Tag Archives: Houston City Council

More on the lineups

Posted on September 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story about the final filings to be on the ballot for city elections. As noted before, not a whole lot of surprises, but there are a couple of things worth mentioning: Otis Jordan, president of the Houston … Continue reading →

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

Here’s your lineup

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Martha has your final filings for City of Houston elections. Executive summary: No surprise last minute entrants, but everyone except for Council Members Melissa Noriega (At Large #3), Ed Gonzalez (H), and James Rodriguez (I) has at least one opponent. … Continue reading →

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

Freeman and Bradford spar over SEIU endorsement

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Last night, Noel Freeman sent out this press release: Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1 confirmed Tuesday during a screening interview with City Council At-Large Position 4 candidate Noel Freeman that his opponent, C.O. Bradford, has falsely claimed to … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Carlos Obando

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We don’t get a lot of competitive Council race in Houston that don’t involve an open seat. As I’ve noted before, we may get one this year for At Large #5. One of the candidates seeking to unseat incumbent Council … Continue reading →

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

Filing deadline

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today at 5 PM is the filing deadline for city elections. Martha has her usual roundup of who has filed. So far, the only bit of suspense is in the Mayor’s race, where Roy Morales has yet to do his … Continue reading →

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

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

More from neoHouston on the new transit corridors ordinance

Posted on August 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Andrew Burleson, also known as neoHouston, was quoted in the Chron story on the new transit corridors ordinance. They only used a few words from him, however, and we all know he had more to say on the topic than … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on More from neoHouston on the new transit corridors ordinance

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

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

Interview with Mills Worsham

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Next up is Mills Worsham, who is a candidate in District G. Worsham is the Houston Community College Trustee representing District 6, succeeding Jim Murphy after the latter’s election to the State Legislature in 2006. He is a native Houstonian … Continue reading →

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

Endorsement watch: Can we get a list, please?

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

There’s been a lot of endorsement activity lately for the 2009 Houston elections, and since I don’t really want to reproduce every press release I get, I thought I’d try to link to endorsement lists from some of the groups … Continue reading →

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

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

Transit corridors ordinance approved

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not all that it could have been, but it’s a start. Passengers stepping off trains in Houston’s expanding light rail network will be more likely to encounter walkable environments and interesting destinations because of action taken Wednesday by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 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 →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

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

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

Endorsement watch: We take it back

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s something you don’t see every election. The Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, which had previously endorsed City Council Member Jolanda Jones for re-election to her At Large #5 seat, has now rescinded that endorsement. You can read their letter … Continue reading →

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

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 →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: HGLBT Political Caucus on Controller and Council races

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

Jack Christie to run in At Large #5

Posted on August 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The field in At Large #5, which currently includes incumbent Council Member Jolanda Jones and challengers Carlos Obando and Davetta Daniels, has just gotten bigger as Jack Christie has filed to run for the seat as well. Christie is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Jack Christie to run in At Large #5

Interview with Oliver Pennington

Posted on August 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Moving over to District G, my next interview is with Oliver Pennnington. Pennington is a retired attorney, a partner at Fulbright and Jaworski, whose practice focused on municipal law, and a Rice alumnus. Pennington has lived in District G for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Tuesday Council roundup

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Council Member Sue Lovell, who is running hard for re-election after her close win in 2007, has added some fundraising muscle to her team. Houston Vice Mayor Pro Tem Sue Lovell announced today that Robert Miller would lead the Finance … Continue reading →

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

Cops and crime

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The news is mixed, though I see it as being presented as more bad than good. Houston has a higher rate of violent crime than any other Texas city and ranks among the highest in the nation, according to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Brenda Stardig

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

And we return to District A for a conversation with Brenda Stardig. Brenda is a businesswoman and real estate broker who has served on the City of Houston District A Apartment Task Force as well as a number of boards … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Noel Freeman

Posted on July 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing with the At Large candidate interviews, today we hear from Noel Freeman, who is running in At Large #4. Freeman was a candidate for the At Large #3 special election of 2007, finishing seventh in the field of 11. … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Lonnie Allsbrooks

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Returning to the At Large races, the next candidate for this year’s interview series is Lonnie Allsbrooks, who is running for At Large #1. Allsbrooks is the owner of the Beer Island bar in the Heights and has been in … Continue reading →

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

Jones gets another opponent

Posted on July 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In the wake of her comments about Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association President Jeff Caynon, Council Member Jolanda Jones has drawn a new challenger for her seat. On Friday, retired HISD administrator Davetta Daniels filed to challenge Jones in November. … Continue reading →

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