Tag Archives: Election 2015

HERO ballot language set

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. City Council on Wednesday approved the language that will appear on the November ballot for voters to decide the fate of Houston’s equal rights ordinance, one week after the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the original wording … Continue reading →

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Interview with Matt Murphy

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We conclude our tour of the At Large #4 candidates who seek to follow term-limited Council Member C. O. Bradford with Matt Murphy. A Navy veteran and former professional golfer, Murphy is now a certified fire protection engineering designer. He … Continue reading →

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Interview with Laurie Robinson

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in my series of interviews with candidates seeking to succeed the term-limited Council Member C. O. Bradford in At Large #4 is Laurie Robinson. Robinson is the only repeat candidate in this group, having run for At Large … Continue reading →

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First anti-HERO radio ad airs

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here it comes. In the ad, a young woman talks about the perceived threat to public safety the ordinance presents. Critics have long asserted that the broad non-discrimination law, which includes protections for gay and transgender residents, would allow male … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Interview with Amanda Edwards

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We continue in At Large #4, where multiple candidates compete to succeed the term-limited Council Member C. O. Bradford. Today’s interview is with Amanda Edwards, a native Houstonian and Eisenhower High graduate now practicing law with Bracewell & Giuliani. Edwards … Continue reading →

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Your official slate of candidates

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday was the filing deadline. Here’s the official list of candidates, modulo any challenges or subsequently invalidated applications. The highlights: – There are thirteen candidates for Mayor. The City Secretary might consider starting the ballot order draw now, this may … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jonathan Hansen

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We move on to At Large #4, the other open At Large seat on the ballot this year, currently held by Council Member C. O. Bradford. I have four candidate interviews for this race, and we begin with Jonathan Hansen. … Continue reading →

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Chron Mayoral profile: Chris Bell

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s “the first in a series of profiles on the top candidates running for mayor in Houston”. Friends and colleagues said it’s [Chris] Bell’s belief in good government and that streak of political ambition, even in the face of sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

DOJ asks to get voter ID remedy ASAP

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I concur. The Obama administration and several civil rights groups are urging a federal appeals court to fast track the process of temporarily fixing Texas’ voter ID law in time for the upcoming Nov. 3 elections. In court filings Thursday, … Continue reading →

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“Sanctuary cities” legislation will be back

Posted on August 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Better be ready for it. With debate over the nation’s immigration policies once again approaching full boil, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Wednesday pledged that the Senate next session would pass legislation to address so-called sanctuary cities. Patrick lamented that … Continue reading →

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Just how old are our city voters?

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

In my previous installment, we talked about how many people vote across city elections. In this post, we’re going to look at another aspect of our city races that is often remarked on but seldom specified: The ages of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Supreme Court requires HERO ballot language change

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. The Texas Supreme Court has again overruled Mayor Annise Parker’s administration in connection with the legal fight over her signature nondiscrimination ordinance, ruling Wednesday that the mayor and City Council erred in choosing the language that will appear on … Continue reading →

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Interview with Doug Peterson

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We now finish up with At Large #3, where CM Michael Kubosh is in his first term. As I said on Monday, I unfortunately do not have an interview with CM Kubosh. I reached out to him and we talked … Continue reading →

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Who are the city voters?

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Everybody knows that city of Houston elections are fairly low-turnout affairs. The general perception – and it’s one that I’ve echoed as well – is that the elections are dominated by the same voters, year after year. What I haven’t … Continue reading →

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The contours of the HERO fight

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see how this goes. When City Council sent Houston’s embattled equal rights ordinance to the November ballot two weeks ago, the vote raised the curtain on dueling campaigns that had been bracing in the wings for a political showdown … Continue reading →

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Interview with John C.B. LaRue

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We move on to At Large #3, where CM Michael Kubosh is in his first term. I have two interviews to bring you for this race, and unfortunately neither of them is with CM Kubosh. I reached out to him … Continue reading →

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SA Council approves new rules to allow Lyft to return

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Close vote, but it counts. The ride-hailing firm Lyft will soon re-start operations in San Antonio in the wake of a controversial City Council decision Thursday that will allow the company to offer rides here during a nine-month pilot program. … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The score so far

