37 days: Corpus Christi finds lessons in mayor's political implosion

CORPUS CHRISTI — Joe Gazin, the veteran KIII-TV anchorman, threw Mayor Dan McQueen a simple pitch during a chat at a police foundation breakfast last month: Come on his newscast and explain what the heck was going on.

Just weeks into his tenure, controversies had enveloped McQueen like a Gulf Coast fog. There were charges of nepotism, questions about his credentials and plenty of cringing about his not-so-truthful Facebook tirades. But here was Gazin, dressed in his blue suit and red tie, offering McQueen a chance to tell voters his side of the story.

The newsman earned a maybe after some cajoling, but he wasn’t betting that McQueen would show up. The new mayor had shut out journalists since his shocking Election Day victory, blaming them — along with other city leaders — for Corpus Christi’s struggles.

But after Gazin drove home to Padre Island that Wednesday morning, he got a call from his news director. McQueen wanted to tape the interview — immediately. The anchorman sped to the studios, no time to prepare. He settled into his chair on a set specially arranged for the 20-minute interview.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2017/02/09/corpus-christi-mayor/