These are just a few of the epithets being hurled at Mayor Sylvester Turner by his two opponents in the November city elections.

Is it just a coincidence that two white men are attacking a Black mayor with some of the most vile language ever used in a city election? Or is it “dog whistle” politics?

We all know dog whistles are ones whose frequency only dogs can hear. But, in the political context, dictionary.com says “a ‘dog whistle’ is a political term about statements that appear innocent to the general public but they actually use subtle, coded language to communicate a secondary message to an intended group. The messages are often racial or bigoted in nature, used to attract certain voters and energize them to vote.”

Consider: we have Tony Buzbee and Bill King attacking Mayor Turner for alleged “pay to play” at City Hall. They claim that those who donate most to Mayor Turner’s campaign get big city contracts.

Two things are wrong with that attack. First, the city has a multitude of regulations preventing conflicts of interest. These include rules such as limits on campaign contributions and blackout periods where companies cannot donate to city officials for a certain time period while they have a contract under consideration. Companies chosen for contracts are selected by a group of city employees who review their proposals, not the mayor.

Second—and here’s where the dog whistle politics comes in—Mayor Turner is following the same rules as previous Mayors Annise Parker and Bill White, yet Buzbee and King have never accused those mayors of corruption. So they all followed the same rules but it’s only Mayor Turner who’s corrupt? Can you see a double standard here?

King has actually made “Clean up city hall” his campaign slogan. This from the man who spent years as the managing partner of the controversial Linebarger law firm.

Buzbee labeled Turner “the most corrupt mayor in Houston’s history.” This from a man who is friends with Rick Perry and President Donald Trump, a man who actually does break the law.

And despite all the stories about Trump’s follies, what does Buzbee choose to share on his Facebook page? A local TV story attacking Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis. Yes, another Black politician who’s not even up forelection this year.

So, when you hear Buzbee and King throwing these despicable accusations at Mayor Turner, don’t let them get away with it. Be listening for that dog whistle. If you listen real hard, you can hear it.