Category Archives: Election 2023

Lee and Garcia push the city to Do Something about Whitmire’s campaign finances

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what happens. Two rival candidates have asked the city of Houston to block state Sen. John Whitmire from using $2.7 million in proceeds from stock sales to underwrite his campaign for mayor. Already dominating in the fundraising race, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lee and Garcia push the city to Do Something about Whitmire’s campaign finances

Endorsement watch: Martinez in I, and wait, what?

Posted on October 14, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron made a perfectly fine endorsement. It’s not easy to follow in the footsteps of outgoing Councilmember Robert Gallegos. As the lone Hispanic around the horseshoe, he has robustly represented his hometown and the most Hispanic district in Houston for nearly a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

30 day 2023 campaign finance reports – Houston City Controller

Posted on October 13, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Previously: Mayor Continuing with 30 day campaign finance reports, here they are for Houston City Controller candidates. The July reports for these candidates can be found here. Candidate Raised Spent Loan On Hand ====================================================== Hollins 160,578 598,460 0 214,799 Martin … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 30 day 2023 campaign finance reports – Houston City Controller

30 day 2023 campaign finance reports – Houston Mayor

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We are now less than a month out from Election Day, and that means it’s time for 30 day campaign finance reports, which give a decent picture of where campaigns are now, and may be the best way of understanding … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Interview with Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, administration of Harris County’s elections has been reverted to the County Clerk’s office, with the Tax Assessor once again being in charge of voter registration. Putting aside the legislative intent and the litigation over this, the November … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth

UH-Hobby Center poll: Whitmire 34, Jackson Lee 31

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Same pollster as before, nearly the same result. There has been almost no movement in Houston’s mayoral race over the last three months, with state Sen. John Whitmire and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee still firmly entrenched atop the crowded … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Interview with Chris Hollins

Posted on October 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve had a few familiar names among the candidates for office so far, but I daresay there’s only one who qualifies as a national name. That would be Chris Hollins, who drew national plaudits for his efforts to make the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Endorsement watch: Cantu and Alcorn

Posted on October 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Two At Large endorsements are up, beginning with Richard Cantu in the open At Large #3 race. Perhaps it was coincidence that Richard Cantu, 54, sat in the center of the table at our screening with candidates for this race, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Cantu and Alcorn

Interview with CM Dave Martin

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We are entering the home stretch here as we meet the Controller candidates. Dave Martin is the term-limited incumbent Council member in District E, and he also serves as the Mayor Pro Tem, which is like being the Vice Mayor. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Ed Emmett opines against Prop B

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

He’s the first prominent local politician that I’m aware of to take this position. Promoted by a group called Fair for Houston, the petition is seeking to have cities’ and counties’ voting strength (within organizations such as the H-GAC board … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Ed Emmett opines against Prop B

The Book-Loving Texans’ Guide To The November 2023 Election

Posted on October 7, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Make note of this. Please check out and share the newest edition of the Book-Loving Texan’s Guides to Texas School Board Elections. You can use it to inform voters and to decide where to allocate your time and donations for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Book-Loving Texans’ Guide To The November 2023 Election

Endorsement watch: Pollard and Castillo

Posted on October 6, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Two more endorsements, beginning with District J. Every city council member is defending their record on crime but only Edward Pollard represents a district with an international reputation as a hub for sex trafficking and gang violence. To win reelection, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Pollard and Castillo

What some Mayoral candidates said to some Republicans

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I have a few thoughts about this. Houston mayoral candidates took aim at “feel-good” public safety initiatives such as gun buybacks and proposed plans to boost the city budget at a Friday forum organized by United Republicans of Harris County. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Interview with Lesley Briones about the Harris Health System bond referendum

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Today’s interview is about a vital issue that I suspect has gotten far less attention than it deserves. I’m speaking of the $2.5 billion bond issue to expand, improve, and renovate the public hospitals and other facilities of the Harris … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Lesley Briones about the Harris Health System bond referendum

Endorsement watch: Kamin for C, Jackson for B

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron gets to two more endorsements, both for incumbents, the first being in District C. Abbie Kamin was the city’s first pregnant council member, a title she wore proudly and that informed her own advocacy around the horseshoe at … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Kamin for C, Jackson for B

Interview with Fair for Houston, which is now Yes on Prop B

Posted on October 3, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I trust you are familiar by now with Fair for Houston, for which there was a successful petition drive to put an item on the Houston ballot this November. That item, which will be City Proposition B, aims to reform … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

And now we have a hue and cry about Whitmire’s campaign treasury

Posted on October 3, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I’m surprised it took this long, to be honest. U.S. Rep Sheila Jackson Lee and former Metro Chair Gilbert Garcia have requested the city attorney to investigate alleged campaign contribution limit violations by State Sen. John Whitmire, hinting at a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Richard Cantu

