Tag Archives: Houston

30 day campaign finance reports – At Large Council candidates

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Previously: Mayor City Controller District Council And here are the At Large Council candidates. The January finance reports for city of Houston candidates are here, and the July reports are here. Dist Candidate Raised Spent Loan On Hand ============================================================ AL1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Endorsement watch: Hellyar and Evans-Shabazz

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Nick Hellyar in At Large #2 in a piece that mostly praises other candidates in the race. Houston voters have a clear top-flight candidate in the race for City Council At-Large Position 2. Nick Hellyar, 41, has … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

30 day campaign finance reports – District Council candidates

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Previously: Mayor City Controller Let’s get into the Council races, starting with the district Council contests. The January finance reports for city of Houston candidates are here, and the July reports are here. Dist Candidate Raised Spent Loan On Hand … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Seriously, what the hell is going on at HISD?

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Well, three things that aren’t just straight-up WTF? Juniors and seniors at Houston ISD’s DeBakey High School for Health Professions walked into their AP Physics classes at the beginning of the school … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Endorsement watch: For Hollins

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes a strong endorsement of Chris Hollins for Houston City Controller. Overseeing Harris County’s vote during one of the most contentious presidential elections in American history, smack dab in the middle of a raging pandemic, Hollins led a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: For Hollins

Past interviews with Mayoral candidates

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

As I said last week, I have decided to wait until the runoff to do Mayoral candidate interviews. The size of the field and the limited amount of time I had available to try to schedule probably seven interviews with … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Past interviews with Mayoral candidates

On filing financial disclosure reports

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Campaign finance reports aren’t the only filings that city candidates can screw up. About a quarter of the candidates running for city council seats and mayor have not provided financial disclosures to the City Secretary due in September. Twenty-three out … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on On filing financial disclosure reports

Lee and Garcia push the city to Do Something about Whitmire’s campaign finances

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what happens. Two rival candidates have asked the city of Houston to block state Sen. John Whitmire from using $2.7 million in proceeds from stock sales to underwrite his campaign for mayor. Already dominating in the fundraising race, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lee and Garcia push the city to Do Something about Whitmire’s campaign finances

Hydrogen hub Houston happens

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. The Texas Gulf Coast has been selected by the Biden administration as a clean hydrogen hub, one of seven locations across the United States set to receive billions of dollars in federal funding and private investment to help develop … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Confederate statues finally removed from city’s art collection

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Good riddance. Statues of Christopher Columbus, Confederate officer Dick Dowling and an angel representing the “Spirit of the Confederacy” were officially removed from the city of Houston’s art collection Wednesday. The statues were taken down from public display two to … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Cruise officially rolls out in Houston

Posted on October 14, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The service is limited for now, but I suspect it will expand soon enough. A driverless ride hailing service is launching operations Thursday in Houston, where residents in select locations can start catching autonomous rides at 9 p.m. Cruise driverless … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Endorsement watch: Martinez in I, and wait, what?

Posted on October 14, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron made a perfectly fine endorsement. It’s not easy to follow in the footsteps of outgoing Councilmember Robert Gallegos. As the lone Hispanic around the horseshoe, he has robustly represented his hometown and the most Hispanic district in Houston for nearly a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

30 day 2023 campaign finance reports – Houston City Controller

Posted on October 13, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Previously: Mayor Continuing with 30 day campaign finance reports, here they are for Houston City Controller candidates. The July reports for these candidates can be found here. Candidate Raised Spent Loan On Hand ====================================================== Hollins 160,578 598,460 0 214,799 Martin … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 30 day 2023 campaign finance reports – Houston City Controller

30 day 2023 campaign finance reports – Houston Mayor

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We are now less than a month out from Election Day, and that means it’s time for 30 day campaign finance reports, which give a decent picture of where campaigns are now, and may be the best way of understanding … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Another federal complaint filed against HISD

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Two and counting. The Greater Houston Coalition of Justice has filed a complaint to the federal government alleging that Texas education authorities created a hostile workplace in Houston ISD by installing Mike Miles as superintendent and replacing the district’s elected … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Another federal complaint filed against HISD

UH-Hobby Center poll: Whitmire 34, Jackson Lee 31

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Same pollster as before, nearly the same result. There has been almost no movement in Houston’s mayoral race over the last three months, with state Sen. John Whitmire and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee still firmly entrenched atop the crowded … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Interview with Chris Hollins

Posted on October 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve had a few familiar names among the candidates for office so far, but I daresay there’s only one who qualifies as a national name. That would be Chris Hollins, who drew national plaudits for his efforts to make the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Endorsement watch: Cantu and Alcorn

Posted on October 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Two At Large endorsements are up, beginning with Richard Cantu in the open At Large #3 race. Perhaps it was coincidence that Richard Cantu, 54, sat in the center of the table at our screening with candidates for this race, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Cantu and Alcorn

Interview with CM Dave Martin

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We are entering the home stretch here as we meet the Controller candidates. Dave Martin is the term-limited incumbent Council member in District E, and he also serves as the Mayor Pro Tem, which is like being the Vice Mayor. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Ed Emmett opines against Prop B

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

He’s the first prominent local politician that I’m aware of to take this position. Promoted by a group called Fair for Houston, the petition is seeking to have cities’ and counties’ voting strength (within organizations such as the H-GAC board … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Ed Emmett opines against Prop B

Eric Dick is an old hand at violating campaign laws

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

He’s the industry standard around here. Attorney and Harris County Department of Education Trustee Eric Dick faces $40,000 in fines for campaign finance violations after the Texas Ethics Commission recently tacked on another $10,000 penalty. The TEC ruled late last … Continue reading →

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

HISD releases its special education plan

Posted on October 8, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see. Houston ISD’s administration rolled out a long-anticipated list of fixes to its special education programs Thursday, unveiling plans aimed at rectifying the district’s persistent problems with serving students with disabilities. In a presentation to HISD’s state-appointed school board, … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD releases its special education plan

The IAH renewable project

Posted on October 8, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I like this. Fresh off inking a new lease with the developers of a planned solar farm in Sunnyside, Houston officials hope to produce clean, reliable power on the grounds of the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Airport officials are asking … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Book-Loving Texans’ Guide To The November 2023 Election

Posted on October 7, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Make note of this. Please check out and share the newest edition of the Book-Loving Texan’s Guides to Texas School Board Elections. You can use it to inform voters and to decide where to allocate your time and donations for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Book-Loving Texans’ Guide To The November 2023 Election

Endorsement watch: Pollard and Castillo

Posted on October 6, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Two more endorsements, beginning with District J. Every city council member is defending their record on crime but only Edward Pollard represents a district with an international reputation as a hub for sex trafficking and gang violence. To win reelection, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Pollard and Castillo

What some Mayoral candidates said to some Republicans

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I have a few thoughts about this. Houston mayoral candidates took aim at “feel-good” public safety initiatives such as gun buybacks and proposed plans to boost the city budget at a Friday forum organized by United Republicans of Harris County. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Endorsement watch: Kamin for C, Jackson for B

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron gets to two more endorsements, both for incumbents, the first being in District C. Abbie Kamin was the city’s first pregnant council member, a title she wore proudly and that informed her own advocacy around the horseshoe at … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Kamin for C, Jackson for B

Interview with Fair for Houston, which is now Yes on Prop B

Posted on October 3, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I trust you are familiar by now with Fair for Houston, for which there was a successful petition drive to put an item on the Houston ballot this November. That item, which will be City Proposition B, aims to reform … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

And now we have a hue and cry about Whitmire’s campaign treasury

Posted on October 3, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I’m surprised it took this long, to be honest. U.S. Rep Sheila Jackson Lee and former Metro Chair Gilbert Garcia have requested the city attorney to investigate alleged campaign contribution limit violations by State Sen. John Whitmire, hinting at a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

HISD update threefer

Posted on October 3, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I can’t keep up with all of the HISD stories, so I’m going to just highlight a couple of recent ones. Rumors of closure spark third rally at HISD campus as parents consider options. The family joined a Wednesday afternoon … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD update threefer

Interview with Richard Cantu

Posted on October 2, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I have one late-breaking interview for At Large #3 before I bring you some interviews for other items in this election. Richard Cantu is another familiar name, having been elected to serve on the HCDE Board of Trustees in 2018. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Metro moves forward with its bike plan

Posted on October 2, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Really interested to see what this looks like. Metro’s board of directors voted Thursday to negotiate a contract with a Canadian company to launch Houston’s second bike-share program, but left unclear how – or whether – the two bicycle rental … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Metro moves forward with its bike plan

The young activists of today

Posted on October 1, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Keep track of these names, or better yet get to know them. Olivia Julianna typed “#johnnyboywhitmire” into TikTok’s search bar. To her delight, her five videos critiquing Texas state senator and Houston mayoral hopeful John Whitmire had garnered a combined … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The young activists of today

Endorsement watch: For Letitia Plummer

Posted on October 1, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I guess we’re rolling these out one at a time, and in no particular order. When some politicians shift their positions on high-profile issues, they get tagged with the dreaded “flip-flopper” label. So when At-Large Position 4 Councilmember Letitia Plummer … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: For Letitia Plummer