Houston mayoral hopeful Gene Locke will release his tax forms “soon,” he told Texas Watchdog Monday evening at a fundraiser in River Oaks.

A cordial Locke emerged from a maroon Chevrolet SUV, with his wife at his side, and said he was ready to release the personal tax forms to “everybody." He said his staff would handle releasing the forms. That everybody would include Texas Watchdog, he said. "Oh, absolutely, you guys asked for it first."

The tax forms could be made public as early as this week, he said, after his CPA finishes reviewing them.

Locke’s event was held in a small ballroom at the tony La Griglia restaurant, attended by a number of local players in real estate and law.

Texas Watchdog requested the tax forms of Locke and his opponent Annise Parker the day after the two emerged from the Nov. 3 general election as the two top vote-getters. The two square off in a Dec. 12 runoff election.

Parker complied 10 days later and turned transparency into a campaign issue.

In the weeks since Texas Watchdog requested the forms, the Locke campaign has not returned phone calls and e-mails regarding release of the forms. Locke's brief statement Monday was the first time anyone from his camp had addressed the issue. One local news source hinted last week that Locke would release his forms "in a few days."

A poll announced Thursday shows Locke and Parker in a tight race.

View our brief interview with Locke below: