Tag Archives: Mayor

Council ratifies Turner’s pension plan

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: On a 16-1 vote, Houston City Council has endorsed Mayor Sylvester Turner’s historic package of pension reforms. The vote clears the way for the City to move forward in partnership with the pension systems to seek legislative … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Where are the chiefs?

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

People are beginning to wonder. Six months after Houston’s top cop retired and 10 months after Houston’s fire chief resigned to take another job, both departments remain without permanent chiefs, prompting concerns that public safety could suffer during the transition … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Turner reiterates the need to rethink transportation

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

New audience, same theme. Houston’s transportation future – and perhaps its economic vitality – relies on more options than new freeway lanes to make room for more cars, Mayor Sylvester Turner said Tuesday. “The solution is to increasingly take advantage … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

So far, so good for Mayor Turner

Posted on May 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the general consensus of his first four-plus months in office. Faced with a $160 million budget shortfall that would leave some wringing their hands until deadline day, Mayor Sylvester Turner presented his plan a month ahead of schedule. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Mayor Turner delivers State of the City 2016

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the press release. Flooding, pensions, City finances and public safety were front and center as Mayor Sylvester Turner delivered his first State of the City before the Greater Houston Partnership. In a major move designed to produce tangible results … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Why North Carolina and not Houston?

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

John Nova Lomax asks why Houston has not suffered the same backlash as North Carolina after the repeal of HERO last November. In the aftermath of the repeal of Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance in November, the bill’s proponents predicted dire economic consequences. … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Fundraising for the next city election cycle has begun

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Whether you realized it or not. Last year’s court ruling undoing Houston’s fundraising ban during non-election seasons means that the city’s contribution cycles reset immediately after last year’s general and runoff elections, according to the city, instead of in early … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mayor Turner releases transition team report

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox, a glimpse of what to expect in the near to medium future from Mayor Turner. Mayor Sylvester Turner has released a 17-page report that details the work of his transition team chaired by businessman and long-time civic … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mayor Turner releases transition team report

What’s next for Adrian Garcia?

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We haven’t seen the last of him, I suspect. In less than a year, former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia has gone from being the top Democratic elected official in Harris County to an also-ran in back-to-back elections. Garcia’s resounding … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Overview of two Bexar County legislative primaries

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The turnover of Bexar County’s Democratic legislative caucus continues apace. With the departures in 2015 of Mike Villarreal and Jose Menendez (succeeded by Diego Bernal and Ina Minjarez, respectively) and the departures this year by Joe Farias, Trey Martinez-Fischer, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Overview of two Bexar County legislative primaries

Resign to run has kicked in for Council members

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Another change that our new term limits law has wrought. Houston elected officials who become a candidate for another elected office are now automatically required to resign their current seat, uncharted territory for city officeholders who previously had not been … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Resign to run has kicked in for Council members

When will there be a special election to fill Mayor Turner’s legislative term?

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Leader News brings up a point that I haven’t seen mentioned elsewhere, namely that HD139 is now vacant since the inauguration of Mayor Sylvester Turner. They have their top-of-page-one story devoted to this, but of course you can’t find … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Mayor Turner sworn in

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The new era begins. Lauding Houston as a city where, “when you dream big, big things can happen,” Mayor Sylvester Turner delivered his inaugural address Monday morning at a packed Jones Hall downtown. Turner also announced his first policy plan, … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

City-county relations should continue to be good

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Glad to hear it. Prospects for increased city-county cooperation are looking up, Houston Mayor-elect Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett say, forecasting further thawing of the historically contentious relationship between the jurisdictions. Turner spoke with Emmett and Harris … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Mayor Annise Parker

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We are in the last few days of the administration of Mayor Annise Parker. Having served three terms each as Council member and Controller, she is finishing up eighteen years as an elected official in the city of Houston. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

The incumbents’ advantage

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Is it about to become that much harder to vote incumbent city officials out of office? The already difficult task of ousting incumbent Houston officeholders likely has become even tougher. City elected officials now have an extended runway to accumulate … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Precinct analysis: At Large #4 runoff

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here we have the least competitive runoff of the six that were citywide. Dist Edwards Morales ======================= A 6,322 6,153 B 14,660 1,761 C 17,813 10,238 D 18,341 2,882 E 7,688 13,231 F 4,046 3,080 G 11,996 15,203 H 5,610 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Looking back and looking ahead for Mayor-elect Turner

