Monthly Archives: October 2016

Early voting, Day One: Hope you didn’t mind waiting on line

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of people were out there with you. After more than 18 months of intensive election coverage, early voting kicked off in Harris County on Monday with long lines at some polling locations. As polls closed at 6 p.m., more … Continue reading →

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Interview with John Luman

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

My final interview for the special election in HISD District VII to fill the remainder of outgoing Trustee Harvin Moore’s term is with John Luman. Luman is an intellectual property attorney with engineering degrees from George Washington University and the … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Judge Larry Weiman

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I ran a series of judicial Q&As for Democratic candidates in contested primaries earlier this year. I am now doing the same for the candidates who were unopposed in March, which includes most of the sitting incumbent judges. As … Continue reading →

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SEC to try again with Paxton

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

If at first you don’t succeed… The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is not giving up on its case against Attorney General Ken Paxton. The commission filed amended civil charges against Paxton on Friday, two weeks after a federal judge … Continue reading →

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Early voting starts today

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart announced today that 46 locations will be open Monday, October 24 to Friday, November 4 where voters in the third largest County in the nation may cast ballots during the early voting … Continue reading →

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Hochberg speaks on recapture

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We should listen and at least consider what he’s saying. HISD loses the recapture money, one way or another, even if it doesn’t actually write a check. And the state gets its money one way or another, because the taxes … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for October 23

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s hard out here on a clown. Your Internet-connected devices have lousy default security. You might want to do something about that. President Obama’s list of essential sci-fi movies and TV shows. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown turns fifty … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Jim Peacock

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I ran a series of judicial Q&As for Democratic candidates in contested primaries earlier this year. I am now doing the same for the candidates who were unopposed in March, which includes most of the sitting incumbent judges. As … Continue reading →

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Pension deal takes a step forward

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Not quite there yet, but getting close. Houston’s police and municipal pension boards have agreed to a landmark reform package produced over months of intensive negotiations at City Hall, and Mayor Sylvester Turner hopes the firefighters fund will follow suit … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of HD27

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Like it or not, Rep. Ron Reynolds will be back for another term. When State Rep. Ron Reynolds learned he would face Democratic primary opposition this year for the first time since he won his seat, he called it “the … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: HCDE

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I believe this wraps up endorsement season. County School Trustee, Position 1, Precinct 2: Sherrie L. Matula We emphatically endorse Sherrie L. Matula in this race to replace Marvin Morris, a respected trustee who lost in the Republican primary. Matula, … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Minnie The Moocher

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the movie The Cotton Club, it’s Cab Calloway’s greatest hit: I saw that movie in the theater back in the day – it was kind of mediocre, but the soundtrack is killer. I’ve owned it on vinyl and on … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Steven Kirkland

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I ran a series of judicial Q&As for Democratic candidates in contested primaries earlier this year. I am now doing the same for the candidates who were unopposed in March, which includes most of the sitting incumbent judges. As … Continue reading →

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UH Hobby School (Harris County only): Clinton 43, Trump 36

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

More polling locally. A new survey released Thursday by the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs shows Democratic challengers for county wide office rising sharply against Republican incumbents. It also showed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton with a … Continue reading →

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Feds to appeal transgender bathroom directive

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) plans to appeal a Texas judge’s injunctionbarring the Obama administration from implementing guidelines aimed at protecting transgender students against discrimination. DOJ attorneys announced in court documents Friday that they’ll file formal notice that … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The Congress you expect

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes the most predictable endorsements of the season, for Congress. Here’s Part 1: United States Representative, District 2: Ted Poe Consider this not just an endorsement for Ted Poe, but also heartfelt support as the six-term congressman recovers … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 18

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I too am working on my masterpiece. I don’t think it will be a random ten list, but you never know. 1. Here With Me – Jennifer O’Connor 2. Keeping Time – Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents 3. Masterpiece – … Continue reading →

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Interview with Victoria Bryant

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

As noted, one of the more interesting races on the ballot this year is the special election to fill the remainder of outgoing HISD Trustee Harvin Moore’s term. There are four candidates running for this seat, and today I have … Continue reading →

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Republicans join Woodfill’s ridiculous anti-spousal benefits crusade

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Shoveling sand against the tide. Fifty Republican members of the Texas Legislature have signed a court brief arguing that the same-sex spouses of government employees shouldn’t be entitled to health insurance and other benefits. The “friend-of-the-court” brief was submitted Friday … Continue reading →

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Another look at the case for HISD recapture

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Dale Craymer taps the brakes on the vote-NO-on-recapture train. Houston Independent School District voters face an unhappy choice this November – vote “YES” or “FOR” on Proposition 1 to authorize the state to recapture roughly $160 million of the school … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of HD150

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This could be interesting. The business card for Michael Shawn Kelly, a landscape architect who wants to represent the deep-red suburbs of far north Harris County in the Texas House, touts his conservative values and quotes the late Republican politician … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Candance White

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I ran a series of judicial Q&As for Democratic candidates in contested primaries earlier this year. I am now doing the same for the candidates who were unopposed in March, which includes most of the sitting incumbent judges. As … Continue reading →

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The state of the polls

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I’m just trying to get a handle on the numbers, with the idea of establishing some kind of guide for what to expect in the Presidential race in Texas. Bear with me. The RCP average for the two-way Trump/Clinton race … Continue reading →

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RIP, Constable Ruben Davis

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sad news from Fort Bend. At a time when the public and law enforcement officials contemplate how to best blend policing and community, Fort Bend County has lost a man many describe as a role model for the perfect mix … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of October 17

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance doesn’t even know where to begin with the latest allegations in the Presidential race as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Anne Sung

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

One of the more interesting races on the ballot this year is the special election to fill the remainder of outgoing HISD Trustee Harvin Moore’s term. There are four candidates running for this seat, and I will have interviews with … Continue reading →

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UH Hobby School: Trump 41, Clinton 38

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Damn! Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has one of his slimmest leads yet over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in Texas, 41 percent to 38 percent, according to a new poll among registered voters. Trump’s support falls within the survey’s margin … Continue reading →

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Big XII declines to expand

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry, UH. The University of Houston’s campaign to join the Big 12 Conference was crushed Monday by the league’s presidents, who ruled out expansion without discussing the merits of any individual applicants, including the confident, fast-rising Cougars. Bob Bowlsby, the … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of HD23

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We go to Galveston for one of the few interesting Legislative races in the area. A former Democratic state legislator is trying to recapture the Texas House District 23 seat from the first Republican to hold the office since Reconstruction. … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Judge Robert Schaffer

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I ran a series of judicial Q&As for Democratic candidates in contested primaries earlier this year. I am now doing the same for the candidates who were unopposed in March, which includes most of the sitting incumbent judges. As … Continue reading →

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Clinton campaign to run ads in Texas

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s come to this. Hillary Clinton’ campaign is going on the air in solid-red Texas, a remarkable move by a Democratic presidential nominee as her Republican rival, Donald Trump, struggles across the country. Clinton is launching a one-week ad buy … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of HD134

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron looks at that perpetual swing district, HD134 Artful redistricting has squeezed the general election suspense from nearly all of Harris County’s legislative races, rendering most districts solidly red or blue. Democrat Ben Rose is hoping to prove his … Continue reading →

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MUDs and debt

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Another story about the least-understood form of debt and taxation in Texas. In Houston’s conservative suburbs, where local governments are loath to raise taxes, the thankless task of hiking revenues has fallen to hundreds of so-called municipal utility districts created … Continue reading →

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Interview with Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Two-term Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan is currently the only countywide Democrat, though we hope he’ll have some company after November. An Army veteran and former City Council member, Ryan served under former County Attorney Mike Driscoll and maintains an … Continue reading →

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