Tag Archives: Dwight Boykins

Garbage fee trashed

Posted on March 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Not surprised, though I’d have thought it would get more support that this. Houston City Council disposed of a proposed garbage collection fee in a pair of 16-1 votes Wednesday. Councilman Dwight Boykins, who floated the monthly fee as a … Continue reading →

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How would you implement Prop B?

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Here, from last week, is Mayor Turner’s official announcement about layoffs, following a failure to come to an agreement with the firefighters’ union about a time frame to fully implement Prop B. Here’s the Chron story about the firefighters protesting … Continue reading →

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Garbage fee on the agenda

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t think this is going to pass, but it will get a vote. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday said he would put a proposed garbage fee on next week’s city council agenda, but will not vote for it. … Continue reading →

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January 2019 finance reports: City of Houston

Posted on January 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s January, and you know what happens in January: Campaign finance reports get posted. This is a city of Houston election year, so first order of business is to look at the city of Houston finance reports. I’ve put all … Continue reading →

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Trash fee to pay for Prop B?

Posted on December 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Hard pass. Houston City Councilman Dwight Boykins on Thursday proposed charging property owners a monthly garbage collection fee to finance raises for firefighters while avoiding job cuts for other city staff. Under the proposal, most Houston homeowners would be charged … Continue reading →

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July 2018 finance reports: City of Houston

Posted on August 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Every level of government requires finance reports in January and June, whether or not there is an active election cycle in that year. That includes the city of Houston, whose january report data we inspected here. Our next election is … Continue reading →

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Firefighter pay proposal officially on the ballot

Posted on August 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

As required. Houston voters in November will choose whether to grant firefighters pay “parity” with police of corresponding rank and seniority. After weeks of wrangling over the issue — including angry debates, rare legislative maneuvers and allegations of electioneering — … Continue reading →

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No quorum for very special Council meeting

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Close, but no cigar. A handful of city council members who organized a rare special meeting to push for a Houston firefighters petition seeking pay “parity” with police to appear on the November ballot fell short of a quorum Friday … Continue reading →

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A very special Council meeting

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Who knew there was such a thing? In a rare maneuver that sidesteps Mayor Sylvester Turner’s authority, five city council members have called a special meeting this week, hoping to force the issue of Houston firefighters’ push for a referendum … Continue reading →

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Filing news: A few tidbits while we wait for the dust to clear

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, yesterday was the filing deadline for the primaries. Lots of things happen at the last minute, and the SOS filings page isn’t always a hundred percent up to date, so I’m hesitant to make final pronouncements about … Continue reading →

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Andrew White “on the brink” of announcing for Governor

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll know shortly, but it seems to me that if the answer was going to be “nah, I’m outta here” we wouldn’t be hearing pre-announcement teasers. Houston entrepreneur Andrew White, a conservative Democrat and son of the late former Gov. … Continue reading →

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Add Boykins to the “mulling a run for Governor” list

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The line forms to the left. As Democrats look for a serious candidate to challenge Gov. Greg Abbott in 2018, another big-city official is surfacing as a potential contender: Dwight Boykins, a member of the Houston City Council. “I have … Continue reading →

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Today’s the day for SD13

Posted on July 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Feels like we’ve been here before, doesn’t it? Today is the day for the Senate precinct convention in SD13, in which a nominee for that office to replace Sen. Rodney Ellis will be chosen. There are 96 precinct chairs in … Continue reading →

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SD13 nomination process update

Posted on July 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Two possible candidates have taken themselves out of the running. State Rep. Garnet Coleman and former City Councilman C.O. Bradford have decided not to run for Rodney Ellis’ state Senate seat, citing a desire to retain seniority in the state … Continue reading →

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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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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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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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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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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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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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More speed bumps coming

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Like ’em or not. Houston officials are speeding up the process of slowing down residential street traffic. A laborious process to improve traffic and safety by installing traffic calming devices such as speed humps is radically streamlined in a new … 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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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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Overview of the open Council seat runoffs

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Kind of late in the cycle given the number of lesser known candidates in these races, and not nearly complete, but here it is anyway. In addition to the first open mayor’s race in six years, Houstonians can expect to … Continue reading →

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HERO affirmed by Council

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s official – HERO will be on the ballot this fall. City Council voted to affirm Houston’s equal rights ordinance Wednesday, a move that will send the law to voters in November per a Texas Supreme Court ruling. City Council … Continue reading →

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System reimagining is going to be hard

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Because change is hard. It always is. Transit officials might have reimaginged bus service in the Houston area, but the riders who rely on it for daily trips are asking them to rethink it again. Since the redesigned bus system … Continue reading →

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Two Council challengers to incumbents

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

So far all of the action we’ve seen for city offices has been for the open seats being vacated by term-limited incumbents. Recently I became aware of two folks who plan to run for offices that will have incumbents on … Continue reading →

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January campaign finance reports – Council

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Mayoral reports Controller reports Four Council members are term limited this year. Two, CMs Stephen Costello and Oliver Pennington, are running for Mayor. The other two, CMs CO Bradford and Ed Gonzales, do not have any announced plans at this … Continue reading →

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