Tag Archives: Harris County

The jury duty problem

Posted on February 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Some good ideas here, they just need to be implemented. One morning in January, about 270 people crammed into the basement of the Harris County administration building for jury duty. Another 1,130 people who were summoned didn’t show. That day’s … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Kristi Thibaut

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We come to the end of our candidate journey in Harris County Precinct 3. I’ve run out of facts to give about Steve Radack and the Republican history of the Court, so here’s a Houston Public Media story about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Kristi Thibaut

Judicial Q&A: Cheryl Elliott Thornton

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Morris Overstreet

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We continue in Commissioner Court Precinct 3. Steve Radack has done a lot of things in his 32 years on the Court, many of which I don’t care for. One thing I will give him for was his plan to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Morris Overstreet

Interview with Michael Moore

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We continue in Harris County Commissioners Court, Precinct 3. If Democrats win this race, they will have a 4-1 advantage on the Court, just two years after taking the majority for the first time since, I don’t know, the Seventies? … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Diana Martinez Alexander

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s February, we’re two weeks out from the start of early voting for the 2020 primaries, and we’re going to spend this week in Harris County Commissioners Court, Precinct 3. Incumbent Steve Radack is stepping down after 32 years in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas Lawyer’s judicial race coverage

Posted on February 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I’ve been busy with judicial Q&As as usual, but this year I’m not the only one chasing down judicial candidates to ask them why they’d make good judges. Texas Lawyer, a part of the Law.com publication, is … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

County files lawsuit over Watson Grinding explosion

Posted on February 1, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

As well they should. Harris County and state officials entered the fray Thursday, bringing civil charges against Watson Grinding and Manufacturing in the explosion that left two dead and damaged 450 structures last week in west Houston. The county has … Continue reading →

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

Judicial Q&A: Grant Harvey

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Grant Harvey

Andrea Duhon would like you to vote for someone else in her HCDE primary

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

As you may recall, Andrea Duhon has been appointed to the HCDE Board of Trustees to replace Josh Flynn. As you may also recall, Duhon had filed for a different position on the HCDE Board in the March primary. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Andrea Duhon would like you to vote for someone else in her HCDE primary

Interview with Ann Harris Bennett

Posted on January 29, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

As I said before, I wasn’t originally expecting to do interviews in the Democratic primary for Harris County Tax Assessor, but once that became a contested race then of course I had to fit it into the schedule. We all … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Judicial Q&A: Bryan Acklin

Posted on January 29, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Bryan Acklin

Judicial Q&A: Megan Daic

Posted on January 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Megan Daic

Interview with Commissioner Rodney Ellis

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t think I need to spend too much time introducing County Commissioner Rodney Ellis. A longtime State Senator after serving on Houston City Council, Ellis became the 2016 Democratic nominee for County Commissioner in Precinct 1 via that weird … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Commissioner Rodney Ellis

How many explosions is too many explosions?

Posted on January 26, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Unfortunately, we’re on track to find out. It’s a scene that’s all too familiar to Houston residents. Explosions, flames reaching into the sky, plumes of black smoke, calls to shelter in place, evacuations, injuries and deaths. The explosion early Friday … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Judicial Q&A: Ana Martinez

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Speaking of voter registration

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron notes the latest milestone. For the first time in history, Texas has topped 16 million registered voters and is adding voters faster than its population grows heading into the 2020 presidential election. With the voter registration deadline for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Judicial Q&A: Jimmie L.J. Brown, Jr.

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Jimmie L.J. Brown, Jr.

January 2020 campaign finance reports: Harris County

Posted on January 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, New Year’s Day brings a new round of campaign finance reports, for all levels of government. I’m going to be working my way through these as I can, because there’s lots to be learned about the candidates … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Early voting for the legislative special election runoffs starts Tuesday

Posted on January 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Early Voting for the January 28, 2020 Special Runoff Election for State Representative District 148 begins Tuesday, January 21 and ends Friday, January 24. During the four-day Early Voting period, five locations will be available to more … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Early voting for the legislative special election runoffs starts Tuesday

Where the primary action is

Posted on January 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s on the Democratic side in Harris County. This should come as a surprise to no one. The crowded Harris County Democratic primary field reflects a new reality in Houston politics: With the county turning an even darker shade of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Jolanda Jones

Posted on January 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We knew a long time ago that this was going to be a busy primary season, with a lot of contested Democratic races. Because the campaign calendar is so short, I have to be very picky about what races I … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Back to the no-fares question

Posted on January 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I remain skeptical, but we’ll see. As it stands right now, most of METRO’s operating funds don’t come from the fares. The transit agency gets most of its money from a one-cent sales tax, which caught the attention of Harris … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Judicial Q&A: Robert Morales

Posted on January 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Judicial Q&A: Robert Morales

Judicial Q&A: Judge Steven Kirkland

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Judge Hidalgo’s first year

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Been pretty good so far, I’d say. During her longshot campaign in 2018, Lina Hidalgo at times sounded like a candidate for mayor or Congress. With talking points on immigration, criminal justice reform and education, her critics contended she surely … Continue reading →

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

Don’t count the other Jerry Garcia out yet

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

But do count his votes, because they are legally required to be countable. Reversing itself from a day earlier, the Harris County Democratic Party on Thursday said a constable candidate who was accused by another candidate with the same name … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Don’t count the other Jerry Garcia out yet

This ballot isn’t big enough for two Jerry Garcias

Posted on January 10, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

They will both still be on the ballot, though only one is now officially running. One of the two candidates named Jerry Garcia who filed to run for Precinct 2 constable — the one who did not appear to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Judge Powell back on the ballot

Posted on January 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

So be it. A civil court judge Wednesday ordered that sitting criminal district Judge George Powell be included on the March primary ballot after the Harris County Democratic Party denied his application for candidacy last month. Party officials had to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Who sues first?

Posted on January 4, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It matters whether Harris County or the state of Texas is first to the courthouse against an industrial polluter. As chemical plant explosions and fires have disrupted lives and raised air-quality concerns in the Houston area this year, the state … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Who sues first?

After-deadline filing review: Courts

Posted on January 3, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s return to the wonderful world of scoping out our candidates. Today we will concentrate on judicial races. Previous entries in this series are for the greater Houston area, Congress, state races, and the Lege. Supreme Court and Court of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Interview with Christian Menefee

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Our third candidate in my series of interviews for Harris County Attorney is Christian Menefee, who was the first candidate to declare for the race. A native Houstonian, Menefee is a former intern in the Harris County Public Defender’s office, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Ben Rose

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Incumbent Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan has two opponents in the March primary, the first time he has had company in a March race. Ben Rose has an LL.M. in Environmental Law from Tulane University, where he wrote his doctorial … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

More flood tunnel studies

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Has some promise. With engineers working at a feverish pace to get more than 200 projects in its $2.5 billion bond program moving, much of the Flood Control District’s efforts are focused on nuts-and-bolts improvements — including widening bayous, digging … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments