A few weeks ago, Texas Watchdog called on Houston's mayoral candidates to release their tax returns going back three years. Annise Parker released her tax returns soon after. And late last week, just before the Thanksgiving holiday, Gene Locke released his.

We appreciate the candidates doing so. We asked for them because a big part of Texas Watchdog's mission is ferreting out potential conflicts of interest. Weeding through tax returns is one way to do that. Plus, it's become more common for folks running for office to release their returns.

Indeed, in a race in Illinois this year, candidates' tax returns have been a big issue, according to the Chicago Tribune and here in Texas, Gov. Rick Perry and challenger US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison have done so, thanks to the Associated Press.

The release of both candidate's returns caused a bit of a flurry in the news media locally.

KHOU 11 News' Lee McGuire looks like he was first off the block to get a story out about the tax returns.

A great analysis on Gene Locke's returns comes from KTRK TV 13's Ted Oberg.

Other takes on the tax returns came from Isish Carey at Fox  26 News and from the Houston Chronicle.

And some conversation from the blogs:

BlogHouston

Cory Crow's Harris County Almanac

Off the Kuff