Tag Archives: Election 2019

On special election runoff turnout and HD125

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I figured a story like this was inevitable after Round One of the HD125 special election, in which Republican Fred Rangel got 38% of the vote and four Democrats combined to take the rest, with three of them being close … Continue reading →

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There is no longer a ban on federal funds for rail on Richmond

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This is about as bittersweet as it gets. There are no plans to build light rail on Richmond, but for the first time in a long time there is nothing stopping Metro from asking for federal funds to help pay … Continue reading →

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Once again with Booker T

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

On the one hand, I admire what he’s trying to do. On the other hand, I completely disagree with how he’s going about it. Pro wrestler Booker T. Huffman is in a real fight to actualize his run for mayor … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

On to the runoff in HD125

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We could still have a recount, given how close the race for second place was. A Republican and a Democrat are moving on to a runoff in the race to replace ex-state Rep. Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, in a traditionally … Continue reading →

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HD145 runoff set for March 5

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We have a date. The special election runoff for House District 145 will take place March 5, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday. The contest will determine the successor to former state Rep. Carol Alvarado, who won a state Senate special … Continue reading →

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January 2019 finance reports: HISD

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Odd-numbered years mean three types of elections in Houston – city, HISD, and HCC. We’ve looked at the finance reports for city candidates, now let’s have a look at the reports for HISD trustees, which I’ve separated into those up … Continue reading →

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From the “Elections have consequences”, Metro referendum edition

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Sometimes, consequences are good things. METRO will get more federal support for public transportation projects if Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher has anything to say about it. The freshman lawmaker wants to use her new seat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure … Continue reading →

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Early voting ends in HD125

Posted on February 10, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I have to admit, I’d totally forgotten about this special election. The special election for Texas House District 125 has been on a characteristically slow roll as early voting closed Friday in the contest to fill former State Rep. Justin … Continue reading →

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Morales and Noriega in runoff for HD145

Posted on January 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

No surprises here. Democrats Christina Morales and Melissa Noriega appeared headed for a runoff in the special election Tuesday to fill state Sen. Carol Alvarado’s seat in the Texas House. Early voting and absentee ballot totals showed Morales, a city … Continue reading →

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Today is Election Day in HD145

Posted on January 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Today is Election Day for approximately 71,000 registered voters in Texas State Representative District 145. All polling locations for the Special Election to Fill a Vacancy will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. District 145 … Continue reading →

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The Fort Worth Mayor’s race

Posted on January 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Worth keeping an eye on. Mayor Betsy Price has competition. Democrat Deborah Peoples announced Tuesday night she is running for mayor in Fort Worth. As Peoples addressed a crowd of several hundred people at 6 p.m., the back room of … Continue reading →

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Early voting ends in HD145

Posted on January 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Turnout ticked up considerably on Friday, which is an alternate headline for the one given to the Chron story. Early voting to fill state Sen. Carol Alvarado’s former seat in the Texas House ended Friday with just 1,528 ballots recorded, … Continue reading →

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We’re already on the next generation of scooters

Posted on January 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

And of course, they’re coming to Austin. Already home to thousands of electric scooters, many of them crowding downtown sidewalks, the Central Texas city will be the first to experience a new generation of shareable electric scooters from an Oxnard, … Continue reading →

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January 2019 finance reports: City of Houston

Posted on January 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s January, and you know what happens in January: Campaign finance reports get posted. This is a city of Houston election year, so first order of business is to look at the city of Houston finance reports. I’ve put all … Continue reading →

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More details on the Metro referendum

Posted on January 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Still a work in progress. A planned 110 miles of two-way HOV along major freeways with eight new park and ride stations is expected to cost $1.37 billion, with another $383 million in improvements to operate 25 percent more bus … Continue reading →

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Slow going so far in HD145 special election

Posted on January 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Still a week of early voting to go, but so far just a handful of ballots have been cast. Voters in Texas’ 145th House District are trickling to the polls for the first week of early voting in a sluggish … Continue reading →

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Trying to make “pay for play” an issue

Posted on January 17, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck. With more than nine months to go until Houston’s municipal elections, Mayor Sylvester Turner’s first two opponents turned their attention this week to limiting political donors’ influence at City Hall. Both challengers, millionaire lawyer and Texas A&M University … Continue reading →