Posted on October 2, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I have one late-breaking interview for At Large #3 before I bring you some interviews for other items in this election. Richard Cantu is another familiar name, having been elected to serve on the HCDE Board of Trustees in 2018. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The young activists of today

Posted on October 1, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Keep track of these names, or better yet get to know them. Olivia Julianna typed “#johnnyboywhitmire” into TikTok’s search bar. To her delight, her five videos critiquing Texas state senator and Houston mayoral hopeful John Whitmire had garnered a combined … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The young activists of today

Endorsement watch: For Letitia Plummer

Posted on October 1, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I guess we’re rolling these out one at a time, and in no particular order. When some politicians shift their positions on high-profile issues, they get tagged with the dreaded “flip-flopper” label. So when At-Large Position 4 Councilmember Letitia Plummer … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: For Letitia Plummer

Interview with CM Mary Nan Huffman

Posted on September 29, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I had not planned to do an interview for District G this cycle – I only have so much time and capacity, and as of the July reporting deadline, incumbent CM Mary Nan Huffman did not have an opponent. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Endorsement watch: For the hospital bond

Posted on September 29, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Good call. It’s unacceptable for a public hospital whose mission is to save lives to instead endanger them due to aging infrastructure that’s been neglected for too long. The pipe break was the second of three in 2020. Just weeks … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with James Joseph

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

One more interview in At Large #3, then I’ll have a bonus interview for you tomorrow. Today we speak with James Joseph, a native Houstonian, Fifth Ward resident, and newly minted PhD. A public relations consultant with a long background … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with James Joseph

Interview with Casey Curry

Posted on September 27, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Moving on in At Large #3, we come to another candidate with an interesting former job, longtime TV meteorologist Casey Curry. After a decade of weather reporting on the local news, Curry is now working in philanthropy and communications. She … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Interview with Twila Carter

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing on with At Large #3, today we meet Twila Carter, who among other things has had one of the best jobs of anyone I’ve interviewed: For over a decade, she served as Senior Vice President of Community Relations of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Endorsement watch: Picking someone in District E

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes their first candidate endorsement for November 2023. Houston City Council races are officially nonpartisan, but since just about everything seems partisan these days, let’s go ahead and say it: District E, the bizarrely shaped district that conjoins … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Picking someone in District E

Interview with Donnell Cooper

Posted on September 25, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The last open At Large seat is At Large #3, which also has the biggest field of nine candidates. I have interviews with four of them this week, beginning with Donnell Cooper. Cooper is a Houston Community College Acres Homes … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Donnell Cooper

The Chron talks to some Mayoral candidates

Posted on September 24, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

You can find a bunch of Mayoral Q&As with the Chron editorial board here on this Mayoral Candidate Questions page. All of them also include a brief video of the chat, with the following Mayoral candidates so far: John Whitmire … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Chron talks to some Mayoral candidates

City runoff election will be December 9

Posted on September 23, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Slightly reducing the overall intrigue factor of the season. The runoffs for Houston’s City Hall elections will be held Dec. 9, the secretary of state’s office confirmed on Tuesday. Houston voters will head to the polls Nov. 7 to elect … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on City runoff election will be December 9

Interview with Marina Coryat

Posted on September 22, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We wrap up our week of interviews with At Large #2 candidates with Marina Coryat, a Trinidadian immigrant who has served as Communications Director for Texas State Representative Senfronia Thompson since 2019. Coryat has worked in the city’s Solid Waste … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Marina Coryat

Interview with Holly Vilaseca

Posted on September 21, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We continue our week of At Large #2 with a familiar name, Holly Flynn Vilaseca, who served for five years as HISD Trustee, being appointed in January 2017 to fill out an unexpired term and then winning a full term … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Holly Vilaseca

Endorsement watch: For that amendment, you know the one

Posted on September 21, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron approves an amendment but forgets to tell us which one. So much has changed in the 15 years since Renu Khator became UH’s president. She set a clear goal for Tier 1 status and worked toward it step … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: For that amendment, you know the one

Interview with Danielle Bess

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in At Large #2 we have Danielle Bess, a native Houstonian, Navy veteran, and real estate professional. Bess has been involved in politics for a long time, having worked with campaigns ranging from Obama for America, Sheila Jackson … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Danielle Bess

Endorsement watch: Just say No to blocking a wealth tax

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Good call by the Chron. When Elon Musk relocated his business empire from California to Texas in 2021, he likely took billions in state tax revenue with him. Some California lawmakers want to claw back that lost revenue through a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment