According to this Chronicle article, it’s looking as if the end of the line is near for Jordy Tollett as head of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. Everyone in Houston seems to know Tollett, who somehow managed to maintain a position in each of the past four mayoral administrations over more than a 20 year period. Without getting indicted, too!
The straw that appears ready to break the camel’s back in regard to Tollett’s current job is local television station KPRC’s (Channel 2) news story this week in which the station caught Tollett on camera drinking over the noon hour on several occasions and then driving away from a Midtown restaurant. Apparently, the GHCVB board of directors is investigating the report and the tea leafs indicate that Tollett’s contract with the bureau — which expires in February 2007, anyway — will either be bought out or not renewed.
Now, I do not know Tollett personally, but I know that he’s taken his share of criticism and that it may be time for him to move on from public or quasi-public employment. However, do we really want to run someone off from the position of drumming up convention business for having a drink or two? I doubt that there are many teetotalers who excel in that line of work.
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The straw that appears ready to break the camel’s back in regard to Tollett’s current job is local television station KPRC’s (Channel 2) news story this week….
The GHCVB seems to be moving awfully quickly in “response” to that KPRC story, eh?
I mean, there wasn’t that much “there” in that story. It’s almost as if there was a move to push Tollett out, and a helpful hint just happened to find its way to KPRC, which was more than happy to move that kind of story (that’s much easier than covering city hall like Brent Fuller or Doug Miller or Matt Stiles or other quality reporters do). Convenient, eh?
Coincidence? It seems unlikely to me, since rumors have persisted about Tollett’s behavior for years without much media interest.
I don’t think Tollett has done a great job for Houston, but I’d rather THAT be the basis for evaluation.
This smacks of a political hit piece orchestrated by Mayor White to push Jordy Tollet out of his position. Someone should initiate an investigation into exactly what is going on here, because there is more than meets the eye. The taxpayers deserve to know the truth about who is behind this smear campaign.
Jordy Tollett now has to stand up and be accountable for his actions as a representative of Houston! I feel that the mayor IS BEING RESPONSIBLE looking at the actions of his drinking habits while on the job. Yes, he is paid while he takes lunch! His drinking lunches are far more serious than what ANY employer would find acceptable business behavior. How many times has he gotten in his car and driven back to the job….there is an accident and lawsuit waiting to happen. Does the Mayor knowingly accept this liability for the City….taxpayers money…I don’t think so! There is a time for every season and it is time for the City to replace this position. Maybe Joe Martin will give him a job?
Is this the end for Jordy Tollett?
Though I disagree with his conclusion, I kind of like the way Marc Campos phrased this: “Quien es mas macho,…