Tag Archives: Election 2013

Chron profile of Ben Hall

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

As promised from last week. When Ben Hall left the city attorney’s office in December 1994 after three years as a confidante to and attack dog for Mayor Bob Lanier, observers assumed the ambitious 38-year-old’s path would lead back to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Kevin Hoffman

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

My second and final interview for HCC Trustee in District 1 and for candidates this cycle is with Kevin Hoffman. Hoffman has a diverse background, working in the energy industry after previously working non-profit theater companies as a department head. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Kevin Hoffman

First day EV totals

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It was pretty brisk, with higher turnout than any of the previous three elections. Here are the relevant daily totals: 2013 2011 2009 2007 And here are the numbers for each for day one: Year In person By Mail Total … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Chron overview of District I

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron covers the District I race. The contrasts in this eastside, heavily-Latino council district are dramatic: from the gleaming George R. Brown Convention Center in the heart of downtown, to older neighborhoods lacking modern street drainage where vacant lots … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Interview with Zeph Capo

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Early voting starts today, and so this is my last week of presenting interviews. The last frontier is the HCC Board of Trustees, and I have two interviews, both in District 1 where scandal-marred incumbent Yolanda Navarro Flores faces two … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Zeph Capo

Early voting starts today

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Today we arrive at the more action-oriented part of the election cycle, in which voting actually happens. Early voting starts today and runs through next Friday, November 1. Here’s the schedule and map of locations for Harris County. Check with … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Early voting starts today

Endorsement watch: For the joint processing center

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

An easy call. [V]oters should consider themselves fortunate that they can easily cut $25 million in unnecessary spending from the city’s annual budget by voting for the Joint Processing Center on Election Day. The overlapping criminal justice duties of Houston … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Chron overview of Controller’s race

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s an interesting race. On paper, City Controller Ron Green would appear to have been ripe for a bevy of challengers in November. The city’s elected financial watchdog owes tens of thousands of dollars to the IRS, was criticized for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Endorsement watch: For Calvert

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron’s second endorsement on Friday, and what should be their last for the regular election, was for Rogene Calvert in At Large #3. Experience is valuable on Houston City Council. Council members often spend their first two-year term learning … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: For Calvert

Endorsement watch: For Christie

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses freshman CM Jack Christie in At Large #5. At-Large council members act as a sort of minister without portfolio. While district council members focus on constituent issues, at-large members can set their own agendas. The previous incumbent … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Chron overview of At Large #2

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron looks at one of the most competitive races involving an incumbent on the ballot this year. A minister, architect and city accountant are vying to unseat Councilman Andrew C. Burks Jr. from the Position 2 at-large seat on … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Chron overview of At Large #2

Endorsement watch: Brad and Graci

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Another endorsement twofer from the Chron, this time an incumbent and an open seat. First up, the Chron endorses CM Brad Bradford for a third term. The duties of an at-large council member are not as specific as those of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Endorsement watch: For the amendments

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron stumps for the constitutional amendments on the ballot this year. It’s an off-year election, but Texas voters still have good reasons to go to the polls Nov. 5. In addition to local races, they’ll be deciding nine proposed … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: For the amendments

Interview with Lana Edwards

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, District D is a very big field with twelve candidates running to succeed CM Wanda Adams. I published interviews with five of the candidates a few weeks ago. I don’t always reach out to all candidates in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Lana Edwards

No repeal petition for San Antonio non-discrimination ordinance

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Opponents of San Antonio’s nondiscrimination ordinance spread the word at churches and parks about their petition drive to place the policy on a citywide ballot. A few hours before Tuesday’s deadline, they informed city officials that effort had fallen … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mostly looking good for Prop 6

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

A good poll result for the water infrastructure Constitutional amendment. Texans support $2 billion in water infrastructure financing by a better than 2-to-1 margin, but nearly a quarter haven’t decided how they will vote on the issue this November, according … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Chron profiles the Mayor

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Sunday Chron has an expansive profile of Mayor Parker. In a system where term limits cap elected officials at six years, City Hall veterans joke that new council members spend their first year finding the bathrooms and their sixth … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Interview with Ben Hall

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

In the era of term limits, we usually only get contested Mayoral races in the open years. Lee Brown faced a strong challenge from Orlando Sanchez and Chris Bell in 2001, prevailing in a runoff. Many people expected Mayor Parker … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Chron overview of At Large #3

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron’s look at the At Large #3 race. Citywide races demand more money and name recognition for candidates to be successful, unlike district seats where neighborhood familiarity can matter more. Perhaps the candidate with the best mix of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Interview with Mayor Annise Parker

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Early voting for the 2013 elections begins next week, and so my interviews for this election season are coming to an end. I will have two interviews with HCC Trustee candidates next week, plus a little bit more, and that … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Chron overview of District D

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron tries to wrap its arms around the District D race, talking to all 12 candidates. Since I have interviewed six of them – an interview with Lana Edwards will run on Wednesday – I will just quote from … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Chron overview of District D

Chron overview of District B

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

CM Jerry Davis has three opponents in his first re-election. Since I’ve interviewed CM Davis and one opponent, Kathy Blueford Daniels, here’s what the article says about the other two hopefuls. Each candidate claims to have the best vision and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: For the Mayor

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Mayor Parker for a third term. During Annise Parker’s first term, Houston was stuck in a drought. The global economy was in an economic downturn. And City Hall had to prune a budget suffering from wilting revenues. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Endorsement watch: Twofer number two

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Another pair of endorsements from the Chron, again one obvious and one that required more thought. First, the easy one. Centered along the Westpark Tollway toward the city’s far west edges, District F is Houston’s international district. When people from … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Twofer number two

Endorsement watch: Our first twofer

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has two endorsements today, one that was easy and one that was likely more challenging. First, the easy one. In four years as an at-large city councilman, Stephen Costello has gradually become a “go to” guy on two … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Pennington

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses CM Oliver Pennington for a third term. For the past four years, District G has been ably represented by attorney Oliver Pennington. We recommend a vote for Pennington to continue his service at city hall. Pennington, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Pennington

30 Day fundraising reports are coming in

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

For the Mayor’s race at least, they’re a lot like the July reports. Even as top mayoral challenger Ben Hall ramped up his campaign in recent months, launching several television ads, Mayor Annise Parker continued to outpace him in fundraising, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Jerry Davis

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Jerry Davis in District B. In his first term in office, council member Jerry Davis launched a pilot project to deploy surveillance cameras to catch illegal dumpers. He and his staff personally went into neighborhoods to mow … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Jerry Davis

Interview with Bill Frazer

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

City Controllers have generally had it easy in re-election efforts. No sitting City Controller has had an opponent since Sylvia Garcia knocked off Lloyd Kelley in 1997. Until now, that is, as Bill Frazer filed to oppose Controller Ronald Green. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Bill Frazer

Hall’s tax troubles, again

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This isn’t new news, but it’s getting a lot more play now. Top mayoral challenger Ben Hall agreed to pay the IRS more than $680,000 in back taxes and penalties earlier this year, court documents show. On Jan. 16, less … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Hall’s tax troubles, again

Interview with City Controller Ronald Green

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We move now from the Houston City Council races to the executive offices, beginning with two-term City Controller Ronald Green. Like his predecessor in the office, Mayor Annise Parker, Green served three terms as an At Large City Council member … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: A change for Controller

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Bill Frazer to be Houston Controller. At a time of looming pension obligations, we need someone who isn’t there to make friends, but to make sure that our house is in order. Bill Frazer is the man … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Have you gotten your text from the Ben Hall campaign?

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Ben Hall campaign sent out this press release on Tuesday: The Ben Hall for Mayor campaign has launched a new initiative to reach Houston voters and communicate with them on a platform where they already spend a lot of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Robinson in D

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes a somewhat surprising choice in District D. An open seat in Houston City Council District D has drawn an even dozen aspirants to succeed the term-limited Wanda Adams. In both quality and number, this field speaks well … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment