Monthly Archives: October 2013

Interview with Ben Hall

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

In the era of term limits, we usually only get contested Mayoral races in the open years. Lee Brown faced a strong challenge from Orlando Sanchez and Chris Bell in 2001, prevailing in a runoff. Many people expected Mayor Parker … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of At Large #3

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron’s look at the At Large #3 race. Citywide races demand more money and name recognition for candidates to be successful, unlike district seats where neighborhood familiarity can matter more. Perhaps the candidate with the best mix of … Continue reading →

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In case Greg Abbott just isn’t right-wing enough for you

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Meet his latest challenger. A tea party activist and frequent guest on Fox News has entered the race for governor in Texas, offering an alternative on the right of frontrunner Greg Abbott. Lisa Fritsch, an author and conservative radio host … Continue reading →

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Bag ban update

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Having survived legislative meddling, bag bans are back on the agenda in Texas cities. Six months after Austin’s ban on most disposable plastic and paper bags took effect at checkout counters across the city, political fights are raging in Laredo and Dallas … Continue reading →

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Interview with Mayor Annise Parker

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Early voting for the 2013 elections begins next week, and so my interviews for this election season are coming to an end. I will have two interviews with HCC Trustee candidates next week, plus a little bit more, and that … Continue reading →

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Kinky for Ag Commish, Sam Houston (maybe) for AG

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

One and a half candidate announcements to note from the weekend. First, from the Trib, is the quadrennial appearance of Kinky Friedman. Singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist and former Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman will run for the Democratic nomination to … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of District D

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron tries to wrap its arms around the District D race, talking to all 12 candidates. Since I have interviewed six of them – an interview with Lana Edwards will run on Wednesday – I will just quote from … Continue reading →

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Bell lawsuit award against RGA tossed by appeals court

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Some old history got raked up recently. An attorney for failed 2006 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell is considering appealing a state appeals court’s decision to throw out a $2 million award to Bell in a lawsuit where Bell contended … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for October 13

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Turn that music down! And get off my lawn while you’re at it. “Fifty-five percent of Americans and 7 out of 10 young people support allowing gay couples to marry. A majority of Republicans, 52 percent, oppose it.” How to … Continue reading →

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Complete Streets coming

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is good to see. Houston, long ruled by the automobile, will give more consideration to the needs of pedestrians and cyclists in designing its streets and neighborhoods. Mayor Annise Parker on Thursday said she is drafting, with public works … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of District B

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

CM Jerry Davis has three opponents in his first re-election. Since I’ve interviewed CM Davis and one opponent, Kathy Blueford Daniels, here’s what the article says about the other two hopefuls. Each candidate claims to have the best vision and … Continue reading →

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Fort Bend ISD halts iPad program

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is a surprise. Widespread problems found by a consultant have prompted Fort Bend school district officials to shelve a $16 million initiative to integrate thousands of iPads into the classroom experience at 14 schools. A review commissioned by the … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For the Mayor

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Mayor Parker for a third term. During Annise Parker’s first term, Houston was stuck in a drought. The global economy was in an economic downturn. And City Hall had to prune a budget suffering from wilting revenues. … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Birdland

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday, I mentioned how the song “Birdland” was an inextricable part of my college experience. Here are two of my favorite renditions of that song. First, the immortal Maynard Ferguson: Maynard Ferguson was my first jazz hero, going back to … Continue reading →

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HISD board approves 3-cent tax increase

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It was a close vote. Property owners in the Houston Independent School District will see their tax bills rise after trustees Thursday narrowly approved the first tax rate increase for operations in a dozen years. The board voted 4-3 to … Continue reading →

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The execution drug shortage

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I find myself morbidly fascinated by this. Forced to repeatedly alter the formula of its lethal injections as drug makers curb sales to executioners, Texas prison officials are stockpiling an array of alternate pharmaceuticals, none of which yet has been … Continue reading →

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Arkansas will expand Medicaid

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

If they can do it… [Friday], the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services notified state officials in Arkansas that it has approved the states’ Medicaid expansion plan. And this is not any old expansion plan: Arkansas will be the only … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Twofer number two

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Another pair of endorsements from the Chron, again one obvious and one that required more thought. First, the easy one. Centered along the Westpark Tollway toward the city’s far west edges, District F is Houston’s international district. When people from … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Reunited (And I Feel So Old)

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This weekend is my 25-year college reunion. Here are ten songs to put one in the mood for reuniting with increasingly old friends. If you’ll excuse me, the open bar is calling my name. 1. My Old School – Steely … Continue reading →

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A tale of two demographics

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle looks at one group of voters Wendy Davis will need to excel with in order to win. Getting Democrats – Hispanics, in particular – to the ballot box in record numbers is essential if the party hopes to … Continue reading →

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Perry special prosecutor seeks to hire investigator

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Moving right along. The special prosecutor in an ongoing investigation into whether Gov. Rick Perry violated state law by vetoing funding for the Travis County ethics-enforcement unit is seeking to hire an investigator and researcher, the first public hint the … Continue reading →

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Can we get a charter review?

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Council Member C.O. Bradford and HCC Trustee Carroll Robinson would like one. Houston needs a Charter Review Commission to review, update and propose recommendations to the voters to modernize our charter, the structure and operations of city government, with specific … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Our first twofer

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has two endorsements today, one that was easy and one that was likely more challenging. First, the easy one. In four years as an at-large city councilman, Stephen Costello has gradually become a “go to” guy on two … Continue reading →

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Today is a great day to give some money to Wendy Davis’ campaign

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

If your daily reading habits include progressive blogs, especially Texas progressive blogs, then you’ve probably noticed some of my blog colleagues making a plea today for contributions to Wendy Davis’ gubernatorial campaign. Why would you want to do that? Lots … Continue reading →

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Another reason why marriage equality matters

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This was bad. A graduate anthropology student, the wife of an active duty Air Force captain, said the University of Texas at San Antonio denied her an in-state tuition waiver — a decision she thinks came about because she’s married … Continue reading →

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Mike Collier makes his entrance

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Mike Collier, the Democratic candidate for Comptroller, has officially rolled out his campaign: Pretty effective pitch, I think. For sure, he has plenty of material to work with. Collier also got interviewed by the Trib on Monday: Nearly as soon … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Pennington

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses CM Oliver Pennington for a third term. For the past four years, District G has been ably represented by attorney Oliver Pennington. We recommend a vote for Pennington to continue his service at city hall. Pennington, a … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of October 7

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is feeling pretty damn good right now as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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30 Day fundraising reports are coming in

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

For the Mayor’s race at least, they’re a lot like the July reports. Even as top mayoral challenger Ben Hall ramped up his campaign in recent months, launching several television ads, Mayor Annise Parker continued to outpace him in fundraising, … Continue reading →

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Still no injunction in voter registration lawsuit

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Unfortunate. A district judged erred by partially blocking the enforcement of new Texas voter registration laws while a lawsuit alleging that the laws suppress voting goes forward, a federal appeals court has ruled. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. … Continue reading →

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Next wave of recycling bins approved

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From last week: City Council on Wednesday OK’d funding to complete efforts to double the number of 96-gallon green recycling bins parked at city curbs, but it is unclear which 70,000 homes will be next to receive the service. […] … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Jerry Davis

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Jerry Davis in District B. In his first term in office, council member Jerry Davis launched a pilot project to deploy surveillance cameras to catch illegal dumpers. He and his staff personally went into neighborhoods to mow … Continue reading →

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Interview with Bill Frazer

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

City Controllers have generally had it easy in re-election efforts. No sitting City Controller has had an opponent since Sylvia Garcia knocked off Lloyd Kelley in 1997. Until now, that is, as Bill Frazer filed to oppose Controller Ronald Green. … Continue reading →

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Still pondering the Medina indy possibility

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Ross Ramsey ponders the idea. “I’m doing everything I can to assemble the resources necessary for a viable, credible campaign for comptroller,” she told The Texas Tribune. “If it comes to November and the money still hasn’t come in, I’ll … Continue reading →

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