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A fresh contingent climbs on board the Bill White bandwagon

Fran Ellisor and Herman Jones of Montgomery County visited with gubernatorialcandidate Bill White at the Continental Club.
Photo by Shelby Hodge
Chris Brown, from left, Elin Jackson, Caroline Starry LeBlanc and Jared LeBlancat the New Leaders of Texas event.
Photo by Shelby Hodge
The Light Rock Express entertained with the soft sounds of the '70s and '80s.
Photo by Shelby Hodge

Gov. Rick Perry, watch your back. The Bill White for Texas campaign is gathering momentum with a fresh-faced coalition of supporters that call themselves New Leaders of Texas and they mean business.

More than 100 of these young and not-so-young professionals and interested parties schmoozed with the would-be governor Tuesday night at the hipster Continental Club. Unlike most hit-and-run political appearances, White was in place when the doors opened at 7 and was still there after addressing the group more than an hour later. He even took time to snack on bites from Tacos A Go-Go and have a beer while spreading the gospel.

Good news for the former Houston mayor on this night — financial goal for the meet-and-greet was $50,000. When the doors opened, the kitty was over-flowing with $70,000 and people were writing checks as they entered. As New Leaders of Houston event organizer Caroline Starry LeBlanc said, "We are very, very, very pleased."

The New Leaders group, inaugurated in Austin earlier this summer, is comprised of voters in their 20s, 30s and early 40s, new faces that have not necessarily participated in politics previously. A statewide leadership retreat is planned for this weekend at a ranch in Brenham. "This is something that has really taken off," White said.

Matt Ellis, statewide associate finance director of White's campaign, commented, "Don't call us 'young' professionals. That's an excuse for not giving money. We're not young anymore. We are rising into positions of authority in our various professions. It's time for us step up and take responsibility for our state."

As White explained the concept, "These are young leaders who just want new leadership in our state that is forward thinking."

And who are those that embraced the New Leadership concept? In the mix were Jared LeBlanc, Chris Brown, Elin Jackson, Cali Alvarado and Peter Pettigrew, Joey Romano, Nicole Laurent, Olin Boudreaux, Diedra Fontaine, Linda and Mike Breslin and Katherine and Mark Yzaguirre

Stay tuned for similar rallies in Dallas and San Antonio.

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This Week's Hot Headlines

2 favorite Houston Mexican restaurants return and more popular stories

Courtesy of El Tiempo Cantina

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Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, featuring the return of two staple Mexican restaurants and the richest Houstonians of them all. Read on for our most popular stories, then head here to plan your weekend.

1. 2 treasured Houston Mexican restaurants reopen after brief closures. Two staple Houston-area Mexican restaurants are making comebacks after brief closures. Picos has already returned to service, while El Tiempo Cantina’s Webster location isn’t far behind.

2. 12 things to know in Houston food: Openings, closings, and meal deals. A successful hand roll restaurant continues to grow, a Chinese American restaurant quietly signs off, and a popular Houston chef shows off his Peruvian heritage. Plus, Houstonians can eat cold noodles for a good cause.

3. Houston oil tycoon is city's richest billionaire for 2026, Forbes finds. The richest billionaires in America have a collective worth of $8 trillion in 2026, a staggering $1.4 trillion increase since last year, says Forbes. And one local billionaire has regained the title as Houston's wealthiest resident.

President Trump Meets With Oil And Gas Executives At The White House Jeffery Hildebrand Hildebrand is the richest Houstonian. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

4. Beard Award-winning Latin chef dishes on big Houston move and menu overhaul. On this episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” chef Douglas Rodriguez and Bari Hospitality Group co-owner Pedro Teyuca join CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss Exilio Latin Flair, the company’s pan-Latin restaurant in Montrose.

5. Food & Wine's Best New Chef list includes Gulf Coast-obsessed Houstonian. A Houston chef is basking in the national spotlight. Food & Wine magazine has named Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition executive chef Lucas McKinney to its 2026 class of Best New Chefs.