Dan Patrick: Democratic mayors doing a 'terrible job'

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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick took to national television this morning to continue a familiar theme -- slamming city governments.

On the Fox Business Network, Patrick was asked if he saw any Republican governors nationwide in 2018 that could be vulnerable to Democratic challengers. Patrick said not only does he not see that happening, but then forced the interview into an entirely different direction.

"I think the people are happy with their governments at the state level, they're not with the cities," said Patrick, a Houston Republican. "Our cities are still controlled by Democrats. Where do we have all our problems in America? Not at the state level run by Republicans. but in our cities that are mostly controlled by Democrat mayors and Democrat city council men and women."

His comments come at the state Legislature has passed its midway point in a special session that is largely focused on chipping away at the authority of city and county governments. The Texas Senate has already passed bills blocking cities from annexing some land, imposing tree ordinances on private property owners and small developers, restricting how much they can raise property taxes and demanding they speed up building permit applications.

The Texas Municipal League has labeled it an "anti-city agenda" and some Democrats like State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, have openly criticized the focus on curbing local governments, which are the governments closest to the people.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks during the service on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at Woodlands Grace Church in The Woodlands. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks during the service on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at Woodlands Grace Church in The Woodlands. Photo: Michael Minasi, Staff Photo: Michael Minasi, Staff Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Dan Patrick: Democratic mayors doing a 'terrible job' 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

"I've never seen such an attack on local control," Garcia said in an interview last week.

But Patrick made clear on Fox Business Network that cities are where the bulk of problems in America are today.

"That is where you see liberal policies," Patrick said. "That is where you see high taxes. That is where you see street crime. Look at New York, look at Chicago."

Patrick said state governments -- where Republicans hold the majority of governorships -- are doing a better job than cities on a whole.

"The only place Democrats have control is in our cities and they are doing a terrible job," Patrick told Fox Business Network anchor Stuart Varney.

Texas municipal elections are non-partisan.