Monthly Archives: November 2009

Friday random ten: Old school

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Three weeks ago was my 25-year high school reunion. This weekend is Alumni Weekend at my university. I couldn’t attend either, but I could put together a school-and-nostalgia oriented Friday Random Ten. 1. Schoolhouse Rock Medley – Lager Rhythms 2. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Fort Hood

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I just want to pause for a moment to express my shock and sorrow at what happened at Fort Hood. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims. If you are in a position to … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The Texas Trib and its polls

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been so immersed in the Houston elections that I forgot to give a warm welcome to the Texas Tribune, which made its debut on Tuesday. I really like the look of the site, I like their lineup of writers, … Continue reading →

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Thompson says he’s out, Shami says he’s in

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Mark Thompson has ended his candidacy for Governor. “There’s just too many people running,” Thompson said. “Any time someone jumps in, they cut your percentages down.” Thompson said last week he was considering ending his bid. He had said he … Continue reading →

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Galveston Shriners Hospital now open

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Galveston Shriners Hospital, which was closed down after Hurricane Ike and was set to reopen on Monday after a long battle to bring it back, has opened its doors a few days early. Kudos to all involved for getting … Continue reading →

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You can still register for the runoff

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I suspect that just about everyone reading this blog is a registered voter, but if you aren’t, or you know someone who isn’t, you get a second chance for the runoff. Harris County Voter Registrar Leo Vasquez reminds citizens they … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

It’s all about Roy

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This article is supposedly about how Annise Parker and Gene Locke have started to get their campaigns back on track for the runoff, but the vast majority of it is about Roy Morales, who is apparently the most famous fourth-place … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Six questions for the runoffs

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Six questions that I can think of, anyway. 1. What will Peter do? Will Peter Brown endorse someone in the runoff? If so, how vigorously does he support that person? He’s in a position to have an effect on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Runoff rules

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Council Member Mike Sullivan sheds some light on my confusion about runoffs in school board elections. As a former school board member, I know the answer well. In short, in the state of Texas, a candidate for school board has … Continue reading →

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Lawrence backs out of running for Eversole’s seat

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

And we’re back where we started. Houston Councilwoman Toni Lawrence has decided she won’t run against Jerry Eversole for the Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner’s seat. “I did talk to Jerry on Tuesday and told him I was not going … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Recount in HCC 3

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise at all. Mary Ann Perez appeared to pull off a tight victory in the Houston Community College’s District III trustee race Tuesday night. But her opponent was in no mood for a concession. “I’m requesting a recount,” said … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Waiting for KBH, the neverending story

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

There are dominoes that are all set to fall in North Texas if only Kay Bailey Hutchison would flick her finger and knock the first one over. The thinking goes like this: U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison resigns to run … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Nancy and me on TV

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

If you missed it from last night, here’s a clip of Nancy Sims and me doing the pundit thing on KHOU: Among other things, it’s a rare opportunity to see me in a suit and tie. My thanks to Greg … Continue reading →

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The Controller’s race

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m still somewhat amazed by this result. City Councilman Ronald Green led a three-candidate field in the race for Houston city controller Tuesday and will face Councilman M.J. Khan in a Dec. 12 runoff. Green, whose campaign appeared unharmed by … Continue reading →

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More thoughts about yesterday’s results

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

– I didn’t note it last night, but all 11 Constitutional amendments passed. No surprise there, they almost always do. – Looking back at my turnout projections, the right number to go with was the 30% scenario. As it happens, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ashby’s developer defends his project

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Let me start by saying that I agree with Kevin Kirton, the CEO of Buckhead Investment Partners, also known as the developers of the infamous Ashby highrise, when he says that the “trip number” justification that the city used to … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Our air might be cleaner than we think

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is a pleasant surprise. Houston, once considered the nation’s capital of dirty air, is on the verge of meeting federal limits for smog for the first time. If the numbers hold as the smog season draws to an end, … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A slow solution is bad but no solution is worse

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Same song, yet another verse: The food stamp situation in Texas is truly terrible. As Texas begins hiring hundreds of food stamp workers to help erase an application backlog that has left families waiting months for aid, no one expects … Continue reading →

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Initial thoughts on tonight’s results

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

– My skepticism of those earlier polls that showed Peter Brown in the lead has been justified. Especially in what wound up being a lower-than-expected turnout election, I just couldn’t believe a survey of registered voters that was self-screened for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Election results thread

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s gonna be a long night…Here are the early vote results from Harris County. Candidate Votes Pct ========================= Locke 17,183 28.76 Parker 17,169 28.74 Brown 15,387 25.75 Morales 9,451 15.82 Green 19,389 39.97 Holm 16,939 32.26 Khan 15,631 29.77 That’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Twenty percent

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Turnout projections for this election, originally at 25%, are being revised downward as polling places report slow going. Richard Murray, political science professor at the University of Houston, said the 25 percent turnout estimate may be optimistic. At midday, he … Continue reading →

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Election Day

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

You know the drill by now. You can find polling locations here, and you can see a Google map and download a spreadsheet of voting locations in the open Council districts at Greg’s place. The Tax Assessor’s office would like … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Sports Authority responds

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

J. Kent Friedman, the chairman of the board of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, contributes this op-ed to counter the idea that taxpayers may be on the hook for some of its obligations. • • Up to $4 million per year … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Two views of Willingham and Perry

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Couple of good op-eds in the papers in the past few days concerning the Cameron Todd Willingham case. First, here’s State Sen. Rodney Ellis and Barry Scheck of the Innocence Project focusing on the forensics: In 2006, the Innocence Project … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Please know a little something about Texas before you write about Texas

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

David Broder packs an awful lot of ignorance into these two sentences of his bizarrely hostile column about the Senate’s health care reform bill and the opt-out compromise. If a health care reform with an opt-out provision were to become … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of November 2

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance reminds you to get out and vote today. Click on for are this week’s highlights.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | 1 Comment

White condemns anti-Green robocalls

Posted on November 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve heard from numerous people, including several in the comments here, who have received a nasty anti-Ronald Green robocall in the past week or so; at this point, I believe there are at least two variants on the call. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Spending on voter outreach: District Council races

Posted on November 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve taken a look at spending on voter outreach in the Controller’s race and in the At Large Council races, and was working on a similar post for the district Council races for the 30 days out reports, but never … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Endorsement watch: Jewish Herald Voice and African-American News

Posted on November 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here are some last-minute endorsements, for those of you who plan to do your civic duty on Tuesday. First, from the Jewish Herald Voice: City of Houston, General Election Mayor Annise D. Parker Council Member, District A Amy Peck Council … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

More, so to speak, on the Council races

Posted on November 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s what there is to say about this Chron story that “covers”, loosely speaking, the five open Council races. It has 62 sentences in it. It names 31 candidates. You do the math. I mean, seriously. If you’re going to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Candidates’ personal financial statements

Posted on November 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to the campaign finance reports, candidates are required to file personal financial statements that disclose their income, investments, and other holdings so that any potential conflicts of interest can be identified. Texas Watchdog has been rounding them up … Continue reading →

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If Lubbock can do it, so can Luling

Posted on November 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The little town of Luling is looking to follow in Lubbock’s footsteps and allow alcohol sales. For some towns, being dry is part of the local character: The absence of alcohol reflects the particular values of the community. For others, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Enthusiasm, or lack of same

Posted on November 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron provides some decent anecdotal evidence to support the theory that voters aren’t all that engaged in this election. The deciding factor varied widely for many, according to interviews with more than 40 voters across the city during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Weekend link dump for November 1

Posted on November 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Happy Dia de los Muertos! I personally think Carl Hiassen’s books are the best political novels out there. But your mileage may vary. What do you suppose are the odds that he has any idea that this song is an … Continue reading →

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