Category Archives: Election 2007

Wanda Adams picked up a nice endorsement this week: Councilwoman Ada Edwards has endorsed Wanda Adams to succeed her as the city’s representative of District D. Edwards, who has served on the council for a maximum three terms, was joined … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Okay, now I think this thing might be a favorite to pass. The Houston school district’s bond proposal won a much-needed, though not unanimous, endorsement from the city’s largest business organization on Wednesday. The Greater Houston Partnership would not disclose … Continue reading → Continue reading →

For my next interview, we head out to District E for a conversation with Annette Dwyer. She is a resident of Clear Lake, a member of Council Member Addie Wiseman’s Citizens Advisory Committee, and a board member of the Association … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Chron has a feature story on the race for City Council At Large #2, and I have to say, I find it a bit puzzling. For a frequent/perennial candidate who as far as I can tell has never actually … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Next up in the interview series is Jolanda Jones, who is running for At Large #5. Jones has one of the more varied and interesting resumes you’ll see – All-American athlete at UH, attorney, contestant on “Survivor”, community activist. She … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’m getting close to the end of the City Council interviews that I plan to do. There’s still a few more, plus a couple of non-Council races where I’ll be talking to people. I really hope this has been useful … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Chron has begun a series of articles on the various constitutional amendments that will be on the ballot this November. First up is Prop 11, which will require recorded votes in the Legislature. Legislators brag about some votes they … Continue reading → Continue reading →

On the heels of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce endorsement, HISD scores another win with a recommendation from LULAC. The League of United Latin American Citizens announced Saturday that it will support the Houston school district’s $805 million bond measure … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Chron has a brief look at the At Large #3 rematch between Council Member Melissa Noriega and Roy Morales. Not much has changed since Melissa’s runoff win against Roy in June, other than her status now as an incumbent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Here’s a fuller version of the story about the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce endorsing the HISD bond proposal. “The tide is turning,” Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra said. “I anticipate being successful Nov. 6. I anticipate us celebrating that evening.” You know … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Next in the endorsement season is District I, where the Chron gives its recommendation to James Rodriguez. James Rodriguez, 32, a district native who graduated from Milby High School and earned a business administration degree from the University of Houston, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I don’t see this as making much difference, but there’s one less candidate in District D now. City Council candidate Leatrice Watson has switched her candidacy, from the District D seat to At-Large 1, the seat currently held by Peter … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Chron kicks off endorsement season for this November with recommendations in the two open-seat HISD Trustee races: Reginald Adams, District II — Adams is executive director of the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston and an artist who seeks to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’ll say this for HISD: I’m still not convinced that they can pass their bond proposal this fall, given all the problems (mostly self-induced) that they’ve had. But they clearly aren’t going to go down without a fight, and they … Continue reading → Continue reading →

We all know about the HISD bond referendum and its problems, but there will be another education-related bond proposition on the ballot this November, and it shouldn’t be confused with the HISD proposal. I’m referring to Proposition 2, one of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Jack Christie, who had dropped out of the race for City Council At Large #5 a few weeks ago after questions about his residency and homestead exemptions came up, has now dropped back in to the race. Christie announced his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Our busy week of Council interviews continues as I get back to the crowded At Large #5 race with Marlon Barabin. Barabin is a Master Sergeant in the Texas Air National Guard who has served two tours in Iraq. He … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I know HISD has said repeatedly that it will not remove the bond referendum from the ballot this November. And though they’ve picked up some support recently, the overall news continues to be bad for them. The Houston Independent School … Continue reading → Continue reading →

And on we go with the Council interviews as I head back to District I for a conversation with James Rodriguez. Rodriguez was Chief of Staff to Council Member Carol Alvarado for four and a half years and is now … Continue reading → Continue reading →

While most of my energy in covering the City Council races is going to focus on the open seats, I am also going to interview some of the incumbent Council members who have opposition this fall. With that in mind, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This is the first genuine good news I’ve heard for the HISD bond proposal so far. [Saturday], the [screening] committee [for the Houston GLBT Political Caucus] met once again with a representative from HISD. The revised proposal was presented, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I mentioned in the previous entry that my Uncle Dan’s write-in victory in the Independence Party primary this Tuesday had been confirmed, and now here it is in print. In recounting votes Friday, commissioners confirmed two upsets took place Tuesday. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Normally, I wouldn’t pay much attention to a primary for the Independence Party nomination for County Legislator in Poughkeepsie, New York, but in this particular case one of the principals in the story is my uncle. And even better, he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Breaking out of my Monday/Wednesday pattern, as I have a lot of interviews lined up and don’t want to fall behind, today I bring you a conversation with Manisha Mehta, who is running in District E. She is a Clear … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I have three things to say about this story concerning the various bonds proposals that will be on the ballot this fall. 1. Boy, the anti position sure was well-represented, wasn’t it? From Bruce Hotze to Greg Meyers to Paul … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Next up in the City Council interview series is John Marron, who is running in District I. Marron is retired from AT&T after 30 years and is now a legislative aide to State Rep. Alma Allen; he has also been … Continue reading → Continue reading →

HISD has announced it will make changes to its bond proposal in response to community feedback. The question is, will that be enough? The concessions include renovating, rather than replacing, a few campuses and abandoning plans to create prekindergarten- through … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Continuing on with the City Council candidate interviews, today we move into the district races with Lawrence Allen, who is running in District D. Allen is another educator, having been a teacher and principal before serving on the State Board … Continue reading → Continue reading →

We already knew that the luckless Jack Christie had dropped out of the race for City Council At Large #5. As things stand right now, he’ll be the only one to depart. Christie’s departure could create an opening for candidate … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I complained before that we don’t know a whole lot about many of the candidates for the various City Council offices beyond their names. While this story from the This Week section doesn’t go into much detail about anyone, it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I have to say, I was appalled by this Chron editorial about “carpetbagging” in City Council races. In 2003 the council rolling stone was M.J. Khan, whose $2.3 million family residence was in Piney Point Village but who rented a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

First residency, then homestead exemptions, and now swimming pools. This is not been an auspicious campaign for Jack Christie. It appears City Council candidate Jack Christie’s residency isn’t the only thing that’s cloudy. So is the swimming pool at a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Whatever you thought of yesterday’s story regarding the questionable residencies of two City Council candidates, this is a more serious issue for one of them. City Council candidate Jack Christie could have to pay about $5,000 in back property taxes … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Chron has a front page story today about two candidates for the crowded At Large #5 race who may or may not actually live in Houston, depending on how you look at it. City Council candidates Zafar Tahir and … Continue reading → Continue reading →