Houston isn't the only major city in Texas that will feature a wide-open mayor's race this year. So will Austin, where incumbent Gus Garcia is not running. Here in Houston, the most offbeat candidate we'll have is Boy Wonder, which is to say that this race will be deadly dull. Noisy, perhaps, but dull as dishwater.

Austin, thankfully, has a real live character in the race, restauranteur Marc Katz of Katz's Deli fame. He's already stirring things up with a federal lawsuit that challenges Austin's $100 campaign contribution limit, despite the fact that he'll be mostly self-financing his candidacy. Will Wynn (which, as noted, is an awesome name for a politician) is the favorite, but who knows what a guy like Marc Katz and his unbeatable name recognition can do?