Houston firefighters may be stymied in their push to achieve a voter-approved pay raise this November in part by a competing referendum petition that even its organizers no longer view as crucial. The fire union again accused Mayor Sylvester Turner in a Monday press conference of failing to ensure a petition they submitted last month seeking "parity" in pay with police officers of corresponding rank is certified in time to appear on the ballot this fall. Specifically, they say he has not approved funding for staff overtime that could get both measures counted by the Aug. 21 deadline to adjust the November ballot, and has not directed the city attorney to inform the city secretary – whose task it is to verify the firefighters' petition – that she can stop counting another petition they view as irrelevant.