Category Archives: Election 2010

Endorsement watch: Ellis and Whitmire

Posted on October 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron finally turns to legislative races by endorsing two Senate Democratic incumbents in a pair of lightly contested races. [Sen. Rodney] Ellis, the longtime Democratic incumbent in Texas Senate District 13, has made his mark in many legislative areas, … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Dennis Slate

Posted on October 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates. These Q&As are primarily intended for candidates who were … Continue reading →

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County Judge race overview

Posted on October 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron overview of the race for Harris County Judge. Incumbent Ed Emmett, a Republican, talks of double-tracking bridges for freight, attracting foreign investment to build toll roads, and planning commuter rail in such a way that it can … Continue reading →

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DOJ gets a call on voter intimidation allegations

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Day Two of early voting saw far fewer allegations of voter intimidation and the possible arrival of the Justice Department to keep an eye on things. Responding to complaints that poll watchers were intimidating voters in predominantly minority polling locations, … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Michael Gomez

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates. These Q&As are primarily intended for candidates who were … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Beware the really bad candidates

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Gloria Padilla in the Express News has some good advice. Voting is not as easy as it used to be when communities were smaller and everyone knew the candidates. Smart voters need to do their homework and research their candidates. … Continue reading →

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Overview of the Railroad Commission race

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron overview of the race for Railroad Commissioner between the highly qualified and universally endorsed Democrat Jeff Weems and the “I have an R by my name” Republican David Porter. Weems is a Houston oil and gas lawyer … Continue reading →

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Early voting, Day One

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

One day of early voting is in the can, and when all was said and done 26,051 in person votes were cast. In 2006, 8,545 in person early votes were cast. You can see a spreadsheet of 2006 daily EV … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Ursula Hall

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates. These Q&As are primarily intended for candidates who were … Continue reading →

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The Mayor editorializes for Prop 1

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Parker lays out the case for Prop 1, the ballot referendum to establish a dedicated revenue source for street and drainage improvements. Is it necessary? Absolutely! Approximately 65 percent of our streets and drainage systems are beyond their useful … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The HISD Trustee race

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Judith Cruz in the HISD Trustee special election. Cruz firmly supports the Waiting for Superman brand of school reform: She believes that urban schools can do a much better job of educating our kids than they do … Continue reading →

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TPJ files complaint against King Street Patriots

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: TPJ today filed a formal complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission alleging that the King Street Patriots and KSP/True the Vote have violated the state’s prohibition on corporate contributions to political parties and candidates. The complaint says … Continue reading →

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Interview with Bill White

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

And so we come to the end of the 2010 candidate interview cycle with the candidate whose entry into his race changed the narrative and the perceptions of what was possible for the Democratic ticket. That candidate is Bill White, … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: All for Bill White

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We don’t have another sweep yet, as the Star-Telegram hasn’t weighed in quite yet, but all the endorsements so far have gone Bill White‘s way as expected. A sample: The DMN is particularly pointed. Perry, 60, has done relatively little … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Probate court

Posted on October 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The probate courts in Harris County have been messed up for some time. The Chron is ready for some changes. Harris County Probate Court No. 1: Kathy Stone, the Democratic incumbent, is our choice to be returned to this bench. … Continue reading →

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“Vote for me, I know nothing”

Posted on October 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

To me, this story about the race in Harris County Precinct 2 between Commissioner Sylvia Garcia and her Republican opponent Jack Morman boils down to this one paragraph: Morman is short on specifics as to how he would cut spending, … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: ParentPAC

Posted on October 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I haven’t mentioned the Texas ParentPAC lately, as there’s been so much other stuff going on lately, but they are as busy with endorsements as ever. Here’s a list of candidates that they have announced they are backing for the … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The remaining countywides

Posted on October 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

After making a normal and expected endorsement of County Judge Ed Emmett and an abnormal and unexpected endorsement of Orlando Sanchez, the Chron goes Democratic for the remaining three countywide offices. District Clerk: The duties of this office include summoning … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: County courts

Posted on October 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

There are four County Civil Courts At Law and 15 County Criminal Courts At Law, with the Chron endorsements for all of them being spread over three days. Starting with the civil courts, the Democratic nominees received endorsements in two … Continue reading →

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More on Perry’s self-appropriation of Emerging Tech funds

Posted on October 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman moves the ball forward on the Emerging Technology Fund story and Governor Perry’s self-appropriation of its funds. Two points from the story stand out to me. Gov. Rick Perry and the state’s legislative leaders awarded a $4.5 million … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Wally Kronzer

Posted on October 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates. These Q&As are primarily intended for candidates who were … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Kurt Kuhn for 3rd Court of Appeals

Posted on October 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not paying a huge amount of attention to races outside of Harris County, but one that is of interest is for an open seat on the 3rd Court of Appeals, whose district includes Travis County and which has been … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: DMN for BAR

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I have to admit, I was not expecting to see any Democrats for statewide non-judicial offices endorsed other than Bill White and Jeff Weems, but I am delighted to see this. [A]fter eight years of [Attorney General Greg] Abbott, Texas … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Juanita Jackson Barner

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates. These Q&As are primarily intended for candidates who were … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Sweep

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

A clean sweep of the big five for Jeff Weems. Weems, 52, who has worked in the oil and gas industry onshore and offshore, is bright, aggressive and attentive, with a keen knowledge of the various aspects of the business … Continue reading →

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Perry appropriates Emerging Tech funds on his own

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Procedures? Advisory boards? Who needs ’em? Gov. Rick Perry approved a $4.5 million award from the state’s technology fund to a company founded by a major campaign donor despite the company’s failure to win the endorsement of a regional screening … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Juvenile courts

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Three more endorsements, two of which go to Democrats: 313th Family District Court: Natalie Oakes, the Democrat, is our choice to fill this open bench. 314th Family District Court: David Longoria, the Democratic challenger, would bring a wealth of life … Continue reading →

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Interview with Linda Chavez-Thompson

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Next up is Linda Chavez-Thompson, the dynamic Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Let me quote from her official bio, for those of you who have not heard her story: Linda Chavez-Thompson knows the meaning of sacrifice and the importance of … Continue reading →

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Forget about generic polls

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib has had a few stories lately about legislative horse races. There’s one point in this piece about House Democratic freshmen trying to win re-election that stood out to me and deserves some fleshing out. As in any close … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Criminal district courts

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron did its endorsements for the criminal district courts in two parts. In part one, three of the eight recommended candidates are Democrats: 182nd Criminal District Court: The best choice for this court is Brandon Dudley, the Democratic challenger, … Continue reading →

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The long ballot

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, the ballot you will see this November is as long as any has ever been. But let’s not lose perspective. If it seems like that Harris County ballot you got in the mail is long, it is. Veteran election … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Priscilla Walters

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates. These Q&As are primarily intended for candidates who were … Continue reading →

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Dallas-area cities are watching the red light camera referenda

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

What happens next month in Houston and Baytown may have an effect on our neighbors to the north. North Texas city officials are monitoring a public backlash against lucrative red-light cameras that could signal their end. Citizens in three Texas … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: And I hope for a pony, too

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I am not surprised that the Chron has endorsed AG Greg Abbott for re-election. My expectation was that the newspapers would all endorse Bill White, Jeff Weems, and each of the Republican incumbents, and so far there have been no … Continue reading →

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