Tag Archives: Don Sumners

Precinct analysis: HCDE

Posted on January 25, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Introduction Congressional districts State Rep districts Commissioners Court/JP precincts Comparing 2012 and 2016 Statewide judicial Other jurisdictions Appellate courts, Part 1 Appellate courts, Part 2 Judicial averages Other cities District Attorney County Attorney Sheriff Tax Assessor County Clerk There are … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Precinct analysis: HCDE

The HCDE makeover

Posted on September 25, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

One more world to conquer in Harris County. The future looked bleak for Texas’ last remaining county education department in early 2019. After years of state-level efforts to abolish the Harris County Department of Education, a new majority of trustees … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

And the nominees are…

Posted on August 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday was the Harris County Democratic Party CEC meeting, at which the nominees for the two positions that needed them were filled. The easy one was the second one, where Teneshia Hudspeth was unanimously selected. The way this process works … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Where the primary action is

Posted on January 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s on the Democratic side in Harris County. This should come as a surprise to no one. The crowded Harris County Democratic primary field reflects a new reality in Houston politics: With the county turning an even darker shade of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Some county race updates

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

2020 is going to be a very different election year in Harris County, because for the first time in anyone’s memory all of the non-HCDE countywide offices are held by Democrats. If you’re a Democrat in Harris County and you … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I still have no idea what’s going on at HCDE

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever it is, it’s not normal. After fiery exchanges and confusion dominated a special meeting Monday by the Harris County Department of Education’s board trustees voted to update the composition of an ancillary board charged with issuing bonds and overseeing … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Let’s check in on the HCDE

Posted on February 10, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

How are things with the new Board? Within an hour and 37 minutes of his first meeting as a trustee on the Harris County Department of Education’s board of trustees, Josh Flynn had a new role: President. The former Harris … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

So you want to run for something in 2020

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

You’re an ambitious Democrat in Harris County. You saw what happened these last two elections, and you think it’s your time to step up and run for office. What are your options that don’t involved primarying a Democratic incumbent? 1. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Time to pay attention to the HCDE again

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Some highlights from the HCDE meeting agenda for this Thursday at 1 PM, as emailed to me: 1. Changing board meeting dates. 2. Michael Wolfe wants to name our Post Oak facility for his deceased mother. 3. Create a Home … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Precinct analysis: Bennett v Sullivan

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ann Harris Bennett was the only countywide Democratic candidate to be trailing on Election Day as the early voting totals were posted, but as the night went on she cut into the deficit and finally took the lead around 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Chron overview of Harris County Tax Assessor race

Posted on October 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s deja vu all over again. Republican Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Mike Sullivan once again faces a challenge from Democrat Ann Harris Bennett, a rematch from four years ago for an office that oversees billions of dollars in property tax … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Chron overview of Harris County Tax Assessor race

2016 primaries: Harris County

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Though this will be the first entry published in the morning, it was the last one I wrote last night, and I’m super tired. So, I’m going to make this brief. Harris County Dem results – Harris County GOP results … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Primary Day is today

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: “Visit www.HarrisVotes.com to ensure you go to the correct voting location and to find your personal sample ballot for the Tuesday, March 1, Republican Party and Democratic Party Primary Elections,” said Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart, encouraging … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Endorsement watch: Dudley and Sullivan

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes its endorsements in the Tax Assessor primaries. It is the time of year when the Harris County tax assessor-collector gains sudden prominence: Jan. 31 is the due date to pay property taxes, and Feb. 1 is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Endorsement watch: Chron for Leticia

Posted on October 5, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s amazing how easy some endorsement decisions are, or at least should be, this year. The differences between the candidates this year could hardly be more stark. State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, the Democratic candidate, is … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Chron for Leticia

Filing deadline today

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Before I get into the details of who has or hasn’t filed for what, I have a bone to pick with this AP story. Perhaps what the candidate filings reveal most is the relative strength and depth of the political … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Filing deadline today

Credit cards at the Tax Assessor’s office

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

If you’ve paid your vehicle registration fees in person at the Harris County Tax Assessor’s office, you’ve had to bring cash or check to do so, because they don’t accept credit cards for that. Thankfully, that’s about to change. More … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Transition, schmansition

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Don Sumners, ladies and gentlemen. “There is no transition,” said lame-duck Tax Assessor-Collector Don Sumners. The occasionally cantankerous 73-year-old anti-tax taxman said he and his two predecessors came in cold, and [Tax Assessor-elect Mike] Sullivan will have to do the … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Sumners for Controller?

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Yeah, I don’t know about that. County tax assessor-collector Don Sumners, who lost his bid for re-election in the May GOP primary, said Wednesday he is considering running for city controller next year. “The part that has to be decided … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Martin and Sullivan

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron can’t quite believe that Steve Stockman is on the verge of being foisted on us again as a member of Congress, so they do what they can by endorsing his opponent, Max Martin. Max Martin is a credible, … Continue reading →

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

LULAC files suit against Tax Assessor over voter registrations

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Redistricting has the press release. Today, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and a number of Houston residentsfiled suit against Harris County in Federal District Court for the Southern District of Texas maintaining that Harris County officials … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on LULAC files suit against Tax Assessor over voter registrations

Settlement reached in “dead voter” lawsuit

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s something. A lawsuit by four registered voters alleging that the state of Texas was violating their civil rights by purging them from voter rolls has been dropped after the plaintiffs and the state reached an agreement. The Texas residents … Continue reading →

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

“Dead voter” purge finally laid to rest

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Our long countywide nightmare is finally over. The running dispute over presumed-dead voters on Harris County rolls was substantially resolved Wednesday between the Texas Secretary of State’s office and Harris County’s tax registrar just hours before a Travis County judge … Continue reading →

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

Deal reached to restore SOS funding for Tax Assessor

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This whole protracted standoff between Harris County Tax Assessor Don Sumners and the Secretary of State over the “dead voter” purge has apparently been the result of a misunderstanding. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett has brokered a deal with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

SOS ups the ante against Sumners

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s getting real at the Tax Assessor’s office. Harris County election officials got a bit of a surprise Friday morning when they attempted to open the county’s spending account on the Texas Secretary of State’s office website and found their … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

SOS versus Sumners

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not a steel cage death match, but it’ll do. In a strongly worded letter today, the Texas Secretary of State’s office told Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar Don Sumners that his decision not to purge presumed-dead voters … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Not dead yet

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As they say, reports of their deaths have been greatly exaggerated. Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Don Sumners said Monday that he would not purge from the voter roll before the November election any of the 9,018 citizens who received letters … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Not dead yet

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

Chron smacks Stanart and Sumners

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Ouch. Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart is bad at his job. Specifically, Stanart has performed poorly as chief election officer in his duty to responsibly and effectively administer elections for Harris County. […] Stanart said that the delayed results were … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Is it time for an election administrator?

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Campos revives an old topic. I think it is way past time to get an Election Administrator over at the County and take running the elections out of the hands of the ideologues and partisans. [County Judge Ed Emmett] and … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

No settlement deal for HCDE election screwup

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Just as well, because this wasn’t a good deal. A proposed settlement hashed out Thursday evening would have seen the Republican race – a blowout victory – stand, and the Democratic race – for which a runoff is under way … Continue reading →

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

HCDE sues for new election

Posted on July 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) today filed suit in federal court seeking new elections for Trustees whose district boundaries were wrong in the May 29th primary. HCDE officials learned earlier this week that outdated boundaries … Continue reading →

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

Boundary screwup could affect HCDE race

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This is just freakin’ great. Because of a mix-up with the new district boundaries, not everyone who was qualified to vote in a school trustee race was able to and some voters who weren’t supposed to, were allowed to cast … Continue reading →

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

Sullivan confirms he will step down in January

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There will be one more election on the ballot this November. Houston City Councilman Mike Sullivan confirmed Thursday that he will submit his resignation next month as a result of his victory in the Republican Party primary for county tax … Continue reading →

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