Posted on August 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve had a slew of endorsements for municipal races this past week. I’ve been keeping track of them as best I can on my 2015 Election page. This isn’t always easy to do, because some groups are not very good … Continue reading →

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Turner’s police plan

Posted on August 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Time to look at a major policy proposal, from Mayoral candidate Sylvester Turner. Mayoral candidate Sylvester Turner unveiled a plan Thursday to expand the Houston Police Department by 540 officers by 2020, an effort he said is needed to help … Continue reading →

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Houston Unites

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The pro-HERO campaign has been launched. Supporters of Houston’s nondiscrimination ordinance launched a formal campaign Wednesday urging voters to defend the measure this November. ACLU of Texas Executive Director Terri Burke urged Houstonians to “send a message that this is … Continue reading →

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Interview with Chris Oliver

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We wrap up our tour of the At Large #1 field with a visit with Chris Oliver, who currently serves as Trustee in HCC District IX. A businessman and graduate of TSU, Oliver has worked as a Congressional aide and … Continue reading →

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Change to term limits will be on the ballot

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. Houston voters will decide whether elected city officials should serve two four-year terms rather than three two-year terms starting in 2016, potentially lengthening the terms of some current council members. The City Council voted 12-5 Wednesday to place the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Farias resigns from HD118

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Guess what, San Antonio? You get to have another special election! State Rep. Joe Farias, D-San Antonio, submitted a letter of resignation to Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday, officially ending a decade-long career as a state lawmaker and prompting the … Continue reading →

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Interview with Tom McCasland

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We continue with the deep field of candidates to succeed term-limited CM Steve Costello in At Large #1. Up next is Tom McCasland, making his first run for public office. He does have campaign experience, however, having worked on Bill … Continue reading →

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Students against Dave Wilson

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

OUT SA, the website for out students and allies at Houston Community College, reviews a litany of Dave Wilson’s recent activities and discusses what can be done about them. Mr. Wilson has created a hostile environment for LGBT students, staff, … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Interview with Jenifer Pool

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We continue with At Large #1, where term-limited incumbent Steve Costello is now running for Mayor. Today’s candidate is Jenifer Rene Pool, who is making her third attempt to win a citywide race; she finished third in a crowded field … Continue reading →

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City says West Gray will be ready for early voting

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I sure hope they’re right. The city’s Metropolitan Multi-Service Center should be partially open and ready for early voting in October after a water main break in late April that shut down the facility. City Council on Wednesday approved a … Continue reading →

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Interview with Lane Lewis

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We are now done with the district Council interviews, so we move on to the At Large races, where most of the non-Mayoral action is happening this year. There are two open At Large seats, and both of them have … Continue reading →

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City appeals Wilson petition order

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise. The verdict on whether anti-gay activist Dave Wilson collected enough valid signatures to force a vote to amend the city charter and bar men “who perceive or express themselves as women” from entering women’s restrooms will have to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Change to term limits may be on the November ballot as well

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. Mayor Annise Parker’s proposal would wait until 2020 to lengthen City Council members, the mayor and and controller’s terms; while Councilman Jerry Davis is proposing a staggered roll-out starting in 2016. Supporters say the 2020 plan … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Houston GLBT Political Caucus 2015

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Congrats to all the endorsees. A raucous municipal endorsement meeting brought mayoral candidate Sylvester Turner the coveted backing of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus on Saturday, positioning the 26-year state representative to broaden his coalition to include the city’s progressive … Continue reading →

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Chron looks at Mayoral fundraising

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

They focus on small-dollar donors. A Houston Chronicle analysis of the top seven candidates’ campaign finance filings covering the first six months of the year shows most businesses and special interest groups are waiting for the race to shape up … Continue reading →

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Lyft to come back to San Antonio

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

San Antonio is no longer without any rideshare companies. The ride-hailing company Lyft is poised to return in the “near future” to San Antonio — after the City Council reviews a proposed pilot program next week. Councilman Roberto Treviño, who … Continue reading →

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And now we have a lawsuit over HERO repeal ballot language

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, for crying out loud. Last month the Texas Supreme Court suspended the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, more commonly known as HERO, and ordered City Council to either repeal the non-discrimination measure or put it up for a public vote. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments