Monthly Archives: January 2010

Filing deadline overview, Harris County

Posted on January 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You can see Democratic candidates here, and Republican candidates here. My comments: – As noted, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee has two primary challengers, while three Republicans including 2008 opponent John Faulk vie to oppose whoever emerges from her race. Two … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

A brief intro to Linda Chavez-Thompson

Posted on January 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Video of Linda Chavez-Thompson’s filing day remarks, from The Trib. They have more on Chavez-Thompson here. As I said, I’m really looking forward to Chavez-Thompson and Ronnie Earle making the case for themselves. And as expected, Chavez-Thompson’s candidacy has generated … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Who you calling not a real Texan?

Posted on January 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I can never tell if Richard Justice is being serious or silly – it’s too hard to tell the difference with him – so if this is intended as a joke, then I guess it’s on me. If he really … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Cash for clunky appliances

Posted on January 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose at some point that “Cash for X” construction will get old, but until then, here come some more eeeeevil federal stimulus dollars, this time for trading in energy-hogging appliances. Many of the details of the plan are still … Continue reading →

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RIP, Kelly Fero

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Sad news. Democratic political consultant Kelly Fero died this afternoon at his home in Austin. Details weren’t immediately available. Fero was best known as an Austin-based consultant to John Sharp, Tony Sanchez, the late Jim Mattox and many, many others. … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Hector Uribe files for Land Commish

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We have one more contested statewide primary on the Democratic side as former State Sen. Hector Uribe has filed for Land Commissioner. (Bill Burton of Athens is already in.) Here’s Uribe’s press release: Former state Senator Hector Uribe filed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Jarvis Johnson files for CD18

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’d heard this was coming over the weekend, and here it is. Council Member Jarvis Johnson has filed for the Democratic primary in CD18, challenging Sheila Jackson Lee. From his press release: Houston City Council Member Jarvis Johnson filed today … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The inauguration

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here was my view of today’s inaugural festivities: Click the photo for a larger version. Tiffany and I were seated next to Martha, who has some pictures as well as a post about Mayor Parker’s inaugural address. It was an … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Tanner Garth

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

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Today is the filing deadline

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to all of the inauguration activities today, the filing deadline for the 2010 Democratic and Republican primaries is today at 6 PM. You can see Democratic candidates on the Harris County ballot, including statewides, here, and Republican candidates … Continue reading →

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The Whites say goodbye

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Outgoing Mayor Bill White and First Lady Andrea White say goodbye and thank you to Houstonians as his term comes to an end. Needless to say, they won’t exactly be riding off into the sunset any time soon; with any … Continue reading →

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The top Texas races

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Texas on the Potomac lists their Top Ten Texas Races For 2010. I have no quarrel with nine of their choices, but I think this one is wrong: Dallas County elections Democrats seized power in the Dallas courthouse four years … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Houston food tours

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is a fabulous idea. [Monica Pope, chef of t’afia] — along with fellow chefs Bryan Caswell of Reef; Marcus Davis of the breakfast klub; Mark Holley of Pesce; Randy Evans of Haven; Hugo Ortega of Hugo’s; Chris Shepherd of … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Chavez-Thompson to file for Lite Guv

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Excellent. Linda Chavez-Thompson, a national leader within the AFL-CIO and the Democratic Party, plans to enter the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor on Monday, according to a source familiar with her plans. She is expected to file Monday afternoon at … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for January 3

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

So far, the new year doesn’t look any different than the old one… Twitter-shaming drunk drivers. Alleged drunk drivers, anyway. I kind of have a problem with that. The real skinny on climate change. Ivana Trump versus the TSA. Nobody … Continue reading →

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Hoang’s agenda

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Tomorrow is the public swearing-in ceremony for Mayor Annise Parker. After she retakes her oath of office, she will then administer the oath to all new and returning City Council members. One of them is the newly elected Member from … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Public meeting for proposed IH-10 frontage roads on January 6

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The following is from the most recent Citizens’ Transportation Coalition (CTC) email newsletter. Recognition that segment E of the proposed Grand Parkway is not “shovel ready” freed up more than $180 million of federal stimulus funding for other mobility projects. … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Wolfe withdraws primary challenge

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, when we heard about the Harris County Department of Education taking action to boot Michael Wolfe off the Board, we learned that Wolfe, who still has three years remaining in his term as an At Large trustee, had … Continue reading →

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The Lite Guv may not be what it used to be

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Now that we have an interesting race for the Democratic nomination for Lite Guv, it’s worth wondering whether a Lt. Gov. Earle or a Lt. Gov. Katz would wield the same power as Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and his predecessors. Dave … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: That was the year that was

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

For one last look back at 2009, via the folks at Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, here is Videogum‘s roundup of the year’s best viral videos. Top that, 2010.

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Parker to be officially sworn in today

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Possibly by the time you read this, we will have a new Mayor. In private ceremonies at City Hall, state District Judge Steven Kirkland, an old friend and former campaign manager, was scheduled to administer the oath of office [to … Continue reading →

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Play politics first, ask questions later

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The number of homicides increased in unincorporated Harris County last year while declining in Houston. With only a few hours left in the year, 86 murders had occurred in the county’s unincorporated areas in 2009, up from 69 in 2008. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Recycle that tree redux

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The City of Houston has set the example to follow. Stripped of holiday finery and misshapen after a Christmas Eve wind gust clipped off its top, Houston’s official City Hall Christmas tree unceremoniously was chopped, chipped and shipped off to … Continue reading →

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“Non-profit” college sports

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Really good read in the Statesman. One way to view Mack Brown’s recent salary modification, to as much as $5.7 million this year with performance bonuses, is that the University of Texas’s generosity has made him the highest-paid college coach … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Friday random ten: Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It was weird enough living in the year 2001. It’s even weirder living in the year of its sequel. Be that as it may, here are ten New Year’s themed songs to get us started. 1. What Are You Doing … Continue reading →

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Happy 2010!

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Happy New Year, everybody! May this year be a peaceful and prosperous one, and may any alien species we encounter be benevolent.

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Tagged | Comments Off on Happy 2010!

Katz files

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As expected, Austin restauranteur Marc Katz has filed for Lite Guv on the Democratic side, saying his family will contribute “millions” to his effort. Austin deli owner Marc Katz, filing papers to run for lieutenant governor at Texas Democratic Party … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hail to the (interim) Chief

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As expected, HPD Chief Harold Hurtt has quietly slipped out the door in advance of Mayor-Elect Annise Parker taking the reins of the city. Until she names his replacement, here’s who will fill in. Executive Assistant Chief C.A. McClelland will … Continue reading →

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No re-run for LJD

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, Jack McDonald has backed out of running for CD10 next year, which left the Democrats without a candidate for that race. For a few minutes, it looked like 2008 candidate Larry Joe Doherty might be ready to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ditching spelling tests

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m okay with this. Causing confusion among parents, a growing number of schools are ditching tradition for a different method of teaching spelling that focuses less on memorization and more on understanding why and how words are constructed. Some districts, … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments