Category Archives: Election 2012

Favorable poll for HISD and other bonds

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a good start. Most Houston-area voters plan to support $2.7 billion worth of city, public school and community college bond packages on the November ballot, according to a new poll. The results defy conventional wisdom that a crowded ballot … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Favorable poll for HISD and other bonds

HCDE election lawsuit dismissed

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The lineup for the fall elections is now officially set. The disputed election results for the trustee runoff between two Democratic candidates will stand after a federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Harris County Department of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HCDE election lawsuit dismissed

Oliver to remain on the ballot

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t say I’m surprised. Attorneys representing Harris County Democratic Chairman Lane Lewis and the state Democratic Party argued that perennial candidate [Lloyd] Oliver should be kept off the ballot because he violated a party rule prohibiting a complimentary remark he … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Making the case for the HISD bonds

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Bobby and Phoebe Tudor, the chairs of the Citizens for Better Schools campaign, lay out their case for the HISD bond referendum in this Chron op-ed. Study after study has shown that children have more difficulty learning in inadequate school … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Interview with John Courage

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

If you’re following the State Senate elections, there’s probably only one you’re paying attention to now that the primaries are over, and that’s Sen. Wendy Davis’ re-election battle in SD10. As important as that race is for many reasons, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with John Courage

On turnout and 2012

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The watchword you have been hearing and will be hearing about this November’s election is “turnout”, specifically whether Team Obama can match or at least approach the success it had in turning out minority and younger voters. Here at home … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Sadler’s challenge

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Democratic Senate hopeful Paul Sadler is a strong candidate with limited resources. Where have I heard that before? In Victoria on a recent Saturday afternoon, the candidate for the U.S. Senate had the crowd on its feet, the shouts and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Tawana Cadien

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

CD10 remains the strange barbell-like district that stretches from Austin to Houston that it has been since the DeLay re-redistricting of 2003; it was part of the Republicans’ previous failed strategy of defenestrating Rep. Lloyd Doggett. Originally seen as too … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Tawana Cadien

Who gets to rule on Oliver’s eligibility for the ballot?

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We’re waiting for a ruling in the Lloyd Oliver lawsuit, but before we get a ruling in the case we must first get a ruling on who gets to rule in the lawsuit. Tuesday’s federal court hearing centered largely on … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Endorsement watch: For HCC bonds

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, the Chron has decided to get into the endorsement business early this year, certainly earlier than I’d have expected them to get into it, as they come out in favor of the HCC bond referendum. “We can either train … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: For HCC bonds

Don’t forget Joaquin

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

You can’t have a story about one twin and not have one about the other, am I right? When his minute-older brother gives the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention, Joaquín Castro will be nearby, as he always is … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Don’t forget Joaquin

Interview with Candace Duval

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Texas is unfortunately full of lousy Congressmen. Lamar Smith of CD21 has been on that list for over 20 years. Candace Duval is running to take him off it. Duval is an entrepreneur and realtor who once worked on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Candace Duval

Interview with Max Martin

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The one new Congressional district to reach into Harris County is CD36, which stretches from Clear Lake and eastern Harris County up to Polk, Tyler, Jasper, and Newton Counties. Max Martin is the Democratic candidate running in this new district … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Response from County Clerk to Wallach testimony about recounts

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The following was sent to me in email by Hector DeLeon, the Director of Communications and Voter Outreach for Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart: I read Dan Wallach’s report of the recount in your blog titled Diaz Still Leads After … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Three for E

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There will probably be more when all is said and done, but at this time there are three candidates running for District E this November. The candidates are: Lonnie Allsbrooks – Former owner of Beer Island bar in the Heights. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Oliver sues to stay on ballot

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll find out who’s right soon enough. On Friday, Houston attorney Lloyd Oliver filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Harris County Democratic Party’s attempts to oust him from the ticket. “They’re not going to put any candidate on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Diaz still leads after recount

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise. Former Jacinto City Mayor Chris Diaz still appears to be the Democratic nominee for Harris County Precinct 2 constable following a Monday recount in his razor-thin runoff with Precinct 2 Sgt. Zerick Guinn. Diaz’s 17-vote margin is unofficial, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Dems boot Oliver

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. The Harris County Democratic Party worked Wednesday to take district attorney nominee Lloyd Oliver’s name off the ballot, deciding to go forward without a candidate in November’s general election. Whether they can actually take the outspoken and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Jim Dougherty

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

One of the effects of redistricting was to take CD02, which used to run from Kingwood out east into Jefferson County and move it entirely into Harris County, where it now runs southwest into Spring Branch and inside Loop 610. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Birnberg files complaint to force Oliver off the ballot

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’m far from thrilled to have Lloyd Oliver as the Democratic nominee for District Attorney, but this seems a bit much to me. Gerry Birnberg, the former party chair, filed a complaint earlier this month to have Oliver removed from … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Rep. Gene Green

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s get this round of interviews off with a strong start with a visit with Rep. Gene Green, who has been a fixture in local politics for a long time. First elected to Congress in 1992, Rep. Green was elected … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

The ballot propositions we won’t have

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Today is the 78th day before the November 6 election. That makes it the statutory deadline for ordering an election, as noted by the Secretary of State. They cite Sec. 201.054 of the Elections Code for this, which seems wrong … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fall interview season begins tomorrow

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I know that we just finished the primary runoffs, but we’re also now more than halfway through August, so it’s time to start doing interviews with candidates for the fall. I’ll be up candid, I don’t know exactly how many … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Fall interview season begins tomorrow

On hedging one’s bets

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Writing in the Trib, Mustafa Tameez tells Republicans that there such a thing as too much of a good thing for them. If Republicans win in SD-10, there will only be 11 Democrats in the Texas Senate. That means that … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Guinn seeks recount

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t say I blame him. Democratic Precinct 2 constable candidate Zerick Guinn has requested a recount in his primary runoff against Chris Diaz, who won by 16 votes after incorrect election results posted online showed Guinn with a commanding lead … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Back to Blue

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee has announced its list of targeted districts for 2012. From their press release: The list of nine includes five former House members — Abel Herrero (HD 34), Yvonne Gonzales Toureilles (HD 43), Carol Kent … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

San Antonio’s pre-k referendum

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Houston is chock full of ballot referenda this fall, but the most interesting and potentially consequential one in the state is San Antonio. An initiative from San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro that would direct a portion of sales tax revenue … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Who wants to sue over the HCDE election?

Posted on August 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Depends who you ask. At a court hearing July 30, the county, both political parties and an attorney for [runoff winner Erica] Lee all said they wanted the department of education’s suit dismissed (the school board wanted it to continue). … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Who wants to sue over the HCDE election?

Some coverage for Sadler

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a start. The Tea Party has toppled another mainstream Republican, this time in Texas. Lost in much of the coverage of the primary contest between Houston attorney Ted Cruz and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst was the November general election, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Some coverage for Sadler

Diaz has larger lead in Constable Precinct 2 race

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Sixteen votes. Hey, it counts. After provisional ballots were tallied Tuesday, [Chris] Diaz’s tally stands at 2,078, while [Zerick] Guinn’s is at 2,062, said Jill Moffitt, Democratic judge of the central count. “I’m glad that they’ve finally come up with … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Now you see those votes, now you don’t

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Tuesday was not a good day for the County Clerk. Zerick Guinn went to bed late Tuesday, believing he had won the Democratic nomination for Precinct 2 constable by a comfortable margin. By morning, he had lost the race by … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2012 Democratic primary runoffs

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

All state results here. Best news of the night was Paul Sadler‘s easy win. Can we please raise some money for this guy? Congressional results: James Cargas in CD07, Pete Gallego in CD23, Rose Meza Harrison in CD27, Marc Veasey … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

2012 Republican primary runoffs

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

All the results are here. In the end, Ted Cruz won a pretty solid victory. I’ll note that in the last two publicly released polls, PPP had Cruz up by 10, whereas Baselice & Associates claimed Dewhurst was up by … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Election night returns

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

For your convenience: Statewide Democratic results Looks good for Paul Sadler. Going to be a long night in CDs 23 and 33. Statewide Republican results Ted Cruz has a modest early lead. Wackjob John Devine is leading Supreme Court Justice … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments