Tag Archives: Commissioners Court

Here come the candidates for SD13

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. State Rep. Borris Miles came prepared with signs Saturday when Rodney Ellis all but secured a seat on Harris County’s Commissioners Court – not in support of Ellis, but to launch his own campaign. Ellis’ selection … Continue reading →

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Astrodome parking plan coming

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Better get ready. Harris County officials on Friday unveiled a $105 million plan to raise the floor of the Astrodome and build two new levels of parking beneath it, the strongest signal yet that the county plans to maintain and … Continue reading →

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Ellis wins Precinct 1 nomination

Posted on June 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, it wasn’t close. State Sen. Rodney Ellis on Saturday won the Democratic nomination for Precinct 1 Commissioner, effectively guaranteeing the veteran lawmaker the office. Ellis will be sacrificing 26 years in the Texas senate to become the … Continue reading →

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Today’s the day for the Commissioners Court selection process

Posted on June 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure we’re all ready for it to be over. Just last week, state Sen. Rodney Ellis claimed he had enough support from Democratic Party chairs to become the next Harris County commissioner for Precinct 1. Not that he’s resting … Continue reading →

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Commissioners Court candidate questionnaire responses

Posted on June 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, the HCDP sent out a questionnaire to the candidates who had expressed an interest in the nomination for Commissioners Court in Precinct 1. You can see the responses that they got here. Only four candidates submitted answers: Sen. … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Chron for Ellis

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I had wondered if the Chron was going to weigh in on any of the candidate-selection processes that will be going on over the next two weeks. I even sent an email to a couple of their editorial board members … Continue reading →

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Update on the nomination selection processes

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

In six days, Democratic precinct chairs in County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 will select a nominee to replace the late El Franco Lee on the November ballot. In 11 days, all Democratic precinct chairs will select nominees for the 507th … Continue reading →

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Sen. Ellis claims a majority of Precinct 1 endorsements

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This may end the suspense for the June 25 precinct convention. Senator Rodney Ellis has won the public support of 65 of the 125 Precinct One precinct chairs eligible to vote in the June 25 selection process for the Democratic … Continue reading →

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What do you want in the next Precinct 1 County Commissioner?

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s one way to figure it out if you’re not sure. Harris County Democrats have sent a questionnaire to Precinct 1 commissioners candidates, setting up one of the few instances in an unusual race where the public can compare candidates’ … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Rodney racks ’em up

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

One more to a long list. The widow of the late Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee has endorsed state Sen. Rodney Ellis for the seat that her husband held for decades, the senator said Friday. A letter dated Tuesday … Continue reading →

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My vision for Metro: Buses

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve said before that I would have some suggestions for new Metro Board Chair Carrin Patman and her team as they take their places. This post is where I start sharing those suggestions. The idea is to focus on proposals … Continue reading →

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Ellis v. Radack

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: On Tuesday, Commissioner Steve Radack said during a public session of the Harris County Commissioner’s Court that Senator Rodney Ellis should “shut up” about criminal justice reform. Click here and scroll to the 30 second mark of … Continue reading →

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The Commissioners Court candidates forum

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

On Sunday, I attended the candidate forum held by the HCDP for the people who are interested in being named to replace the late El Franco Lee on the ballot this November. The Chron has a report on it here, … Continue reading →

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Overview of the Commissioners Court Precinct 1 “race”

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I put “race” in quotes because it’s not like any other race you’v ever seen. The campaign for the next Harris County Precinct 1 commissioner appears in many ways like any other: candidates are raising money, seeking endorsements and sending … Continue reading →

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Locke calls for jail administrator

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Some strong words from Precinct 1 Commissioner Gene Locke. Harris County Commissioner Gene L. Locke on Tuesday demanded that a certified jail administrator be hired after learning that four Harris County inmates have died after being assaulted by other inmates … Continue reading →

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Harris County crime lab experiencing DNA testing backlog

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

These things do happen. Expanded testing for property crimes has helped create a backlog of more than 4,600 DNA cases in the Harris County crime lab, straining its ability to complete the processing of such evidence for sexual assaults and … Continue reading →

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Precinct 1 Commissioners Court race update

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Three items of interest: 1. There will be a public forum on Sunday, May 22, from 3 to 5 PM at CWA Local 6222- 1730 Jefferson St, Houston, TX 77002, to meet the people who have expressed interest in being … Continue reading →

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A way to use the Astrodome while we figure out what to do with it

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

How does a Super Bowl light show grab you? The future of the Astrodome still might be in the dark, but that doesn’t mean the iconic building can’t return to the spotlight for at least a few minutes. A pair … Continue reading →

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Harris County takes a step towards jail reform

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Harris County commissioners voted Tuesday to back a sweeping plan to reform the criminal justice system, a week after the Harris County Jail began shipping inmates to other counties to avoid reaching capacity. Commissioners voted to accept a $2 … Continue reading →

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Once again with what we want from the next County Commissioner

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Campos: The Chron has a story today on County Commissioner Gene Locke changing his mind and now wanting to become the Dem nominee for Commissioner. It looks like a race between Gene and State Sen. Rodney Ellis. The Chron mentions … Continue reading →

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Locke makes it official

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

He would like to continue being County Commissioner. Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Gene Locke said Monday he has decided to seek the Democratic nomination — and thus another term — for the Precinct 1 seat. Locke was initially appointed … Continue reading →

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The Chron looks at Rodney Ellis

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Not a very flattering look. Over the past 26 years, state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, has voted to confirm gubernatorial appointments to the Lower Colorado River Authority, a powerful electric utility in Central Texas. During the same time, financial firms … Continue reading →

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We haven’t heard the last of TMF

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

He’ll be back. State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer says he laments nothing about a failed gambit for the state Senate that will end his 16-year stint with the Texas Legislature. The boisterous San Antonio Democrat, however, is leaving office at … Continue reading →

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The pros and cons of merging the crime labs

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The calls to merge the city and county crime labs are back, but not everyone likes the idea. Merging Houston’s and Harris County’s crime labs, an idea that was rejected several years ago by the city’s mayor when forensic work … Continue reading →

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On vacant lots and city/county cooperation

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I just have one question about this. Houston residents living in neighborhoods afflicted with blight could see twice as much money poured into boarding up abandoned houses and mowing overgrown yards under a partnership city and county leaders trumpeted Tuesday. … Continue reading →

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Court hears arguments over paying Paxton’s prosecutors

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I am rooting for this to be thrown out of court. Dallas County Court at Law Judge Mark Greenberg heard arguments Friday over jurisdictional issues in the civil case brought by taxpayer Jeffory Blackard. Blackard is challenging the $300 per … Continue reading →

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What’s next for Adrian Garcia?

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We haven’t seen the last of him, I suspect. In less than a year, former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia has gone from being the top Democratic elected official in Harris County to an also-ran in back-to-back elections. Garcia’s resounding … Continue reading →

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Steve Radack supports Medicaid expansion

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. When Harris County commissioners were asked this week by a member of the public to lower the property tax burden, Steve Radack had a response prepared: tell Austin to let millions of … Continue reading →

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Chron story on Locke running for Commissioner

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s officially official now. Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Gene Locke, appointed to fill the unexpired term following the sudden death of longtime Commissioner El Franco Lee last month, said Tuesday he may seek the nomination for the powerful local … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of the Sheriff races

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The candidate who isn’t there nonetheless plays a central role. Appointed incumbent Ron Hickman faces two repeat challengers in the GOP primary, while four others, including former Houston City Councilman Ed Gonzalez battle for the Democratic nomination. The candidates square … Continue reading →

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Gene Locke is reportedly seeking the Commissioners Court nomination

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Please see update at the end of this post. There is new information at the bottom. Remember this? Harris County Judge Ed Emmett on Friday named Gene Locke, a former city attorney and mayoral candidate, to complete El Franco Lee’s … Continue reading →

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Collin County argues against anti-Paxton prosecutor lawsuit

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Reluctantly. [Collin County Commissioners] Court on Thursday urged a Dallas judge to drop a lawsuit seeking to block payment to the special prosecutors. The suit, filed in December by local real estate developer and Paxton donor Jeffory Blackard, should be … Continue reading →

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Under the Dome

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The latest plan to save the Dome takes a step forward. Harris County Commissioners Court moved forward on Tuesday with one piece of the Astrodome revival that needs to happen whether or not the park plan is achieved, according to … Continue reading →

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More Commissioner hopefuls make themselves known

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The race is on. With former city attorney Gene Locke in place to finish the late Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee’s term, Democratic players are quickly emerging as candidates in the November general election. State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, … Continue reading →

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