Category Archives: Election 2012

Closing arguments for the Metro referendum

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

One way or another, this argument will be settled on Tuesday. What happens after that is still anyone’s guess. The referendum on Tuesday’s ballot asks whether to continue spending some public transit sales tax money on streets and bridges. Opponents … Continue reading →

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More strip club cash in the county races

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Given the prevalence of strip clubs in Houston, I’m actually a bit surprised we don’t see more of this in our elections. Four people associated with the strip club Treasures have contributed a combined $48,700 to the Republican challengers for … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For the bonds

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron reiterates its support for the bond issues on the ballot. While all eyes are on the presidential race, we would like to remind voters that some of the most important issues for Houstonians aren’t on the first page … Continue reading →

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Back to Basics polls SD06

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We don’t know when a special election in SD06 to succeed the late Sen. Mario Gallegos would be, but Back to Basics says we should start preparing for one. According to a new poll commissioned and released by the Back … Continue reading →

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KHOU story on the Metro poll question

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I noted yesterday that there would be a separate story on the Metro referendum result from that KHOU/KUHF poll of Harris County.That story is here. A new poll indicates the Metro referendum on Houston area ballots will probably pass, but … Continue reading →

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Overview of SBOE6

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Memorial Examiner takes a look at the race in SBOE6 between Republican Donna Bahorich and Democrat Traci Jensen. Bahorich is former district director for state Sen. Dan Patrick (R-District 7) and says her experience with the state legislative process … Continue reading →

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Obama leads in poll of Harris County

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

More polling goodness for you. The poll conducted for KHOU 11 News and KUHF Houston Public Radio indicates Obama leads Romney in Harris County, but not by much. That gives some indication how election night might go for politicians running … Continue reading →

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Strip club cash in the Sheriff’s race

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The waning days of a campaign always have the greatest potential for hijinx. A $25,000 political contribution from the owner of a strip club being sued by Harris County lawyers found its way, via the Harris County Deputies Organization, into … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Perez in HD144

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron finally makes an endorsement in the other open legislative seat, HD144. For this open seat, we recommend the Democrat, Mary Ann Perez, whose professional skills and experience in another contentious political arena would serve her and the district … Continue reading →

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Elsa Caballero: Public Employee and Janitors Mobilize in Support of City of Houston Bonds

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Note: The following is a guest post. For the past month, Houston’s janitors have joined forces with our city’s public employees in favor of the City of Houston bond package and METRO referendum on the ballot this election cycle. Volunteers, … Continue reading →

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Are Texas Latinos like Latinos elsewhere or not?

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Latino Decisions bemoans a disconnect between its poll numbers for Latino voters and what it’s seeing in the crosstabs of other recent national polls. In 1998 Harry Pachon and Rudy de la Garza wrote a report for the Tomas Rivera … Continue reading →

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UT/TT: Romney 55, Obama 39

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here are some new poll numbers for Texas from UT and the Tribune. Republican Mitt Romney has a commanding lead over Democrat Barack Obama in the presidential race in Texas, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. The … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The Statesman gets in the game

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to their Sunday endorsement of Paul Sadler, the Statesman made up for lost time last week by finally getting around to making endorsements in various races. Among their first was a nice recommendation of John Courage. Texas Senate, … Continue reading →

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Early voting, one week in

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We have completed one full week of early voting, and through Sunday a total of 362,827 people had voted in person, with an additional 53,131 ballot being cast by mail, for a grand total of 415,958. The updated spreadsheet is … Continue reading →

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Lampson-mentum

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I always thought that with Nick Lampson in the race, CD14 would be competitive. Looks like national perception is catching up to that belief. Texas Republicans are ringing the alarm over a House race that had seemed a safe bet … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The scoreboard for Sadler

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

More endorsements for Paul Sadler from the past week. Here’s the El Paso Times: We need a U.S. senator who will work on border issues with our members of Congress in Dists. 16 and 23. We are endorsing Democrats Beto … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Wu and Vo

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Clearly I was wrong about the Chron ignoring legislative endorsements, as they now have two more to follow Ann Johnson‘s. First up is an endorsement of Gene Wu to be Rep. Scott Hochberg’s successor in HD137. We believe that Democrat … Continue reading →

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Cuts are not increases, no matter how you spin it

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This is the Chron overview of HD134, which is once again the highest profile legislative race in the county, in part because it’s a referendum on the 2010 election and the cuts to public education funding that resulted from that … Continue reading →

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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 →

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More early voting

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Early voting continues to go gangbusters in Harris County – here’s my updated spreadsheet for your perusal. The numbers are certainly impressive, but to keep things in perspective, it’s an increase of about 20% over 2008, whereas 2008 was more … Continue reading →

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Overview of the Keller-Hampton race

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This story covers a lot of familiar ground, but it’s worth going over again. Three judges on Texas’ highest criminal court are seeking re-election in November, including Presiding Judge Sharon Keller, who’s been a lightning rod for controversy since her … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The Parent PAC November slate

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

For your approval. Texas Parent PAC is delighted to endorse the following candidates in the general election.  They are men and women of integrity, open and responsive to parents, actively involved in their communities, and committed to investing in public … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Lampson and Gallego

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I mentioned on Monday that the Chron had endorsed Nick Lampson for CD14. Yesterday, they wrote the endorsement editorial for him. Lampson, a native of Beaumont, first came to Congress in 1996 and served four terms from the Golden Triangle … Continue reading →

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30 Day campaign finance reports, selected legislative races

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a sampling of 30 day finance reports from state legislative campaigns. I used the Back to Blue list as a starting point and added a few races of interest to me from there. Dist Candidate Raised Spent Loan Cash … Continue reading →

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Everybody loves early voting now

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the County Clerk’s office: The Chief Election Officer of the County, Stan Stanart, announced [Monday night] that Harris County voters set a new record for voting during the first day of Early Voting in person. 47,093 persons voted on … Continue reading →

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On the city bonds

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an overview of the city bond issues. The city of Houston is asking voters on Nov. 6 for permission to borrow $410 million to shore up its parks, police stations, libraries, other government buildings and substandard housing. Propositions A, … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For Ann Johnson

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I noted on Monday that the Chron listed Ann Johnson as one of its endorsed candidates. Yesterday they wrote the endorsement editorial to go along with that. The tea party turnout of 2010 gave Republican candidate Sarah Davis the narrow … Continue reading →

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Ticket splitters

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

For better or worse, we live in a polarized world. Often, knowing a candidate’s political party tells you most of what you need to know in a general election. But definitely not always, and this year in particular there are … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Three out of four ain’t bad

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Star-Telegram becomes the third of the four major papers to endorse Paul Sadler for Senate. Sadler can be aggressive, even abrasive, as he demonstrated in an early-October debate with Cruz. But Sadler has specific, practical notions about improving how … Continue reading →

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All the interviews for 2012

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As we begin early voting for the November election, here are all the interviews I conducted for candidates who are on the ballot as well as for the referenda. These include interviews that were done for the primary as well … Continue reading →

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Early voting begins today

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Shamelessly stolen from Greg, here’s a convenient Google map of the early voting locations in Harris County: For the more traditional view plus hours and other information, visit Harris Votes. I intend to bring the girls with me when I … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For Wendy Davis

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Very nice. Two state legislators are running to represent a demographically changing senatorial District 10: the incumbent, Democrat Sen. Wendy Davis, and Republican state Rep. Mark Shelton. Davis, who defeated an entrenched incumbent four years ago, did not take long … Continue reading →

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Who doesn’t like parks?

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The usual suspects – cranks, malcontents, and the Harris County GOP, that’s who. Proposition B on the Nov. 6 ballot asks you to pay for part of that plan, of course. Not with increased taxes, though, [Mayor Annise] Parker insists. … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: HCDE and District E

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses three Democrats for the Harris County Department of Education. At-Large Position 3: Democratic challenger Diane Trautman would bring expertise and professionalism to the job. As a professor of education at Stephen F. Austin State University, she taught … Continue reading →

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