Tag Archives: Election 2012

Grading Texas science classes

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We get a C. Texas public school science courses “pay lip service” to critical content and largely ignore evolution in the middle grades, according to a national education foundation study that gives the state of Texas an overall “C” for … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Interview with Sheriff Adrian Garcia

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia was elected in 2008 with the highest vote total of any candidate on the ballot. He inherited an office that was tainted by the scandals of his long-term predecessor, a jail system that was overcrowded, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Redistricting settlement deal looking unlikely

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Late last week we heard about the possibility of a settlement agreement in the San Antonio redistricting case that would allow for the creation of interim maps in time to keep the April 3 primary date. The court gave this … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

January finance reports: Harris County state races

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to county candidates, my 2012 Democratic primary election page has information about state and federal candidates who will be on the ballot in Harris County. There are numerous contested primaries, and while I’m not tracking information about Republican … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on January finance reports: Harris County state races

Interview with Zack Fertitta

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We move on this week to the two top of the ticket races for Harris County, DA and Sheriff, starting today with Zack Fertitta, who is running for the Democratic nomination for District Attorney. Fertitta spent several years in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Non-filers in Harris County races

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As of today, the following candidates for county offices in Harris County have not filed campaign finance reports with the County Clerk: Candidates for Sheriff Charles Massey El (D) Guy Clark (R, formerly D) Daniel Lemkuil (R) Candidates for HCDE … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Update on the redistricting settlement possibility

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Late Friday we heard about the possibility of a settlement agreement in the redistricting lawsuit in San Antonio, with the idea of coming up with an interim map in time to keep the primaries on April 6. Here’s an update … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Could there be a settlement in the redistricting lawsuit?

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. A leading player in the state’s redistricting turmoil said this morning he’s hopeful that both sides are closing in on a settlement that will salvage Texas’ April 3 primary. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has been meeting with representatives … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Perry’s (lack of) popularity

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I have four things to say about this. Gov. Rick Perry’s ill-fated presidential campaign left a sour taste with many Texans and damaged his standing with Republican voters, according to a new poll commissioned by the American-Statesman and other state … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Perry’s (lack of) popularity

Alford strikes again

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. A key witness before a federal three-judge panel considering the Texas redistricting challenge appeared to make a major concession Wednesday to the case made last week by state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth. The state’s expert witness, John Alford … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Reagan Flowers

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Also running for Harris County Department of Education, Position 6, Precinct 1 is Reagan Flowers, who holds a PhD in Education Leadership from the Union Institute and University. She has been a science teacher, dean of students, and School Improvement … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Castro gets some homework

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Joaquin Castro isn’t even a member of Congress yet and already his future colleagues are leaning on him. Democrats are so confident that U.S. House candidate Joaquin Castro will capture a traditionally Democratic seat in San Antonio next November that … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Erica Lee

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Erica Lee is one of three candidates running for Harris County Department of Education, Position 6, Precinct 1 – yes, that would be the Roy Morales seat. She’s got a pretty impressive resume for the position, having been a classroom … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Erica Lee

The last Presidential poll involving Rick Perry you’re ever likely to need

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, I know, there’s some talk that he might try again in 2016. Bring it, I say. In the meantime, PPP shows what might have been in Texas. Our poll of the state last weekend found Perry leading Obama just … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Meet your minor parties

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

PoliTex lists some of the non-standard political parties that hope to put a Presidential candidate (and some others in a couple of cases) on the ballot this year. They range from the good old fashioned Socialists to the (possibly illegally-named) … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Lampson on the DCCC’s list

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s just like old times again. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, launching its bid to win back the House majority, has unveiled its list of top 2012 recruits. DCCC Chairman Steve Israel announced 18 candidates on Wednesday who are being … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Single member Council district dispute in Boerne

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve noted several stories about single member Council districts in various Texas cities over the years. They often involve litigation, so these battles can have implications beyond the borders of the locality in question, but I just find the questions … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Single member Council district dispute in Boerne

SCOTUS issues ruling on redistricting

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As you’ve undoubtedly heard by now, the Supreme Court has officially thrown out the interim maps that were drawn by the San Antonio court, in a unanimous decision handed down this morning. What does this mean? I’m going to start … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

January finance reports: Harris County

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

January is a very busy month for campaign finance reports, since they are due for all levels of government. I’ve been busy updating the 2012 Primary Election pages for Harris County and elsewhere in Texas with reports as I can … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Don’t say “We won’t have Rick Perry to kick around any more” just yet

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

By now everybody knows that Rick Perry has suspended his Presidential campaign and endorsed Newt Gingrich as his preferred not-Romney. The news of this was on the TV screen in the lobby of my office building as I entered this … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Diane Trautman

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Also running for Harris County Department of Education, Position 3 At Large is Diane Trautman, who was the Democratic candidate for Tax Assessor in the last two cycles. Trautman has had a long career in education, as a teacher, principal, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Sullivan says he’ll step down if he wins primary

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

He’s hoping to defuse a campaign issue. Houston City Councilman Mike Sullivan will submit his resignation in July if he wins the Republican nomination for Harris County tax assessor-collector in April’s primary, he said. The resignation would not be effective … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

DC preclearance trial, Day One

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

While we wait for the Supreme Court to give us some indication of what happens next with our elections – they did not issue an opinion this week – the preclearance trial at the DC federal court got underway. State … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on DC preclearance trial, Day One

Interview with David Rosen

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We kick off the 2012 primary interview season with David Rosen, who is running for the Harris County Department of Education, Position 3, At Large. Rosen has worked on numerous campaigns in recent years before making the switch from behind … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with David Rosen

New Constable Berry sworn in

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Interim Precinct 1 Constable Ken Berry wasn’t supposed to be sworn in until January 31, but recent events forced Commissioners Court to move up the timetable. Harris County Commissioners Court on Friday held an emergency meeting to replace Precinct 1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on New Constable Berry sworn in

Redistricting litigation threatens party conventions

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

With the April 3 primary date now almost certainly no longer in play, the two parties’ biennial conventions are also at risk as the redistricting litigation drags on. The state’s Democratic and Republican parties made substantial down payments months ago … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

SOS sends voter registration info to DOJ

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Took them long enough, not that I’m complaining. Two weeks after Texas’ voter ID law was scheduled to go into effect, the measure is back in the U.S. Department of Justice’s hands. The Texas secretary of state’s office on Thursday … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Abercia arrested

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this explains a lot. Longtime Harris County Precinct One Constable Jack Abercia and two of his staffers were arrested Thursday morning on suspicion of violating several federal laws, including conspiring to accept bribes and using the county office for … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Abercia resigns, replacement named

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, longtime Precinct 1 Constable Jack Abercia announced that he would not be running for re-election. On Monday, he announced that he would resign, effective January 31. On Tuesday, Commissioners Court named a replacement for him to fill … Continue reading →

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

2012 Democratic primary overview – Elsewhere in Texas

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As I noted in my previous post about contested Democratic primaries in Harris County, I have also created a page for contested primaries elsewhere in Texas. Many of the same notes and caveats exist for this page as well: – … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Reports from SCOTUS redistricting arguments

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There’s almost too much information to parse on the legal arguments made before the Supreme Court over the Texas redistricting maps. Let’s start with The Hill: The Supreme Court justices grappled to find a way to resolve a messy Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

2012 Democratic primary overview – Harris County

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

So with the start of the new year, we turn our attention to the primary elections, whenever they may turn out to be. I’ve added a new page to the site, for 2012 contested Democratic primaries in Harris County. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

SCOTUS hears redistricting arguments today

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Today is a big effin’ deal at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court will attempt on Monday to untangle the political mess in Texas created by a voting rights controversy. The case could have important political consequences, and highlights a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on SCOTUS hears redistricting arguments today

Your voter registration card is not in the mail just yet

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Another side effect of the Supreme Court stay. Even if you’ve registered to vote in Texas, you won’t be getting a new voter registration certificate until February. Although the latest blue cards expired at the end of the year, counties … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments