Kubosh on abandonment of city controller campaign: 'It is simply in the best interest of the city that I step aside'

A longtime member of the Houston City Council announced on Monday that poor health has prompted him to drop his bid for city controller, per reports from Houston-based media outlets. 

Citing Michael Kubosh’s Facebook page, Houston FOX affiliate KRIV reported the at-large councilmember required hospitalization because of what he described as “a series of health-related issues.”

“Although I believe I am on the right path to recovery, it has become evident to me that at age 72, I no longer have the ability to sustain my campaign at the level required, while at the same time abiding by my doctor's orders," Kubosh wrote, per KRIV.

Kubosh, who’s among the most conservative voices on the 17-seat horseshoe, is in his last term and had sought to become the successor to current controller Chris Brown, whose maximum of two terms is almost up.

"Accordingly, I have decided to withdraw from the City of Houston controller race,” Kubosh said, KRIV reported. “While I remain confident we could have been victorious in November, it is simply in the best interest of the city that I step aside."

Kubosh’s opponent was fellow councilmember Dave Martin, who’s also prohibited by law to seek new terms at the horseshoe, according to a report from Houston Daily.

The city controller is essentially the city’s chief financial officer (CFO) whose responsibilities – according to the city’s website – include, but aren’t limited to certifying the availability of funds before the city council approves certain expenditures, overseeing disbursements of more than $1 billion annually and internally auditing municipal departments, the publication reported.

Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that while Kubosh touted himself as someone who’d keep a close eye on the city’s finances and anyone who has access to them if elected controller, he is alleged to have used his campaign war chest for things forbidden by the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC). 

Kubosh purportedly used some campaign donations on birthday parties last year for himself and his son, as well as a family vacation in Wyoming, according to the report. 

“An officeholder may not use campaign contributions for family, entertainment or recreation, period,” Anthony Gutierrez, who heads the nonprofit organization Common Cause Texas, told KHOU. “That is exactly what Mr. Kubosh seems to be doing.” 

The election for controller will be held alongside the contest for Houston mayor on Nov. 7.