Tag Archives: Election 2015

HAR poll

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

And some more good news here. With less than four weeks to go before the election, the Houston mayoral race remains “fluid,” according to a new poll commissioned by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR). The poll finds Adrian Garcia … Continue reading →

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30 day finance reports: Pro- and anti-HERO

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news here. Supporters of Houston’s contentious equal rights ordinance raked in $1.26 million during seven weeks of official fundraising, more than doubling opponents’ efforts and fueling a fierce and frenzied media campaign to court voters before the law … Continue reading →

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Chron Mayoral profile: Sylvester Turner

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This is the seventh (and last!) in a series of profiles on the top candidates running for mayor in Houston. Sylvester Turner followed his mother’s wisdom like a beacon, through the University of Houston, where he graduated magna cum laude … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: HCC incumbents

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses the two HCC incumbents, in the two contested elections. District III: Adriana Tamez Voters should vote to give Adriana Tamez another term to continue fostering change at the Houston Community College system. Tamez, a Denver Harbor native, … Continue reading →

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Interview with Lou Weaver

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This week’s interviews are going to be about the referendum for the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, which the Supreme Court ordered to be on the ballot. It is City of Houston Proposition 1, with a Yes vote being in favor … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For Ellen

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses CM Ellen Cohen for a third term. District council members don’t usually make national headlines, but last summer Councilwoman Ellen Cohen got her 15 minutes of fame while questioning Pastor Betty Riggle’s opposition to Houston’s equal rights … Continue reading →

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Interview with Monica Roberts

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This week’s interviews are going to be about the referendum for the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, which the Supreme Court ordered to be on the ballot. It is City of Houston Proposition 1, with a Yes vote being in favor … Continue reading →

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Mail ballot update

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Carl Whitmarsh forwarded me a breakdown of all mail ballot applications that have been received by the County Clerk’s office as of Friday, October 2. I saved the file here, but for ease of discussion here’s a screenshot: That’s a … Continue reading →

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More jail troubles

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s ugly, both in content and in timing for Adrian Garcia. Over the past nine months, the Houston Chronicle has reviewed more than 1,000 disciplinary reports provided by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Nearly half of those internal affairs investigations … Continue reading →

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Interview with Richard Carlbom

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This week’s interviews are going to be about the referendum for the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, which the Supreme Court ordered to be on the ballot. It is City of Houston Proposition 1, with a Yes vote being in favor … Continue reading →

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The Woodlands versus its neighbors

Posted on October 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. The Woodlands prides itself on being the best-planned community around, with tree-studded neighborhoods, miles of trails, sprawling parks and a town center with a distinctly urban feel. Across Montgomery County, however, some … Continue reading →

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Highlighting wages in the Mayor’s race

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Coalition Calls on Next Mayor to Raise Minimum Wage for Publicly Funded Projects Today, a coalition of community and labor organizations staged a tour of of sites that received tax dollars to tell the story of how … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The way in J

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses CM Mike Laster for re-election in District J. This district has a deep need for important constituent services, and Laster has dedicated his office to providing them. From working with the Urban Land Institute on redesigning Richmond … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: A bad call

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sorry, I don’t get this at all. The race for the At-Large 4 City Council seat offers two of the most capable candidates running this fall. Amanda Edwards, a municipal finance attorney with Bracewell & Guiliani, and Laurie Robinson, … Continue reading →

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Interview with Dwight Jefferson

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We come to the end of our week of interviews with candidates to succeed term limited City Controller Ronald Green. Dwight Jefferson was appointed to the 215th Civil District Court bench in 1995, and when he won a full term … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Youth wins out

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Philippe Nassif in At Large #5. You have to say this about City Councilmember Jack Christie: He’s a conscientious public servant. Holding the At-Large 5 seat, the two-term incumbent is, in his words, “a workhorse, not a … Continue reading →

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Interview with Bill Frazer

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Next up on our list of candidates to succeed term limited City Controller Ronald Green is Bill Frazer, who is attempting to build on his respectable showing against Green in 2013. Here’s the 2013 interview I did with Frazer, and … Continue reading →

