Monthly Archives: October 2019

8 Day Finance Reports: Special legislative elections

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

As I said yesterday, I’m not going to go through all of the city of Houston 8 day finance reports. I will however present the 8 day reports from the two area legislative special elections, as those races had such … Continue reading →

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TEA recommends HISD takeover

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Not finalized yet, but you can see the way it’s going to go. The Texas Education Agency is recommending that the state take over Houston Independent School District — the state’s largest public school system — due to its elected … Continue reading →

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Day Ten 2019 EV totals: Congrats to the Nats

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry, Astros fans. Try to remember that it was a good season regardless of what happened in the last seven games. And as they used to say in Brooklyn, wait till next year. Year Early Mail Total Mailed ====================================== 2019 … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of October 28

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance encourages you to enjoy Halloween and make sure you vote as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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8 Day finance reports: Mayor and Controller

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Erik Manning spreadsheet is here, the July reports from Mayoral candidates are here, the July reports from Controller candidates (which in this case was just Chris Brown) are here, and the 30 day reports for both Mayorals and Controllers … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of the HD28 special election

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

As they did with HD148, the Chron does brief profiles of the candidates in the HD28 special election. I think we have a pretty good impression of Democrat Eliz Markowitz, who has consolidated support from the various establishment groups, so … Continue reading →

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Last bail lawsuit hearing

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

At least I assume it’s the last one. I’ve been thinking this was all over but for the formality for months now, so what do I know? Dianna Williams has witnessed the “collateral damage” of jailing on the fabric of … Continue reading →

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Day Nine 2019 EV totals: The “all everyone cares about is the World Series” edition

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

You know the drill, so let’s do the thing: Year Early Mail Total Mailed ====================================== 2019 76,613 11,356 87,969 26,740 2015 89,599 24,768 114,367 42,938 2013 54,071 17,987 72,058 30,549 The 2019 Day Nine file is here, the final 2015 … Continue reading →

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Trib overview of the Houston Mayor’s race

Posted on October 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Not really anything here you don’t already know, but a good summary of the race so far. With early voting underway, the Houston mayoral race is not lacking for drama, but through it all, a fundamental question has persisted: Whatever … Continue reading →

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The Democratic Senate candidate forum

Posted on October 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This was a good event. Six of the Democrats hoping to defeat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn next year will square off in the first big candidate’s forum in Houston tonight in what promises to be one of the hottest political … Continue reading →

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Day Eight 2019 EV totals: The uptick has begun

Posted on October 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Week Two early voting turnout is always higher than Week One. In part, that has been because of extended hours beginning on the second Monday. This year the hours are the same, but we got a step up anyway. Year … Continue reading →

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Abbott and Paxton threaten transgender child

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I’m utterly speechless. Top Texas Republicans have directed the state’s child welfare agency to investigate whether a mother who supports her 7-year-old child’s gender transition is committing “child abuse” — a move that has alarmed an already fearful community of … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Firing Taubman wasn’t enough

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Just putting down a marker. Major League Baseball’s investigation into the Astros will stretch beyond the World Series as the league looks into “aspects that go beyond” Brandon Taubman’s clubhouse incident. Taubman was fired on Thursday, five days after he … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Day Seven 2019 EV totals: It’s been a week

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

And I’ve been too busy to post these on a daily basis, much less do anything with them. I apologize for that, but can’t make any promises that next week will be better. Stay strong. Year Early Mail Total Mailed … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for October 27

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

“Trump now finds himself mired in a season of weakness. Foreign leaders feel emboldened to reject his pleas or to contradict him. Officials inside his administration are openly defying his wishes by participating in the impeachment probe. Federal courts have … Continue reading →

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Warren’s interest in boosting Texas Dems

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I heartily approve of this. As Elizabeth Warren climbs the polls — threatening Joe Biden’s lead in the Democratic primary — her campaign is turning its attention to Texas, a state she called home for a decade and a place … Continue reading →

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Chron profile of Brad “Scarface” Jordan

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Though he prefers now to just be Brad Jordan, original member of the Geto Boys, current candidate for Houston City Council, District D. Brad Jordan looks through the windshield of his white Mercedes and sees something he doesn’t like. He … Continue reading →

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Metro Wi-Fi

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. Metro riders now can access free Wi-Fi on select buses and trains through a pilot program funded by Microsoft, the transit agency announced Monday. Buses on Route 54, which passes by the University of Houston and Texas Southern University … Continue reading →

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30 Day finance reports: HISD

Posted on October 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron notes that where there are elections there are contributions, even for our diminished HISD Trustees. The threat of state officials stripping power from Houston ISD trustees has not scared off donors interested in the district’s school board elections, … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of HD148

Posted on October 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

So many candidates, so little time to get to campaign. Voters in the reliably blue, Houston-area Texas House District 148 will have plenty of candidates to choose from to replace the recently retired Democratic incumbent. After longtime State Rep. Jessica … Continue reading →

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Another ReBuild Houston lawsuit

Posted on October 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Gotta say, this puzzles me. A pair of Houston residents filed a lawsuit against Mayor Sylvester Turner and city council Monday, accusing them of failing to follow the will of voters who approved a charter amendment last year for funding … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Day Five 2019 EV totals: Steady as she goes

Posted on October 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

There are two Monday through Friday periods in Early Voting, and we just finished the first of them. Let’s check in on the numbers. Year Early Mail Total Mailed ====================================== 2019 44,244 6,790 51,043 26,105 2015 48,027 21,141 69,168 42,938 … Continue reading →

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No charges against Bonnen

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise. Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen will not be criminally prosecuted for the things he said during a secretly recorded June meeting with a hardline conservative activist, the district attorney in his hometown announced Thursday. “As repugnant as Speaker … Continue reading →

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Hotze and Buzbee

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

But wait, there’s more. Anti-gay leader Steve Hotze withdrew his support for Tony Buzbee on Thursday, and called the mayoral candidate a “charlatan and liar” for denying he had sought the Republican power broker’s political support. In an emailed statement, … Continue reading →

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Astros fire Taubman

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s something. The Astros fired assistant general manager Brandon Taubman on Thursday afternoon and issued an apology to a Sports Illustrated reporter whom they falsely accused of fabricating a story about his clubhouse tirade. The Astros “proactively assisted” Major League … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Still more Bonnen business

Posted on October 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know how much longer we’re going to be obsessing over the Bonnen implosion, but we’re not done yet. Today’s topic is What It All Means for 2020. “The quarterback and coach have been taken off the field,” said … Continue reading →

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Buzbee and Hotze

Posted on October 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Buddies. One of the leaders of a controversial, anti-LGBTQ group on Tuesday said Tony Buzbee met numerous times with Steven Hotze before the Republican power broker endorsed his mayoral campaign, contradicting comments Buzbee made at a televised debate the night … Continue reading →

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Day Three 2019 EV totals: It’s still early

Posted on October 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry I skipped yesterday’s EV totals. I’m going to try to do this every day but that’s easier said than done. Let’s pick it up from here. Year Early Mail Total Mailed ====================================== 2019 26,206 6,050 32,256 22,142 2015 27,596 … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of October 21

Posted on October 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance mourns the passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings as it brings you this week’s roundup. Off the Kuff rounded up reactions to the infamous Bonnen Tape. SocraticGadfly talks about Beto, aka Bob on a Knob, O’Rourke batting … Continue reading →

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Bye bye, Bonnen

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. First-term Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen on Tuesday announced he will not seek reelection to the lower chamber in 2020 — completing a stunning fall for the Angleton Republican who enjoyed near unanimous support in the House just months … Continue reading →

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Jackson to challenge Ellis in Precinct 1

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. Former Harris County criminal court judge Maria T. Jackson will challenge incumbent Rodney Ellis for Harris County Precinct 1 commissioner, her campaign announced Monday. Jackson, the county’s longest serving felony judge until her resignation last month, plans … Continue reading →

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For shame, Astros

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I hate to harsh anyone’s World Series buzz, but this was and still is appalling. Astros assistant general manager Brandon Taubman apologized to “anyone that was offended by my actions” after directing an expletive-filled tirade toward a group of female … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

Endorsement watch: Constitutional amendments

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, there are ten constitutional amendments up for a vote on the November ballot. They will be on everyone’s ballot, and depending where you are may be the only things on your ballot. The Chron makes their recommendations … Continue reading →

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30 day campaign finance reports: Open City Council seats, part 2

Posted on October 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Finishing up with City Council candidates. Part One, for the other open seats, is here. July reports for F, J, and At Large #5 are here, and for At Large #4 are here. All of the finance reports that I … Continue reading →

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