Category Archives: Election 2018

Interview with Elvonte Patton

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Did you know that the Harris County Department of Education serves as the central operations site of the Texas Virtual School Network

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Judicial Q&A: Kris Ougrah

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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Interview with Richard Cantu

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s Day Two of HCDE Week here. Did you know that the Harris County Department of Education provides Head Start and Early Head Start services to 1,200 children in Harris County? There’s a big need for programs like that, especially … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Cheryl Elliott Thornton

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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More on Tahir Javed

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Raising a lot of money is certainly one way to get noticed in a crowded election field. Twenty-six years ago, a Houston political fixture named Sylvia Garcia ran for Congress. She came up short, placing third in the Democratic primary … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Sylvia and more

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes the obvious choice in CD29. The frontrunner is clearly state Sen. Sylvia Garcia, the only current elected official on the ballot, who has name identification with this area’s voters that stretches back more than 20 years. The … Continue reading →

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Interview with Josh Wallenstein

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This week’s interviews are all about the Harris County Department of Education, a body that serves as a co-operative and clearinghouse for the thirty-plus school districts in Harris County, providing programs and purchasing power to make their budgets go farther. … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Paul Simon

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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The women challenging Democratic men

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

One more point of interest from The Cut: And Democratic women aren’t leaving the men of their own party undisturbed. In Minnesota, former FBI analyst Leah Phifer is challenging incumbent Democratic representative Rick Nolan; Sameena Mustafa, a tenant advocate and … Continue reading →

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You can still vote if you have been displaced by Harvey

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Nikki Thomason, one of hundreds of people displaced when her Thornwood neighborhood filled with water, never thought her right to vote could be swept away too. “Angry, angry, you know it’s kind of funny … Continue reading →

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January 2018 campaign finance reports: Congress

Posted on February 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here are the Q2 finance reports, here are the Q3 finance reports, and here’s the FEC summary page for Democratic Congressional candidates in Texas. The Trib summarizes some of the highlights. For many Texas congressional races, Wednesday was the most … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Chron for White

Posted on February 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Andrew White for Governor. Democrats need to choose the candidate who, quite simply, will appeal to the most voters in a contest against Abbott. We believe that candidate is Andrew White. White, 45, is a Houston entrepreneur … Continue reading →

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Special election coming in HD13

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We have an opening act for November. State Rep. Leighton Schubert, who previously said he wouldn’t seek re-election this year, has decided to resign early to take a job at a local junior college. The Caldwell Republican will step down … Continue reading →

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Independent candidates’ day

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing with a theme, there are a lot of wannabe independent candidates for various offices, most of whom will never make it onto the ballot. Dallas billionaire Ross Perot did it in 1992 and 1996. Satirist Kinky Friedman and Comptroller … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Family courts

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

After nearly a week off, the Chron gets back to endorsing. Family District Judge, 246th Judicial District: Angela Graves-Harrington Angela Graves-Harrington earns our nod in this primary contest against a qualified opponent, Charles Collins. These two candidates graduated from the … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Harold Landreneau

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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Trump’s lousy approval ratings in Texas

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

According to Gallup. President Donald Trump’s job approval rating averaged 38% throughout the U.S. in 2017, but at the state level it ranged from a high of 61% in West Virginia to a low of 26% in Vermont. Trump averaged … Continue reading →

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Interview with Penny Shaw

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have one more interview for County Commissioner in Precinct 4, where Jack Cagle has been the incumbent since being appointed to replace the scandal-riddled Jerry Eversole. This is the most Republican of the four Commissioner precincts, but as noted … Continue reading →

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Voter registration deadline is Monday

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Check your registration status. Houston-area voters are registering to vote in record numbers just in time for the March 6 primaries, and the two major political parties are bracing for yet another wave of newcomers over the next few days. … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jeff Stauber

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From the not-so-powerful office of County Treasurer we move on to County Commissioner, easily the most powerful county office anywhere in Texas. Commissioners get a lot of control over their budgets, and at least in Harris County tend to operate … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Shampa Mukerji

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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Interview with Nile Copeland

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have one more interview for County Treasurer. There are three candidates, but Cosme Garcia did not return my email asking to schedule something, so two is all I have. As before, if Garcia gets back to me now I … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Michael Galligan

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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Interview with Dylan Osborne

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We move on now to Harris County races. There are races for county courts and Justice of the Peace, which I am covering via the judicial Q&As. Lina Hidalgo is unopposed in the primary for Harris County Judge. In the … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Natalia Oakes

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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Project Orange

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This is a good thing. This past Friday, January 12th, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez held a press conference along with Houston Justice representative Charnelle Thompson and Harris County Tax Office Communication and Media Relations Director Tracy Baskin, to announce … Continue reading →

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PPP poll: Cruz 45, O’Rourke 37

Posted on January 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Our second poll in the Senate race, this one more favorable than the last one. Democrat Beto O’Rourke trails Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz by single digits — 45-37 percent — according to new internal polling released by a Democratic … Continue reading →

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Microbreweries organize again

Posted on January 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

About time. Craft brewers are asking beer fans to put their money where their thirst is. Six weeks before state primary elections, the Texas Craft Brewers Guild on Monday launched a political action committee to raise money and awareness to … Continue reading →

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Interview with HP Parvizian

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I start scheduling interviews well in advance of when I start publishing them, for a variety of reasons. These things take time, people have schedules that need to be accommodated, myself included, and stuff happens that you can’t foresee. Sometimes … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Jim Peacock

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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HISD working on a bond issue

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s going to be quite the year for HISD. Voters living in Houston ISD could be asked to approve a new school bond totaling at least $1.2 billion as early as November, according to a recently unveiled district financial plan. … Continue reading →

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Interview with Dayna Steele

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Though I often find the task I set for myself of interviewing candidates every year daunting, I do enjoy it. I’ve met a lot of good and interesting people this way, and I always find it energizing to hear their … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Two more benches

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Bench One: Judge, 313th Judicial District: Natalia Oakes Natalia Oakes, 66, earns our support in this primary contest against a qualified opponent, John Stephen Liles. Although Liles has spent nearly twice as long as a member of the bar, Oakes … Continue reading →

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Interview with Allison Lami Sawyer

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve done probably a couple hundred interviews since I first got the idea to talk to candidates as a way of doing this blog. Many of them have been for primaries and odd year races, where I may or may … Continue reading →

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