door-knocking for Beto O'Rourke's Senate campaign, when she said she learned quickly how to metabolize rejection – and to always bring a first-aid kit.
"I was bit on the leg by an 80-pound husky," Cook said, about one wrong step on a stranger's front porch. "I like to think it made me tougher."
Rejection is not something Cook has experienced much recently. On May 4, Cook defeated challenger State Rep. Jarvis Johnson by 20 points to capture Houston Mayor John Whitmire's state senate seat and become Texas' first openly LGBTQ state senator. Although history-making, the win is largely symbolic; Cook's term will finish before the legislature goes into session unless she wins her runoff election on May 28. The morning before her swearing-in ceremony, Cook caught up with Chron to reflect on the years that led up to her win and look ahead to the rematch with Johnson which will determine who takes the seat for the next four years.