Tag Archives: Bill White

Bathroom bills and business interests

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Monthly’s Dave Mann reviews the Republican schism over the bathroom bill and comes to the same conclusion as I have. At the moment, the Legislature—and the Republican party, for that matter—has settled into an uneasy stalemate between Patrick’s right-leaning … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged abortion, Attorney General, Beto O'Rourke, Bill White, Dan Patrick, Election 2010, Election 2014, Election 2018, gay rights, Governor, Greg Abbott, immigration, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ken Paxton, Lite Gov, Mike Collier, primaries, Republican Party, Rick Perry, Senate, Ted Cruz, Texas, Texas Association of Business, The Lege, transgender rights, Wendy Davis | 1 Comment

Smoke-free Houston, ten years later

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: It’s been 50 years since the release of the Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health and the harmful consequences from the use of tobacco. 2016 marks the 10th year of the adoption of Ordinance No. 2006-1054 … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged Bill White, Carol Alvarado, e-cigarettes, Go Healthy Houston, Houston, Houston City Council, Smoke-Free Texas, smoking, The Lege | 8 Comments

Mayor Turner announces pension fund deal

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Negotiators for the City, the Houston Police Officers’ Pension System, the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund and the Houston Municipal Employees Pension System have developed Preliminary Points of Understanding on a structural approach to long term, … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged Bill White, bond referendum, bonds, budget, HFRRF, HMEPS, Houston, HPOPS, pension fund, pension obligation bonds, Sylvester Turner, The Lege | 5 Comments

Houston’s anti-pollution ordinance killed by Supreme Court

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. In passing two ordinances designed to regulate air pollution, the city of Houston overstepped its authority and illegally subverted state law, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday. The ruling is a victory for a coalition of industrial facilities whose … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Air Alliance Houston, air quality, BCCA Appeal Group, Bill White, Denton, fracking, Greg Abbott, Houston, lawsuit, local control, pollution, Supreme Court, TCEQ, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Our partisan Mayoral runoff

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’m shocked, shocked to find that there are partisan interests in the Mayoral runoff. Even though Houston elections officially are nonpartisan, the contest between Bill King and Sylvester Turner has evolved into a test of party might as voters prepare … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged Bill King, Bill White, Election 2001, Election 2003, Election 2009, Election 2013, Election 2015, Houston, Lee Brown, Mayor, Orlando Sanchez, runoff, Sylvester Turner, turnout | Comments Off

Precinct analysis: Mayor’s race

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I now have draft canvasses. You know what that means. All data is for Harris County only. First up, the Mayor’s race: Dist Hall Turner Garcia King Costello Bell =================================================== A 1,906 4,587 3,509 6,265 1,522 1,129 B 2,494 15,947 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged Adrian Garcia, Ben Hall, Bill King, Bill White, Chris Bell, Election 2003, Election 2009, Election 2011, Election 2015, Harris County, Hoc Thai Nguyen, Houston, Jack Christie, Jolanda Jones, Latino voting, Marty McVey, Mayor, Orlando Sanchez, precinct analysis, Roy Morales, runoff, Stephen Costello, Sylvester Turner, turnout | 7 Comments

Endorsement watch: Going for Turner

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle endorses Sylvester Turner for Mayor. Because there is no perfect candidate on the ballot, voters should look for someone who has the talents best suited to fixing the problems that currently threaten Houston’s long-term success: Sylvester Turner. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged Adrian Garcia, Annise Parker, Bill King, Bill White, Bob Lanier, Election 1991, Election 2003, Election 2015, endorsements, Houston, Mayor, pension fund, Stephen Costello, Sylvester Turner, The Lege | Comments Off

A broader overview of the Mayor’s race

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The TL;dr version of this is basically “meh, not much happening”. With a bevy of candidates and midyear fundraising that collectively topped $7 million, Houston’s 2015 mayoral race has been poised to be a blockbuster. Yet, just five weeks before … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged Adrian Garcia, Ben Hall, Bill King, Bill White, Chris Bell, constitutional amendments, Election 2005, Election 2007, Election 2009, Election 2015, gay rights, Houston, Marty McVey, Mayor, repeal, runoff, Stephen Costello, Sylvester Turner, transgender rights, turnout | Comments Off

On cellphones and school zones

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I guess I need to talk about this. Six years ago, state lawmakers hoping to protect students banned drivers from texting and talking on hand-held cellphones in school zones. The ban, however, has never been enforced in Houston. City and … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged Annise Parker, Bill White, budget, cellphones, Clarence Bradford, Dan Branch, HISD, Houston, HPD, Rhonda Skillern-Jones, school zones, schools, text messages, The Lege, TxDOT | 15 Comments

Houston pleads its case to the Supreme Court

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see how they did. “The point of all this is to protect the public and the environment, to have clean air, and the TCEQ, for the Texas Clean Air Act, envisions that it be vigorously enforced,” [Houston attorney Robert] … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged air quality, BCCA Appeal Group, Bill White, Greg Abbott, Houston, lawsuit, pollution, Supreme Court, TCEQ, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Houston’s environmental protection ordinances go to the Supreme Court

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Where, sadly, they’ll likely get killed. State environmental regulators don’t adequately enforce air pollution laws, the city of Houston believes, and on Wednesday it will ask the state’s highest civil court to let it keep trying to do the job … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Adrian Shelley, Air Alliance Houston, air quality, BCCA Appeal Group, Bill White, Greg Abbott, Houston, lawsuit, local control, pollution, Supreme Court, TCEQ, Texas, The Lege | 3 Comments

Katrina, ten years after

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Hurricane Katrina made landfall ten years ago this weekend. The Chron looks at the role Houston played in the aftermath, and the changes that resulted. Before and after Katrina’s Aug. 29 landfall as a strong Category 3 storm, more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged Annise Parker, Astrodome, Bill White, FEMA, Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, racism, Robert Eckels, Texas | Comments Off

Mayoral ad spending

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron takes a look at one of the more visible aspects of all the money that Mayoral candidates have raised or loaned themselves so far. Despite taking in a total of more than $7 million, Houston’s mayoral candidates spent … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged Adrian Garcia, Annise Parker, Bill King, Bill White, campaign finance reports, Election 2003, Election 2009, Election 2010, Election 2012, Election 2015, Houston, Mayor, Peter Brown, Sylvester Turner, turnout | 2 Comments

Turner & Whitmire

Posted on April 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

No, not the latest buddy cop movie, just two old legislative friends helping each other out. Texas’ most senior state senator turned to the crowd during a September fundraiser for state Rep. Sylvester Turner and ribbed his friend and would-be … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged Bill White, Election 2003, Election 2014, Election 2015, Houston, John Whitmire, Mayor, Senate, Sylvester Turner, The Lege | 1 Comment

Precinct analysis: Abbott versus Perry in Latino districts

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

District level election data for 2014 has been available for a few weeks now. Seems like as good a time as any to return to a favorite topic, namely how Greg Abbott did in heavily Latino areas. An exit poll … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged Bill White, Dan Patrick, David Dewhurst, Election 2010, Election 2014, George P. Bush, Glenn Hegar, Governor, Greg Abbott, HD31, HD35, HD36, HD37, HD38, HD39, HD40, HD41, HD42, HD75, HD76, HD79, HD80, Ken Paxton, Latino voting, Lite Gov, polls, Rick Perry, Texas, The Lege | 5 Comments

Alvarado’s term limits bill

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: State Representative Carol Alvarado has filed HB 2917 that, if passed by the Legislature and approved by voters, would change the city’s term limit structure to two four-year terms for the mayor, city controller and councilmembers. “The … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged Andrew Burks, Bill White, Carol Alvarado, Garnet Coleman, Houston, Houston City Council, term limits, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Where are the women?

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I have several things to say about this. The slate running to replace Mayor Annise Parker features a globetrotting sailor, a triathlete grandfather, a millionaire minister and no women. Despite the most-crowded pack of mayoral contenders in decades, no female … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged Amanda Ulman, Annise Parker, At Large #1, At Large #4, Bill White, Bob Lanier, Carol Alvarado, Charyl Drab, District G, District H, Election 1993, Election 1995, Election 1997, Election 1999, Election 2001, Election 2003, Election 2005, Election 2007, Election 2009, Election 2011, Election 2013, Election 2015, Elizabeth Spates, George Greanias, Gladys House, Gracie Saenz, Helen Huey, Houston, Houston City Controller, Kathy Whitmire, Keryl Douglas, Lee Brown, Mayor, Rob Mosbacher, Sandra Meyers, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sylvia Garcia, Veronique Gregory, Victoria Lane, Wanda Adams | 3 Comments

On the seasonal return of term limits modification

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a fuller version of that earlier story about Council moving forward with a modified term limits proposal. You can almost set your watch by it. Mayor Annise Parker is in her third and final term, which means it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged Annise Parker, Bill White, Bob Lanier, Election 2015, Houston, Houston City Council, Lee Brown, term limits | Comments Off

January campaign finance reports – PACs

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Mayoral reports Controller reports Council reports There are a lot of PACs that play in Houston’s elections. It’s hard to keep up with all of them, and I say this as someone who reads far more campaign finance reports than … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged Bill White, campaign finance reports, Citizens to Keep Houston Strong, Dave Wilson, Election 2015, Equal Rights Houston, fundraising, gay rights, Houston, Houstonians for Family Values, transgender rights | Comments Off

