Category Archives: Local politics

I received the following statement from the office of Harris County Tax Assessor Leo Vasquez, which was sent to KHOU and Fox 26 in response to the charges made by State Reps. Garnet Coleman and Ana Hernandez about the voter … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The economic downturn plus the housing market crash means there’s never been a better time for local governments to bid out construction projects, with more contractors than usual getting involved and competing on price. The increased competition has cut costs … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The story about the deputies that were assigned driving duties for Sheriff Adrian Garcia and County Judge Ed Emmett got an extended play in the Chron thanks to a letter to the editor from Garcia and an email he sent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I feel like I’ve read this story about part-time drivers for Sheriff Adrian Garcia and County Judge Ed Emmett before. It reminded me of this one about state Senate staffer salaries, and this one about City Council expenditures. In each … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Is there really a debate about whether or not we should conduct a search for a new HISD Superintendent in an open manner? Because I think the choice is clear. The Greater Houston Partnership, which represents the business community, is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As you know, I’ve been following the issue of Houston City Council redistricting with a lot of interest. After the lawsuit was filed a week ago Thursday, I wanted to speak to the protagonists and ask them some questions about … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Looks like Mayor White has an interesting ally in the city council redistricting debate. Frumencio Reyes, the dean of Houston-area redistricting litigation, said he believes the mayor made the right decision in putting off redistricting. […] Reyes, who has taken … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Orlando Sanchez, speaking last week in a Statesman article about the statewide ambitions of Houston Mayor Bill White, who beat him soundly in the 2003 runoff: He doesn’t discount him but suggests White has gotten a free ride in his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Here’s today’s version of the story, which adds a little more detail to yesterday’s. Population consultants and planning officials have said that redistricting now would require the city to rely on 2000 census data outlining population figures in voting precincts. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Nice article in Texas Lawyer about what’s been going on in the Harris County District Clerk’s office under Loren Jackson. Lawyers handling civil suits in Harris County district courts will soon have fewer excuses for missing a court hearing. On … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Former City Council Member Carroll Robinson, who has been a strong proponent for redistricting City Council boundaries and drawing two new districts now rather than waiting till 2011, has said that the city should not fear any litigation that might … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Vince reports that “sources tell him” that Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who happens to be my Congressperson, is going to leave that job to work for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I suppose that’s plausible – as Vince notes, SJL … Continue reading → Continue reading →

In 2010. Houston ISD Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra plans to step down from his post by spring of 2010, he announced this morning. “I have recently informed the school board of my intention to retire within the next year. I want … Continue reading → Continue reading →