Monthly Archives: October 2019

The Chron on Boykins and Lovell

Posted on October 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Time for more profiles of Mayoral candidates. Here’s the Chron piece on Dwight Boykins. “My goal is to use this position as mayor to let people know that there is hope,” [CM Dwight Boykins] said. “I’m trying to help the … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For the Metro bond

Posted on October 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

All of the candidate endorsements have been done by the Chron, but there remain the endorsements for ballot propositions. Which is to say, the Metro referendum and the constitutional amendments. I’ll address the latter tomorrow, but for now here’s the … Continue reading →

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Day One 2019 EV totals: Let’s get this started

Posted on October 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s that time again, time to track daily early vote totals. Let’s get right to it, shall we? Year Early Mail Total Mailed ====================================== 2019 7,973 5,407 13,380 20,148 2015 8,889 14,240 23,129 40,626 2013 5,028 8,560 13,588 28,620 The … Continue reading →

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UH poll: Turner 43, Buzbee 23, King 8

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Another encouraging poll for Mayor Turner as early voting starts. Mayor Sylvester Turner retains a wide lead over his opponents, most of whom have failed to gain traction with weeks left until Election Day, according to a University of Houston … Continue reading →

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So now what with Bonnen?

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Democrats will wait and see. On Thursday night, as Republican House Speaker Dennis Bonnen’s political fate continued to hang in the balance, some of the most influential Democrats were in El Paso for a town hall and were split on … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Turner and Brown

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron saved its biggest endorsement editorials for the Sunday edition. I did expect them to endorse Mayor Turner for another term, and they delivered, with more of an emphasis on the campaign than I would have thought. Bats aren’t … Continue reading →

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Early voting for the November 2019 election starts today

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox. Early Voting Starts Today Monday, October 21 to Friday, November 1 Voting is so much more convenient this year, and you can experience that starting at 7AM on October 21, when Early Voting starts. To find a … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for October 20

Posted on October 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

“Quiet places have been on the road to extinction at a rate that far exceeds the extinction of species.” When you’ve lost Matt Drudge… “For young people who have absorbed similar messages in Christian spaces, the redemption of Bathsheba matters … Continue reading →

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30 day campaign finance reports: Open City Council seats, part 1

Posted on October 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

As before, my look at the July 2019 finance reports for these candidates is here, and all of the finance reports that I have downloaded and reviewed are in this Google folder. Except for the reports that were filed non-electronically, … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Miscellania

Posted on October 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We cover three endorsements today: HD148 (I presume the Chron is not endorsing in HD28), HISD IV, and City Council District C. Endorsements for the constitutional amendments were in the print edition on Saturday, I’ll run them on Tuesday. That … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: At Large 5 and District B

Posted on October 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

A much better decision by the Chron was to endorse Sallie Alcorn in At Large #5. Alcorn, who is running for At-Large Position 5, has spent the past 10 years at City Hall — serving as chief of staff for … Continue reading →

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30 Day campaign finance reports: Incumbents and challengers for Council

Posted on October 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

As before, my look at the July 2019 finance reports for these candidates is here, and all of the finance reports that I have downloaded and reviewed are in this Google folder. Except for the reports that were filed non-electronically, … Continue reading →

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More on the Constitutional amendments

Posted on October 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I found this while answering a question from a reader, and figured it was worth publicizing to a wider audience. Ten proposed constitutional amendments will be on the November ballot. The Texas League of Women Voters has compiled a nice … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Mistakes were made

Posted on October 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

A swing and a miss. As a city council member, Mike Knox has not been afraid to clash with Mayor Sylvester Turner. He voted against a $650,000 contract to boost participation in the 2020 Census, saying he had reservations about the “missions … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: One more HISD, two in HCC

Posted on October 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Some pretty easy calls for the Chron here. In HISD VII, they go with Judith Cruz. Houston Independent School District does not need more of the same in its leadership. The embattled district must move away from the dysfunction that … Continue reading →

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Interview with Carol Denson

Posted on October 18, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of things go into my interview schedules each cycle, as there’s only one of me and usually way more candidates than I could possibly have time for. The large field in the HD148 special election was a particular challenge, … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of City Controller race

