Monthly Archives: October 2019

Weekend link dump for October 13

Posted on October 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

AirBnB’s Antarctica tour is a bad idea. The story of Willie Ito, who went from an internment camp to being a Disney animator. “I don’t know who needs to hear this, but back in the day, when I was a … Continue reading →

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30 Day finance reports: Mayor and Controller

Posted on October 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

All right, I’ve made some progress in the endless number of city candidate finance reports. We’re in crunch time, and the 30 day reports can tell us not just what kind of momentum candidates have had, but also whether the … Continue reading →

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A brief discussion on residency requirements

Posted on October 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. It was one of the more unusual videos made for a Houston city council race. Throughout much of his campaign for the District J seat, Nelvin Adriatico had been dogged by one … Continue reading →

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Fallon stands pat

Posted on October 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Big John Cornyn can breathe a little easier. State Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper, has decided against a primary challenge to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Fallon revealed the decision Thursday, about a month after he announced at a North Texas Tea … Continue reading →

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Eyes on HD28

Posted on October 12, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The special legislative election in Fort Bend is on everyone’s radar. When Tom Perez, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, visited Austin this past weekend for the state party’s annual fundraiser, there was no race he mentioned more than … Continue reading →

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How’s that investigation into the Bonnen-MQS kerfuffle going?

Posted on October 12, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

About how you’d expect. If recent history is any indication, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen has little to fear from a Texas Rangers investigation into allegations he offered a bribe to a conservative activist. Investigators who have delved into accusations of … Continue reading →

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On Abbott, Austin, and homelessness

Posted on October 12, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

What Chris Hooks says. On Wednesday, the governor plunged headfirst into a political controversy that has dominated discussion in the city since June. Back then, the city council partially neutered several ordinances that essentially made being homeless in the city … Continue reading →

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All the Legislative interviews

Posted on October 11, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Just to collect them all in one convenient place for you: HD28 Eliz Markowitz HD148 Anna Eastman Alva Treviño Penny Shaw Chris Watt Terah Isaacson Kendra Yarbrough Camarena Rob Block Michele Leal Adrian P. Garcia Carol Denson And there you … Continue reading →

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MQS says he will release the Bonnen tape

Posted on October 11, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Well, well, well. Hardline conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan said Thursday he will release a secret recording of his controversial meeting with House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and another top GOP member next week. “I have been given the green light … Continue reading →

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“Congressman 1”

Posted on October 11, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Way to go, Pete! Former U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions is an unnamed member of Congress mentioned in an indictment against two business associates of President Trump’s personal attorney, Rudolph Giuliani, according to NBC News. The two Soviet-born men, Igor Fruman and … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For the incumbents in G and K

Posted on October 11, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Two more Council endorsements from the Chron. First up, they recommend Martha Castex-Tatum for a full term in District K: District K Councilwoman Martha Castex-Tatum has a hard time leaving her work at the office. “Trash keeps me up at … Continue reading →

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Interview with Adrian P. Garcia

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We come to the end of HD148 Special Election Interview Season. I hope you have found this useful, and that you will agree with me that there are many fine choices available to you on the ballot. Today we hear … Continue reading →

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30 Day finance reports: Special legislative elections

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

As I said earlier, I’m still working my way through the unfathomably ginormous number of 30-day campaign finance reports for City of Houston candidates. There are other elections of interest for which 30 day reports are required, so we’ll take … Continue reading →

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The state will be handling the Harvey relief funds

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t worry your pretty little heads about it. Texas is likely another nine months from getting $4.3 billion in federal post-Hurricane Harvey recovery money aimed at better protecting the state from future flooding and disasters. But when it finally arrives, … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of October 7

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wonders how many administration officials can fit under a bus as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Michele Leal

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Two more candidates to go in HD148. I will not get to everyone, but I hope this series has helped you decide which of the candidates you want to support. Michele Leal is another candidate to succeed Rep. Jessica Farrar … Continue reading →

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Big Bucks Buzbee

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It is, by far, his best asset. Mayoral candidate Tony Buzbee put another $2.5 million into his campaign last month, widening his financial edge over Mayor Sylvester Turner heading into the stretch run of the race for Houston’s top elected … Continue reading →

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Cagle and Radack break quorum

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

They did it. Two Harris County Commissioners Court members skipped Tuesday’s meeting to prevent the Democratic majority from voting on a property tax rate hike that would increase revenue by 8 percent. Republican commissioners Steve Radack and Jack Cagle were … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: E and F

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses incumbent CM Dave Martin in District E. It’s easy to find out the biggest problem in Houston City Council District E. Ask any of its residents and most likely they will tell you a flooding story. Water … Continue reading →

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Interview with Rob Block

Posted on October 8, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We continue with Week Two of HD148 Special Election Interview Season. I get to call it a season because anything that requires more than one week qualifies for that designation. Rob Block is among the first-time candidates in the race, … Continue reading →

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Will Radack and Cagle break quorum to stop a tax rate hike?

Posted on October 8, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll find out today. Harris County Commissioners Court has scheduled a vote Tuesday to hike property taxes by 8 percent, though the two Republican members can thwart the plan by simply skipping the vote. A quirk in the Texas Government … Continue reading →

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In which I agree with Ted Cruz: Shame on the NBA

Posted on October 8, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

When he’s right, he’s right. Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey has the support of some lawmakers in D.C., even as the Rockets and NBA have apologized for his comments supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. Morey over the weekend tweeted … Continue reading →

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Interview with Kendra Yarbrough Camarena

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s Week Two of HD148 Special Election Interview Season. I have four more candidates to present to you, and we’ll start with one who has run for the State House before. Kendra Yarbrough Camarena was the Democratic nominee for HD138 … Continue reading →

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The Chron’s overview of the Mayor

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a fair picture. Mayor Sylvester Turner hugged his way through three dozen staff and supporters, reached the podium, and smiled. It was May 2017, and Turner’s landmark pension reform bill had just passed the Legislature, validating his decision to … Continue reading →

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Secondhand Sessions

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

If at first you don’t succeed, find something easier to do. Former U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions formally launched his campaign Thursday to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan, opting against running again in his old Dallas-based district and pressing … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for October 6

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

“In my research, I came across so many doommongering quotes about how texting was ruining the English language, when we obviously now know it as a cultural renaissance in writing that ushered in the new genre of the textolary novel … Continue reading →

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John B. Love III

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Meet the ninth Democratic candidate in the Senate primary. John B. Love III, a Midland city councilman, is the latest Democrat to jump into the crowded race to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, saying in his announcement that gridlock in … Continue reading →

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The clown show is coming for Drag Queen Story Time

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The words, they fail me. The group that opposed and defeated Houston’s equal rights ordinance in 2015 announced Tuesday it is launching a petition drive aimed at prohibiting Drag Queen Storytime, the program shuttered earlier this year by city officials … Continue reading →

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What kind of laws might have helped mitigate our recent violent incidents?

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The DMN asks a good question. Texas politicians are looking anew at ways to reduce gun violence in the wake of the recent mass shootings in El Paso and Odessa. Dozens of policies, from the piecemeal to the comprehensive, have … Continue reading →

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Saturday Video Break: This is a test

Posted on October 5, 2019 by Greg Wythe

Howdy folks. Greg here. Charles and I have just been rooting around WordPress to look into some possible tech issues the site has been having lately. The video below is not a function of those issues. Instead, its just my … Continue reading →

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Barohich not running again in SBOE6

Posted on October 5, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Another open seat. Texas State Board of Education chairwoman Donna Bahorich, who represents part of Harris County, announced Friday she will not seek reelection in 2020 as the District 6 representative. “I have 8 years of service on the board,” … Continue reading →

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Gina Ortiz Jones is doing big fundraising numbers again

Posted on October 5, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Gina Ortiz Jones, the leading Democratic candidate to replace U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, raised over $1 million in the third quarter, her campaign announced Tuesday morning. The figure represents a massive haul that her campaign described as the … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Let’s get this thing started

Posted on October 5, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Endorsement Season has begun at the Chronicle, and while the number of elections to cover isn’t really higher than usual, the sheer number of candidates to bring in for interviews is massive and had to have been a logistical nightmare. … Continue reading →

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Interview with Terah Isaacson

Posted on October 4, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We come to the end of our first week of HD148 special election candidate interviews. There’s still another week to go, because there’s just that many candidates and I’ve done that many interviews. To wrap up Week 1 I bring … Continue reading →

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