Tag Archives: Election 2009

The city’s current budget situation

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

With the way the economy has been over the past year, we shouldn’t be surprised that the city of Houston is facing a revenue shortfall – the same thing is happening at the state level as well. The question is … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Council Member Sue Lovell

Posted on August 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Council Member Sue Lovell is running for re-election to her third term in At Large #2. She chairs the Quality of Life committee, from which the recent ordinances about billboards, signage, and attention-getting devices originated, as well as the Transportation, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

KHOU polls the Mayor’s race

Posted on August 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We have a data point going into the Labor Day weekend. “The vast majority of voters are still undecided about who to vote for,” said 11 News political expert Bob Stein. “They’re simply unfamiliar with the candidates.” In the poll, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Three candidates so far for HISD Trustee in District I

Posted on August 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We know that Natasha Kamrani, the incumbent Trustee in HISD District I is not running for re-election. One candidate to replace her is Alma Lara, who was in the race before Kamrani announced that she was stepping down. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Filings and endorsements

Posted on August 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve added several updates to my recent endorsements list. It’s not comprehensive, as it doesn’t include earlier endorsements, but it’s what I know of the recent activities. Endorsement lists added today were the Spring Branch Democrats and the Greater Houston … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Brown’s energy plan

Posted on August 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Completing our trifecta of Mayoral policy examinations, we come now to Peter Brown’s energy plan. As with other policy matters, Brown goes into more detail than the others – David Ortez recently wrote that Brown is “winning the policy campaign”, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sparkless?

Posted on August 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know that I would say that the Mayor’s race has lacked spark, but it’s been relatively low key so far. I agree with this: What does it all mean? That the race remains a toss-up going into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Rick Rodriguez

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today’s interview subject is Rick Rodriguez, who is running in At Large #1. Rodriguez is a 24-year veteran of HPD, where he has worked in a variety of divisions and units, and is now in the Criminal Intelligence Division. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Parker’s education plan

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Next up for review we have Annise Parker’s education plan. I should note that while the press release about this plan came out last week, a lot of the ideas within the plan have been on the table for awhile. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Let the games begin

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The filing deadline for Houston municipal offices is one week from today – Martha has been keeping track of who has filed yet and who has not. What could be better to do immediately after the deadline than get together … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Locke’s crimefighting plan

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In the past week or so I’ve had several Mayoral candidate issue papers hit my inbox. As there was one from each campaign, I thought I’d try to do a little analysis of each of them. We’ll start today with … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Endorsement watch: Planned Parenthood

Posted on August 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I consider the Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsements to be a big deal, because I think very highly of Planned Parenthood as an organization. They just released their endorsement list for the 2009 Houston elections, which are … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Peter Brown on the air

Posted on August 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As noted last week, Mayoral candidate Peter Brown will start airing TV ads this week. A preview of the first ad, which doesn’t appear to be embeddable yet, can be seen here. It’s basically an intro spot, and it hits … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Interview with Council Member Jolanda Jones

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I feel like Council Member Jolanda Jones needs no introduction. She’s got a fairly high profile these days, and if you follow Houston politics at all, you’ve probably got a familiarity with her and an opinion of her. Mine remains … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Irving proposes district council lines

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Greg shows a map of the proposed new district City Council lines in Irving, which as this DMN story notes would likely unseat two current Council members and might have an effect on HD105 next year. I keep following this … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Parker statement on Ashby highrise

Posted on August 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Fresh from the inbox: Statement by Annise Parker on Ashby High Rise August 22, 2009 Contact: Sue Davis, 713-392-6011, sue@suedavis.net I am disappointed with the city’s decision yesterday to grant a site development permit for the high-rise building planned for … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments

It’s all about the runoff

Posted on August 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Professor Murray also comments on the Marc Campos post that assessed the state of the Mayoral race, and he hits on a lot of the same points that I did, with some more detail. And just in time, as it … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Mike Laster

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Moving back to District F, today’s interview subject is Mike Laster. Mike is an attorney specializing in real estate, and was for six years a Senior Assistant City Attorney in the Real Estate Division of the City Attorney’s Office. Mike … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Interview with Jeff Downing

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Next up is Jeff Downing, who is running in District A. Jeff is an attorney who runs his own firm, after having been a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s office. He was an intern in the White House … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

An early assessment of the Mayor’s race

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Marc Campos writes: H-Town’s Mayoral candidates still do not want to SHOW ME THE TV so I have to give the advantage at this time to Annise Parker. The later the ad wars get going, the better for Annise. Let’s … Continue reading →

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Interview with Council Member Melissa Noriega

Posted on August 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

One of the things planned to do with my interview series this year is include conversations with incumbent Council members. I’ve started on those and hope to get to all of them just as I hope to get to as … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

At Large action

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve certainly got a fascinating Mayor’s race going on this year, with three viable candidates that can all plausibly claim a path to victory, but it seems to me that there’s a lot of interesting stuff happening in the At … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Endorsement watch: Tejano Democrats

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, I know they endorsed Gene Locke for Mayor, because I received a press release to that effect last night, which is reproduced below. I also know that the Tejano Dems were going to endorse a full slate of candidates, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Interview with Robert Kane

Posted on August 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Moving to a new part of town, today’s interview subject is Robert Kane, who is running for City Council in District F. Kane is a relative newcomer to Houston, living here for four years after living in various parts of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Mayor White wants to consider term limits review

Posted on August 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor White wants to reconsider term limits. In a City Council meeting Wednesday, White said he is not advocating an end to the policy, but rather a commission that would study the possibility of changing or eliminating the rule. Voters … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Alex Wathen

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Moving back to candidates for office, today I bring you a conversation with Alex Wathen, who is running in District A. Wathen is an attorney who has his own firm, where he specializes in bankruptcy law. He was the Republican … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Interview with Natasha Kamrani

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been busy interviewing candidates for various offices, but today I’m going to step away from that and interview a current officeholder who will not be on the ballot this November. I’m talking about Natasha Kamrani, who last week announced … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Interview with Herman Litt

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

My next interview subject is Herman Litt, who is running for At Large #1. Litt is a rehabilitation counselor and hospital administrator who was elected to the HCC Board of Trustees in 1999 and served for awhile as its Chair. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Peter Brown’s traffic plan

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today I want to take a closer look at Peter Brown’s traffic plan, the highlights of which you can see here, with the longer and more detail-filled form here (PDF). My thoughts: – As with Annise Parker’s crimefighting plan, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

How you gonna pay for those new cops?

Posted on August 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron asks a reasonable question about the promises being made by the Mayoral candidates to hire more police officers. The deep fiscal slowdown facing the city will make it difficult to fund more police academy classes, a factor that … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: HGLBT Political Caucus on Controller and Council races

Posted on August 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

From Wednesday night’s meeting of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus: The Houston Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgendered Political Caucus met on Wednesday evening to endorse candidates in the 2009 Houston municipal elections as well as HISD Board of Trustee elections. … Continue reading →

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Roy ‘n’ TJ

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Together at last, as Huntley says on Facebook. To all of my loyal supporters, I want to say thank you. Thanks for being behind me and standing in the gap for the things this city lacks. We all know that … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Interview with Amy Peck

Posted on August 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Next on the interview list is Amy Peck, who is running in District A. She is a UT graduate who got a ME.d in Counseling Psychology from the University of Houston at the age of 22. She works as constituent … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Parker’s crimefighting plan

Posted on August 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Tis the season for Mayoral candidates to send out position papers on various issues. I’ve gotten a couple in my mailbox in the past few days and want to spend a little time examining them. First up is Annise Parker’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments