Tag Archives: term limits

Term limits measure approved by the Senate

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Coming to your ballot this fall, barring anything strange. State­wide elected officials would be limited to two consecutive terms under a proposed constitutional amendment approved 27-4 by the Texas Senate on Tuesday. Gov. Rick Perry, Texas’ longest serving governor, and … Continue reading →

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Pushing back on Perry

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t really believe that Rick Perry is running for President again, and if he is I don’t expect he’ll be taken very seriously. I’m not even sure if he’s running for Governor again. But if he does run for … Continue reading →

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A first look at the 2013 elections

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It is 2013, right? So while we have the SD06 special election and the new legislative session to worry about, it’s not too early to start talking about the 2013 elections. Let’s start with a peek at the campaign finance … Continue reading →

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The Lege does not need term limits

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a silly idea, and no time should be wasted on it. State Rep. Lyle Larson has filed a proposal to let Texans vote on whether to limit to 12 years the time state officials may serve in one position. … Continue reading →

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A third act for Jolanda?

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. Jolanda Jones, who lost her at-large position 5 seat in last December’s runoff election, may run in next year’s elections to win a third term on Council — but this time it would be representing District D. The seat … Continue reading →

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The 2013 campaign season has officially begun

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Sort of, anyway. Some of us received this email in our inboxes recently, touting the virtues of former Bill White chief of staff Terence Fontaine as a candidate for District D; incumbent Wanda Adams is term-limited out next year. I … Continue reading →

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No term limits referendum this fall

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Much as I dislike our silly term limits ordinance, I think this is the correct term of action. A City Council committee on Monday killed a proposal to ask voters whether to give the mayor, controller and council members up … Continue reading →

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Council defers on strip club fee

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Tagged for a week. Consideration of a $5-per-head fee on customers of strip clubs to pay for reducing the city’s backlog of untested rape kits has been delayed for a week. Council members Melissa Noriega and Al Hoang both tagged … Continue reading →

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Budget amendment time

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Now that Mayor Parker has formally submitted her proposed budget for fiscal year 2013, it’s time for Council members to submit their amendments for consideration. I’m going to start at the bottom of the story with the two proposals that … Continue reading →

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San Antonio’s extended term limits

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This year for the first time, most candidates on the ballot for San Antonio city offices are not subject to the old term limits law. San Antonio [once] had some of the nation’s strictest term limits for City Council — … Continue reading →

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Term limits referendum not adopted by Council

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is a bit of a surprise. The Houston City Council today surprised Mayor Annise Parker and rejected a proposal to change the terms to which city officials are elected from three, two-year terms to two, four-year terms. The seven … Continue reading →

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Is it worth it to just tinker at the edges?

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I mostly feel the same way as the Chron about term limits and the proposal from the Term Limits Commission to alter them. [T]he logic in limiting city officials to three two-year terms, with the necessity for virtually nonstop campaigning … Continue reading →

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Term limits commission makes its recommendation

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Term Limits Commission finished its work on Monday and voted on a proposal that will be considered by Council. Houston’s Term Limits Review Commission voted Monday night to recommend changing the existing limits from three 2-year terms to two … Continue reading →

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More on city term limits

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story about the 2010 term limits survey and recommendations by the Term Limits Commission. Of interest is what the immediate prospects are for action by City Council. [Dr. Robert] Stein, a commission member who has polled voters … Continue reading →

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2010 Houston term limits survey

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Last month, I posted several links with information and research relating to term limits, including the results of a 2004 City of Houston survey about them and the proposed wording for an updated survey. That updated survey has been done, … Continue reading →

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You want more information about term limits?

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Of course you do. And I’ve got you covered. Via email from Robert Stein, I give you the following: – A research paper from 2002, co-authored by Dr. Stein, called “Public Support for Term Limits: Another Look at Conventional Thinking”. … Continue reading →

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Why these term limits?

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

David Mincberg has an op-ed about the city’s term limits law that makes some interesting points but doesn’t quite get at the issue of whether the system we actually have now is the best way to meet the goals of … Continue reading →

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Another term limits commission meeting

Posted on February 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The City of Houston Term Limits Review Commission invites you to an open session for public input concerning term limits for Houston’s Mayor, City Controller and City Council    Saturday, February 27, 2010 10:30 a.m. Judson Robinson, Jr. Community … Continue reading →

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Term limits review commission public meeting

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, outgoing Mayor Bill White appointed a commission in December to study the possibility of making changes to Houston’s term limits ordinance. Via Mary Benton, the commission will have an open session for public input on this next … Continue reading →

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Again with KBH and term limits

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You do have to admire her lack of self-consciousness. Contending that Gov. Rick Perry has used the state as his personal playground, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison unveiled a government reform plan Monday that includes term limits for Texas governors and … Continue reading →

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On a side note regarding Commissioners Court

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Just a quick point to note regarding Commissioners Court and its various perks. In a few months, we’re going to hear from Mayor White’s term limits commission regarding suggested alterations to Houston’s term limits law. When we do, we’ll be … Continue reading →

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From the “It’s good to be the czar” files

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Every few years we get an article like this one about how the sweetest gig in the state is being a Harris County Commissioner. Commissioners may have the safest jobs in Harris County politics. No incumbent has lost an election … Continue reading →

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Panel to review term limits appointed

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Back in October, Houston City Council agreed to create a commission to study Houston’s term limits law with an eye to possibly placing a resolution on the ballot next year with some changes. Yesterday, that commission was named. Mayor Bill … Continue reading →

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Term limits review on the horizon

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Without much fanfare, the Houston City Council agreed to the creation of a committee to study the often talked about issue of term limits. Currently, the Mayor, Controller, and City Council are elected for two years terms a maximum … Continue reading →

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Lawrence forms exploratory committee for Commissioners Court

Posted on September 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Houston City Council Member Toni Lawrence, the one term-limited member of city government who hadn’t announced a run for somethinge else yet, has now announced that she is forming an exploratory committee for the presumed-to-be-open Commissioners Court seat in Precinct … Continue reading →

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From the “Term limits for thee, but not for me” department

Posted on August 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Write down the date and time, kids, because this doesn’t happen very often: I agree with Rick Perry about term limits. In seeking to retire the state’s longest-serving governor, Hutchison wants to limit Texas governors to eight years in office, … Continue reading →

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Mayor White wants to consider term limits review

Posted on August 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor White wants to reconsider term limits. In a City Council meeting Wednesday, White said he is not advocating an end to the policy, but rather a commission that would study the possibility of changing or eliminating the rule. Voters … Continue reading →

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Altering Houston term limits

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to stir things up a bit. The Texas House today is expected to pass a bill that could lead to the extension of Houston’s term limits. The bill, authored by state reps. Garnet Coleman and Carol Alvarado, would … Continue reading →

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