Category Archives: Local politics

Tim Fleck gives an overview of fat times in the local political consulting industry, thanks to the sure-to-be-a-record-breaker Mayoral race that looms large this November. First up, we see that Bill White is not letting his Democratic credentials keep him … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Despite more pressing matters facing it, the Houston City Council will be considering a resolution to oppose an invasion of Iraq. Six of the council’s 15 members support some form of a resolution on possible U.S. military action and some … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Earlier this week, Chron political columnist John Williams had this blurb in his weekly piece: Term limits just too confining? · Add the name of Harris County Judge Robert Eckels to the growing list of term-limit backers who seem to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Here’s a nice article about newly elected County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, the first Latino and the first woman to serve on this court. As noted, this makes her one of the more powerful Hispanic politicians in the country. Garcia has … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Chron politics writer John Williams asks a simple question: “Can you list tangible evidence that Houston has benefited as the result of term limits that voters approved in 1991?” He asks several term limits proponents, and not too surprisingly, gets … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The electronic voting system eSlate, which has been used in early voting for the past couple of elections here in Harris County, is being rolled out to all voters this year. All eyes will be on County Clerk Beverly Kaufman, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

What do you do when you’re a budget director who’s just received a revenue estimate that will force painful cuts in already-reduced services? Well, if you’re the City of Houston’s Finance and Administration Department director, you increase the revenue estimate, … Continue reading →

The main reason why I haven’t been too harsh on Florida for its most recent election snafus is because it could happen here just as easily. I’ve used the eSlate voting machines – I’m one of those annoying people who … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Billie Carr, the dean of Texas liberals, has died from a stroke at the age of 74. I’ll have to keep an eye open for Molly Ivins’ eulogy, which will surely contain all of the best stories about The Boss. Continue reading →

The Houston Press has another good argument against term limits in this impressive hatchet job on freshman City Council member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs (formerly Sekula-Rodriguez). The law restricts elected city officials to a maximum of three two-year terms, so every two … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Two Houston City Council members who voted against Mayor Brown’s reparations resolution are feeling the heat, according to John Williams in today’s Chron. One of them is my Council member, Gabriel Vasquez, whom I lauded for doing so. Last week, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It was an 8-7 vote, but the Houston City Council rejected a resolution in favor of a House bill “that would establish a commission to examine slavery and recommend remedies, including possible reparations”. Thank $DEITY for small favors. Voting against … Continue reading → Continue reading →

God grant my City Council the courage to change the things they can, the serenity to accept the things they can’t, and the wisdom to know the difference. So what’s on the agenda for our City Council these days? The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Like clockwork, Clymer Wright breaks out the Crayolas and sends a letter to the editor (scroll down) about John Williams’ column from Monday, which suggested that his beloved term limits might be wearing out their welcome. Here’s my favorite bit: … Continue reading → Continue reading →

A local conservative Republican activist is seeing a change in attitude towards the idea of term limits. Term limits had been a rallying cry for GOP activists in the early to mid 1990s, but even then some people questioned their … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Houston “fitness czar” controversy Sigh. No matter how much people like me defend Our Fair City, it’s stories like this that give the Randall Pattersons and Katherine Mieszkowskis of the world their ammunition. Houston’s new “fitness czar” is using the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Houston City Council recently announced that it was considering selling naming rights to city buildings as a source of revenue. This has drawn predictable derision, but this article in the Chron explores the ways that other cities, notably San … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Well, Houston Mayor Lee Brown was sworn in for his third and final term yesterday. I voted for him, as I did in the previous two elections, though I can’t say I was all that enthusiastic about it. I’m not … Continue reading → Continue reading →