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Chron Mayoral profile: Marty McVey

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This is the sixth in a series of profiles on the top candidates running for mayor in Houston. Standing in his sparse west Houston office this summer, Marty McVey traced his route to victory across a city map hung on … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For Jerry

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes another easy call by endorsing CM Jerry Davis for a third term in District B. In this race Davis is the only candidate who understands how the system functions and how a council member can pull the … Continue reading →

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Interview with Chris Brown

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing with my interviews with candidates for Houston City Controller to succeed the term-limited Ronald Green, today’s subject is Chris Brown. The son of former City Council member and Mayoral candidate Peter Brown, Chris Brown currently serves as the Chief … Continue reading →

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Bad choice, Lance

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Very disappointing. Lance Berkman, former Houston Astros star and Texas native, has waded into the fight for LGBT protections, sharing his views in a new ad campaign this week. At the center of Berkman’s concern is Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance … Continue reading →

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Uber update, parts 2 and 3

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Driving for Uber is a tough way to make a living. One hundred job applications and still nothing. Jennifer Cantrell, 34, partway through a master’s degree in social work, had depleted her savings and needed a new plan. Through Facebook, … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Stardig

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’m too lazy to think of a clever title for this one. Brenda Stardig is on the verge of completing her nonconsecutive second term as district councilwoman, and she has earned a third. Stardig, 53, came into office with a … Continue reading →

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Interview with Carroll Robinson

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We are coming into the home stretch for interview season. This week will be interviews with candidates for Houston City Controller, currently held by term-limited incumbent Ronald Green. First up is Carroll Robinson, who served three terms as At Large … Continue reading →

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Uber update, part 1

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron, in conjunction with Al Jazeera Americas, gives the first of what should be a four-part look at how Uber is doing in Houson. Less than a year after Houston began regulating so-called transportation network companies, questions persist about … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Our first twofer

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

My first clear misses, too. For our next controller, voters should look for a candidate who can refocus the distracted office on the straight and narrow of Houston’s financial picture. In our current straits, we don’t have the luxury of … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Let’s continue a success story

Posted on September 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses CM Richard Nguyen, first term Council Member whose win was a surprise in 2013 and whose service on Council has been easily deserving of a second term. A political neophyte when he stepped into office two years … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: A close choice

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Greg Travis in a close call in District G. Attorney Greg Travis, 52, is going head-to-head against media consultant and current Houston Community College Trustee Sandie Mullins Moger, 50. Each candidate brought an excellent resume and knowledge … Continue reading →

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Get ready for the TV ads to begin

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Keep that DVR remote handy, because you’re going to have to start fast-forwarding through Mayoral campaign ads on TV soon. After nearly topping the July fundraising that put this year’s mayor’s race on track to be the most expensive in … Continue reading →

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No way to run a road bond election

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Am I a bad person for being unreasonably amused by this? A special prosecutor has been assigned to determine whether behind-the-scenes negotiations could void a last-minute deal struck by Montgomery County commissioners to get a scaled-back $270 million road bond … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: In my neighborhood

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Karla Cisneros in District H, proving that while one can guess who they’ll endorse, one has no hope of guessing in what order they’ll print their endorsements. Karla Cisneros is the woman for the job. Cisneros, who … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: HERO ain’t everything

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I predicted that the Chron would endorse CM Kubosh, so I can’t say that I’m surprised that they endorsed him. That said, their logic is always a sight to behold. At a City Hall filled with lawyers, urban planners and … Continue reading →

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Interview with Dr. Adriana Tamez

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As I said last time, HCC Trustee races are a lot more important than you’d think from the amount of attention they get. Aside from the Dave Wilson problem, it’s an office with a six-year term, no resign-to-run requirement, and … Continue reading →

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GOP versus Hall

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Pass the popcorn. The Harris County Republican Party released a flyer Monday attacking Houston mayoral candidate Ben Hall for his Democratic ties and previous support for a nondiscrimination ordinance. Among top-tier mayoral candidates, Hall, a Democrat, is the most ardent … Continue reading →

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