Posted on December 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a Q&A with our new Mayor that looks back on the campaign that just wrapped up. Q: Economically, electorally, this is a divided city. You campaigned on a platform of bringing people together. How do you overcome that split … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Looking back and looking ahead for Mayor-elect Turner

Shades of 1997

Posted on December 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron looks to the past to analyze Sylvester Turner’s runoff victory. As the Chronicle reported, voting in the Houston mayor’s runoff fell overwhelmingly along racial lines, with Sylvester Turner edging out a slight victory in part by securing 93 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Turner’s Council

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

So what kind of City Council will Mayor-elect Sylvester Turner have to work with? In addition to Turner replacing term-limited Mayor Annise Parker, the council also will gain five new faces, four thanks to term limits and one who defeated … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Precinct analysis: At Large #1 runoff

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s move on to the At Large races. Here’s how the vote went in At Large #1: Dist Knox Provost ===================== A 8,758 4,042 B 2,518 13,058 C 14,925 12,240 D 3,692 16,877 E 16,406 4,735 F 4,040 2,871 G … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Is Bill King a sign of a trend?

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Probably not. Doesn’t mean that other candidates like him can’t do well, however. Bill King’s near-upset over Sylvester Turner in the Houston mayoral runoff stoked the hopes of some Republicans that the party soon could break Democrats’ 34-year hold on … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Garcia to challenge Green in CD29

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This will be interesting to watch. Former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia is challenging 23-year Democratic Congressman Gene Green in the 29th district, he told the Chronicle Monday, a risky intra-party challenge of a popular incumbent. The move comes less … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Chron analysis of how Turner won

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose it’s a bit simplistic to say “he got more votes than the other guy”, but one way or the other that’s what happened. Sylvester Turner’s 24-year quest for the mayor’s office was realized by a narrow margin Saturday … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Other runoff results

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here are the rest of the winners from yesterday: Controller: Chris Brown At Large #1: Mike Knox At Large #2: CM David Robinson At Large #4: Amanda Edwards At Large #5: CM Jack Christie District F: Steve Le District H: … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Turner defeats King

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It was close, but he led throughout. State Rep. Sylvester Turner won the Houston mayor’s race with a down-to-the-wire finish to edge businessman Bill King Saturday. While Turner won the most ballots in early voting, King narrowed the gap quickly … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Today is Runoff Day

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Runoff Election Day is Saturday, Dec. 12 for citizens registered to vote within the legal boundaries of the City of Houston and Houston ISD Trustee District II and III. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Today is Runoff Day

Overview of the open Council seat runoffs

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Kind of late in the cycle given the number of lesser known candidates in these races, and not nearly complete, but here it is anyway. In addition to the first open mayor’s race in six years, Houstonians can expect to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Overview of the open Council seat runoffs

The ground game

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Where we are with one day to go. The neck-and-neck Houston mayor’s race has become an all-out ground war in the final days before Saturday’s runoff election as Sylvester Turner and Bill King turn to local Democratic and Republican party … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

KHOU/KUHF poll: Tuner 38, King 38

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We have a tie, according to the latest poll. Sylvester Turner and Bill King are now locked in a dead heat in the race for Houston mayor, according to the newly released KHOU-News 88.7 Poll of likely voters. The survey … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

An app to help the homeless

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This is a great idea. A shower. A meal. A place to sleep. Those basic needs come to mind when most think of the homeless. Our Calling, a Dallas nonprofit, has given the homeless an iPhone app. The faith-based nonprofit … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on An app to help the homeless

2015 eight day runoff finance reports

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here are the reports, for all but one of the runoff candidates: Mayor Sylvester Turner Bill King Controller Chris Brown Bill Frazer At Large #1 Georgia Provost Mike Knox At Large #2 David Robinson Willie David At Large #4 Amanda … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Dueling runoff polls: King 48, Turner 43 (HRBC) – Turner 47, King 40 (internal)

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox yesterday morning: The Houston Realty Business Coalition (HRBC) released a poll of 300 active voters today measuring support of Mayoral candidates in the December runoff election. “Bill King has built a broad base of support throughout the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Precinct analysis: “Extreme” voters

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron’s Mike Morris looks at undervotes in a way that I hadn’t thought of before. On Monday we looked at the phenomenon of the November undervote, when Houstonians made the (relatively rare) commitment to vote, but skipped one or … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Precinct analysis: “Extreme” voters