Posted on October 18, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s rerun season. It has attracted far less attention than the rowdy mayoral race, but the contest for the city’s second-highest office has intensified in recent weeks as Controller Chris Brown — the independently elected financial watchdog — finds himself … Continue reading →

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Chrysta Castañeda

Posted on October 18, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Senate race will be the top statewide contest in 2020, but beyond that it’s the judicials and the one Railroad Commissioner slot on the ballot. Candidate Chrysta Castañeda has thrown her hat into the ring for that job. The … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Our first two At Large races

Posted on October 18, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing with its “one contested incumbent and one open seat” theme, the Chron begins by endorsing David Robinson for another term. Unlike council members who speak for specific districts, at-large representatives must take a wider view and consider the city … Continue reading →

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30 day finance reports: Metro referendum

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

There may be some opposition to the Metro referendum, but so far no one’s putting their money where their mouths are on that. Supporters of a $3.5 billion transit bond election less than four weeks away have a sizable — … Continue reading →

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So are there any legal consequences to the Bonnen tape?

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Probably not, but maybe a little. Does that help? It was, according to his critics, “hurtful,” “vindictive” and “unbefitting of the high office he holds.” But was House Speaker Dennis Bonnen’s June 12 meeting with conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan … Continue reading →

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How other states are handling the Census

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Better than we’re handling it. So cities and states with big immigrant populations — like California and New York City — are supplementing the Census Bureau’s efforts like never before, allocating money to outreach groups that can go to communities … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of October 14

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

In its great and unmatched wisdom, the Texas Progressive Alliance presents this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Sallie Alcorn

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We come to the end of the interviews that I had originally planned. As is often the case, a late request came in and you will see that on Friday. For City Council until the runoffs we are at the … Continue reading →

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The Bonnen tape is out

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a doozy. During a June conversation at the Texas Capitol, Republican House Speaker Dennis Bonnen urged hardline conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan to target members of their own party in the 2020 primaries and suggested he could get Sullivan’s … Continue reading →

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On the air in HD28

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The HD28 special may be the hottest race going right now. The first TV ads are set to air in the special election to replace state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, as Democrats rev up their homestretch push to flip the … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: A and H

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like we’re going to keep getting these endorsements in pairs. Today’s duo includes an incumbent and an open seat candidate. First up, incumbent Karla Cisneros. Poverty and lack of academic achievement are problems that concern all of Houston, but … Continue reading →

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Our increasingly diverse swing districts

Posted on October 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Current trends keep on trending. New 2018 census data shows that some of the most competitive congressional districts in Texas are continuing to become more diverse, as campaigns gear up for what’s expected to be the state’s most competitive election … Continue reading →

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Ogg continues to have problems with the bail settlement

Posted on October 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t like this. District Attorney Kim Ogg is rallying police officers across Harris County to show up in federal court en masse to oppose to a landmark bail reform agreement at a final hearing set for this month. She … Continue reading →

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The subpoenas come for Rick Perry

Posted on October 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The first law of Donald Trump is that everything he touches turns to mud. Sooner or later, that mud gets on you. Democrats on the three U.S. House committees overseeing the presidential impeachment inquiry have subpoenaed documents from U.S. Energy … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Two in HISD

Posted on October 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron goes against the incumbent in District III. [Incumbent Sergio] Lira, who was elected in 2017 after the death of longtime trustee Manuel Rodriguez, has 30 years of experience in education, with a doctorate in educational leadership and policy … Continue reading →

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Interview with Ashton Woods

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

After that two-week hiatus into HD148, it’s time to circle back to the City Council races. I have one more to bring to you, featuring two candidates. At Large #5 is an open seat, with incumbent CM Jack Christie being … Continue reading →

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The need for voter registration never ends

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

A small step back, but I expect a big step forward next year. Democrats in Texas see registering new voters as crucial to winning statewide elections in 2020, but the number of registered voters in Harris County, the state’s largest, … Continue reading →

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The visiting judge and the public defender

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I want to understand more about this. Commissioner Rodney Ellis is calling for a review of the process used to select substitute judges after fielding a scathing letter from the county’s public defender outlining two decades of allegations against ex-Judge … Continue reading →

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