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Five file for HD125

Posted on January 16, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Our fourth and hopefully final special legislative election for this cycle is now queued up. Five candidates have signed up for the Feb. 12 special election to fill the seat of former state Rep. Justin Rodriguez, according to the Secretary … Continue reading →

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The 2019 elections

Posted on January 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We haven’t forgotten that there are some big elections on tap for us this year, have we? Let’s go a quick rundown. May elections Election campaigns are already in progress in the cities that have May elections, which includes big … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Noriega for HD145

Posted on January 15, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes their choice for the special election in HD145. While the legislative session started in Austin last week, early voting begins today to select a representative for House District 145. That’s not the usual order of things. This … Continue reading →

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Early voting begins Monday for HD145 special election

Posted on January 12, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: First week Early Voting hours for the January 29, 2019 Special Election To Fill A Vacancy For State Representative District 145 will now be extended from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Extended voting hours will now give … Continue reading →

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HD125 special election set

Posted on January 8, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It will overlap the ones going on now. Gov. Greg Abbott has picked Feb. 12 as the date for a special election to replace former state Rep. Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, who stepped down last week to become a Bexar … Continue reading →

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Rep. Justin Rodriguez resigns to take County Commissioner job

Posted on January 5, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We will need that special election. State Rep. Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, is leaving the Legislature to become a Bexar County commissioner. The county’s judge, Nelson Wolff, appointed Rodriguez on Friday to replace Paul Elizondo, the longtime commissioner who died … Continue reading →

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Eight file for HD145

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a big field. Eight candidates filed by Thursday’s 5 p.m. deadline for the Jan. 29 special election to fill the Texas House seat vacated by Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston. Early voting begins Jan. 14, a little more than a … Continue reading →

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We may soon need another legislative special election

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

In Bexar County. State Rep. Justin Rodriguez is expected to fill the vacant Commissioners Court seat of political icon Paul Elizondo, a major local power broker and a veteran of the commission for more than 30 years who died last … Continue reading →

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Orlando Sanchez’s bizarre press conference

Posted on December 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

What a weird thing. It was an absolutely wild afternoon for Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez. He planned to have a news conference across the street from the HISD administration building, but things didn’t go as planned. Protestors showed up … Continue reading →

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HD145 and HD79 special elections set

Posted on December 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Another sprint. Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday set a Jan. 29 special election to fill state Sen. Carol Alvarado’s seat in the Texas House, hours after she was sworn in to the upper chamber. Alvarado, D-Houston, won a special election … Continue reading →

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Metro moving forward on 2019 referendum

Posted on December 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’m ready for it. The Metropolitan Transit Authority is expected to ask voters next fall for more than $3 billion in borrowing authority to implement its next wave of transit projects. The 20-year plan laid out by Metro officials includes … Continue reading →

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Rep. Joe Pickett to resign

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We will now need two special House elections to get to full membership. State Rep. Joe Pickett of El Paso will leave his post effective Jan. 4. Pickett, a Democrat, made the announcement Saturday morning that he will step down … Continue reading →

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Oh Lord, it’s Bill King again

Posted on December 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh Bill King, a Houston businessman who narrowly lost his bid for mayor in 2015, filed paperwork with the city secretary Wednesday marking his likely intent to challenge Mayor Sylvester Turner again in 2019. King lost to Turner, then a … Continue reading →

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HISD rejects partnership idea

Posted on December 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The die is cast. Houston ISD trustees narrowly voted Thursday to not seek proposals from outside organizations to run long-struggling schools, a decision that keeps those campuses under local control but sets the stage for a possible state takeover of … Continue reading →

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From the “Needlessly overstated answers to simple questions” department

Posted on December 9, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this: Tony Buzbee, a Houston lawyer who recently announced his plan to run for mayor next year, has offered to “mediate” a long-running pay dispute between the city and firefighters, one week after … Continue reading →

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The legal option for Prop B

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. Mayor Sylvester Turner will ask Houston city council Wednesday to hire a law firm to advise the city on possible litigation related to the firefighter pay parity measure, setting in motion a potential court challenge to the … Continue reading →

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More Metro regional transit plan meetings planned

Posted on November 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

There’s more to talk about now. After gathering input over the past year on how to expand public transportation in the region, METRO says it will soon hold another series of meetings to see what people think of their draft Regional Transit Plan. … Continue reading →

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