Three thoughts on the state of the Mayor’s race

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Inspired by this story, which doesn’t name any potential additions to the ever-large field of Mayoral wannabes for 2015 but which does put some things in context. Most observers consider Rep. Sylvester Turner, with his support base from the African-American … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged Adrian Garcia, Ben Hall, Bill King, Bill White, Chris Bell, David Dewhurst, Ed Gonzalez, Election 2003, Election 2013, Election 2015, Election 2016, Election 2018, Eric Dick, Harris County, Harris County Sheriff, Houston, Jack Christie, Marty McVey, Mayor, Michael Kubosh, Oliver Pennington, Orlando Sanchez, Roy Morales, runoff, Sean Roberts, Stephen Costello, Sylvester Turner | 23 Comments

Abbott and the Latino vote

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib drops a number on us. Along with his 20-point margin of victory, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott accomplished something on Election Day that many naysayers doubted the Republican could: He took 44 percent of the Hispanic vote. For Texas conservatives, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged Attorney General, Bill White, Cameron County, David Dewhurst, El Paso, Election 2010, Election 2014, Governor, Greg Abbott, HD140, HD143, HD144, HD145, HD148, Hidalgo County, Latino voting, Linda Chavez-Thompson, Lite Gov, Maverick County, polls, precinct analysis, Rick Perry, Texas, turnout, Webb County, Wendy Davis | 2 Comments

A look at how Democratic legislative challengers did against the spread

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s been long enough since the election that I feel like I can go back and look at some numbers. Not a whole lot of good out there, but we’ll try to learn what we can. To start off, here … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged Bill White, Chris Osborn, Cole Ballweg, Collin County, Commissioners Court, Dallas County, Denton, Denton County, Election 2010, Election 2014, Election 2015, Election 2016, Emy Lyons, fracking, Harris County, HD105, HD107, HD113, HD136, HD52, HD89, HD92, HD94, John Bucy, Jonathan Stickland, Linda Chavez-Thompson, Lisa Osterholt, Sameena Karmally, Steve Radack, Tarrant County, The Lege, Tina Penney, Tony Dale, Tony Tinderholt, Wendy Davis, Williamson County | 4 Comments

The Battleground effect in legislative races

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

So here’s a crazy idea. Rather than judge Battleground Texas by our own beliefs about how things should have gone, what say we take a look at the actual numbers of a few races and see what they tell us? … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged Battleground Texas, Bexar County, Bill White, Carol Donovan, CD23, Congress, Dallas County, Election 2010, Election 2014, Governor, Harris County, HD105, HD107, HD108, HD113, HD117, HD144, HD23, HD43, JM Lozano, Kim Gonzalez, Leigh Bailey, Leticia Van De Putte, Libby Willis, Linda Chavez-Thompson, Lite Gov, Mary Ann Perez, Milton Whitley, Pete Gallego, Philip Cortez, SD10, Senate, Susan Criss, Susan Motley, Tarrant County, Texas, Wendy Davis | 10 Comments

First impressions of the 2014 results

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

My initial thoughts, for what they are worth. – Let me begin by saying that for all the criticism I had of the UT/Texas Trib’s polling and the skepticism of Internet-sample methodology, they were fairly accurate in the end. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged alcohol, Austin, Battleground Texas, Bexar County, Bill White, CD23, Congress, Craig Watkins, Dallas County, Denton, Devon Anderson, District Attorney, Election 2010, Election 2014, Election 2016, fracking, Governor, Greg Abbott, Harris County, HD117, HD144, HD23, Katy, Kim Ogg, Libby Willis, Lone Star College, Mary Gonzalez, Mayor, Mike Martinez, Pete Gallego, runoff, SD10, Senate, single member districts, Steve Adler, Susan Criss, Susan Reed, Texas, The Lege, Tomball, turnout, Wendy Davis | 10 Comments

2014 Day 11 Early Vote totals

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

But first, a little Republican angst. The Republican Party of Bexar County has issued a series of desperate pleas to conservative voters, saying “the Democrats are beating us on base turnout,” but two of the Texas party’s biggest names converged … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged Bexar County, Bill White, early voting, Election 2010, Election 2014, Governor, Harris County, Leticia Van De Putte, Lite Gov, Steven Hotze, Tarrant County, turnout, Wendy Davis | 2 Comments

First steps in Montgomery County

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

You can’t win a race if you don’t have a candidate. Democrat Michael Hayles says Montgomery County’s poor have to balance some tough choices, and he extends his arms in a rocking motion to make the point. “Do I get … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged Bill White, Brandon Creighton, Election 2010, Election 2014, HD16, Latino voting, Michael Hayles, Montgomery County, Texas, The Lege, turnout, voter registration, Will Metcalf | Comments Off

Saving SD10 and other benchmarks

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Observer looks at the race to succeed Wendy Davis in SD10. It’s a steamy, hot summer morning in the Metroplex, and at the Dixie House, a Southern-style diner in east Ft. Worth where gravy flows like water, Libby Willis … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged Battleground Texas, Bill White, CD23, Congress, Dan Patrick, Election 2002, Election 2010, Election 2014, Election 2016, Fort Bend County, Governor, Greg Abbott, Harris County, HD23, John Sharp, Kinky Friedman, Leticia Van De Putte, Libby Willis, Lite Gov, Ray Madrigal, SD10, Senate, Susan Criss, Texas, The Lege, turnout, Wendy Davis | Comments Off

On polls and turnout

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

So as you know, the latest YouGov poll came out on Friday, and it was ugly for Wendy Davis, showing an 18-point lead for Greg Abbott. PDiddie was despondent, EoW was trying to keep the faith, and Texpatriate was somewhere … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged Battleground Texas, Bill White, Election 2002, Election 2010, Election 2014, Governor, Greg Abbott, John Sharp, polls, Rick Perry, Texas, Tony Sanchez, turnout, Wendy Davis | Comments Off

If you read just one more story about Wendy Davis’ campaign

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I would recommend you read this one, by Andrea Grimes. In four months, Texans are guaranteed to elect a new governor for the first time in 14 years, and Davis’ battle stance is appropo: She’s been under attack from naysayers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged Battleground Texas, Bill White, Election 2002, Election 2008, Election 2010, Election 2012, Election 2014, Governor, Greg Abbott, Texas, Tony Sanchez, turnout, Wendy Davis | 3 Comments

The bricks of Freedmen’s Town

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Surely we can do something about this. Most in the Fourth Ward community know the lore – that freed slaves and descendants first laid the bricks on the streets 100 years ago. Now most agree the roads need repairs, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged Bill White, Ellen Cohen, Fourth Ward, Houston, preservation, Public Works Commission, Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas Historical Commission, TxDOT | 2 Comments

On defining success

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It depends on what your goals are. Suppose you were a Texas Democrat and a realist. You want your candidates to win in November and to break the spirit-killing string of losses that started after the statewide elections in 1994. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged Battleground Texas, Bill Moody, Bill White, Court of Criminal Appeals, Election 1994, Election 1998, Election 2002, Election 2006, Election 2008, Election 2010, Election 2014, Election 2016, Election 2018, Governor, Greg Abbott, Hillary Clinton, John Sharp, Leticia Van De Putte, Lite Gov, President, Sam Houston, Senate, Supreme Court, Susan Strawn, Ted Cruz, Texas, turnout, Wendy Davis | Comments Off

Of course some people will split their votes

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s just a matter of how many of them do so, and if the races in question are close enough for it to matter. Democrats are hoping the Republicans will eventually make some of the mistakes Democrats themselves made back … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged Adrian Garcia, Battleground Texas, Bill White, Bob Bullock, CD23, Congress, Craig Eiland, Dan Patrick, David Dewhurst, Election 1994, Election 1998, Election 2010, Election 2012, Election 2014, George Bush, Governor, Greg Abbott, Harris County, HD23, Leticia Van De Putte, Lite Gov, Mike Anderson, Pete Gallego, SD10, Senate, Texas, The Lege, turnout, Wendy Davis | Comments Off

Why revenue caps suck

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been expecting this. Despite a booming economy that is the envy of much of the nation, the city of Houston could face hundreds of layoffs and cuts in service next year as it runs headlong into a revenue cap … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged Annise Parker, Bill White, budget, economy, Election 2004, Houston, property taxes, revenue cap | 4 Comments

Why isn’t Ken Paxton releasing his tax returns?

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

This DMN story is actually about how Sen. Ken Paxton, currently in a runoff for the GOP nomination for Attorney General after leading the field in March, has done pretty well for himself as a lawyer since his initial election … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged Attorney General, Bill White, Dan Branch, Dan Patrick, Election 2010, Election 2014, ethics, Governor, Ken Paxton, Leticia Van De Putte, Lite Gov, Sam Houston, Senate, Texas, The Lege | 1 Comment

Tag Archives: Bill White

Calendar

Categories

Archives

My linkage

Polling Texas 2020

Polling Texas 2018

Polling Texas 2016

Polling Texas 2014

Polling Texas 2012

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Tags

Blogroll

Utilities