Tag Archives: 2011 interviews

Chris Oliver joins the At Large #1 crowd

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Houston Community College Trustee Chris Oliver has announced his candidacy for the open Houston City Council, At-Large Position 1 seat to be filled this November. Chris brings years of experience as a businessman, legislative advocate, and Houston … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jew Don Boney

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We conclude this interview cycle with a familiar name in Houston politics. Jew Don Boney, who is running for the open HCC District IV seat, was the Council member in District D from 1995 to 2001; he was my Council … Continue reading →

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Interview with Carroll Robinson

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The other contested race for HCC Trustee is in District IV, which is the open seat being vacated by Michael Williams. It features two former City Council members, the first of which is Carroll Robinson, who served in At Large … Continue reading →

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Interview with Wendell Robbins

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Opposing Chris Oliver in District IX is Wendell Robbins. Robbins was a late entrant into the race whom I noticed when he picked up the endorsement of the Harris County Tejano Democrats. Robbins owns a construction company. This is his … Continue reading →

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Interview with Chris Oliver

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There are two contested races for HCC Trustee seats this year. Chris Oliver is the incumbent in District IX. He was first elected in 1993 and first served as Board Chair in 1999. Oliver is a businessman who has also … Continue reading →

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Interview with Richard Schechter

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Along with HISD Trustees, there are three HCC Trustee races on the ballot. First up is Richard Schechter, who is serving his first term in District V. Schechter is an attorney who has also taught law classes at the Thurgood … Continue reading →

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Interview with Paula Harris

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We close the week with HISD Board President and District IV Trustee Paula Harris, who is service her first term on the Board. Harris has a degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M and has worked as an engineer and … Continue reading →

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Interview with Ramiro Fonseca

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Opposing Trustee Manuel Rodriguez in District III is Ramiro Fonseca. Fonseca is the program manager of Minority Male Initiative at HCC, where he has also been a financial aid associate. He has also served as President of the Houston Hispanic … Continue reading →

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Interview with Manuel Rodriguez

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Trustee Manuel Rodriguez was first elected to serve District III in 2003. Rodriguez is a businessman and longtime education activist who has served as the Board President and currently serves as its Vice President. (See also School Zone’s Q&A with … Continue reading →

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Interview with Juliet Stipeche

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Next up is Trustee Juliet Stipeche, whose campaign webpage is here. She won a special election in 2010 for the Trustee seat in District VIII that was vacated by Diana Davila. Stipeche is an attorney and a graduate of HISD … Continue reading →

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Interview with Rhonda Skillern-Jones

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We now shift to HISD and HCC Trustee races, which will take us through the end of the interview series. To start off, I bring you a conversation with Rhonda Skillern-Jones, who will succeed Carole Mims Galloway as the Trustee … Continue reading →

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Interview with Fernando Herrera

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

For what I really do think will be my final interview with a candidate for municipal office, I bring you Fernando Herrera, who was the first declared opponent for Mayor Annise Parker. Herrera is a Deputy Chief with the Houston … Continue reading →

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Interview with Peter Lyn René

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Another deadline day filer was Peter Lyn René, who is running for Council in District F. René is an IT project manager and mediator who mediates civil cases in the Harris County Justice Courts; he was the Democratic nominee for … Continue reading →

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Interview with Leticia Gutierrez Ablaza

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Leticia Gutierrez Ablaza was a deadline day filer for Houston City Council in District I. A resident of Glenbrook Valley, she became politically involved during the fight over the historic preservation ordinance in that neighborhood. She has a degree in … Continue reading →

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Interview with City Controller Ronald Green

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

What I had originally thought would be my final interview with a City of Houston candidate is with City Controller Ronald Green. As it happens, due to some late contact with a couple of campaigns, I have some more to … Continue reading →

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Interview with Mayor Annise Parker

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Another person who needs no introduction here is Mayor Annise Parker, who is running for a second term in Houston’s top office. It’s no secret that I’m a supporter of hers, and I think she’s done a good job in … Continue reading →

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Interview with Laurie Robinson

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Concluding my interviews with Council candidates is a newcomer, Laurie Robinson, who is running for At Large #5. Robinson is a businesswoman and regulatory compliance expert in the health care industry. She has worked in the Department of Health and … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jack Christie

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in At Large #5 is a familiar face, that of Jack Christie, who is on his third run for this office. Christie came very close to winning in 2009, ultimately falling by 1500 votes in the runoff. He … Continue reading →

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Interview with CM Jolanda Jones

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Our last look at a Council race is the most interesting race involving an incumbent, as once again CM Jolanda Jones faces some tough competition in At Large #5. If you follow Houston politics at all you are surely familiar … Continue reading →

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Interview with Amy Price

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Also running in At Large #4 is Amy Price, who is running under the auspices of the Green Party. Price is a violin teacher and professional musician who has performed with such bands as Gordian Knot, The Buddhacrush, and Orange … Continue reading →

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Interview with Louis Molnar

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Moving over to At Large #4, one of the candidates hoping to unseat CM Bradford is Louis Molnar. Molnar is a small business owner and realtor who also teaches law, ethics, and urban planning at the Spencer School of Real … Continue reading →

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Interview with Don Cook

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Also running in At Large #1 is Don Cook, who does not currently have a website. Cook ran for this office in 2009 as a member of the Progressive Coalition. He was also the Green Party candidate for Harris County … Continue reading →

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Interview with Scott Boates

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This week I will run interviews with some candidates who are challenging Council incumbents, some of whom entered their races more recently in the cycle. I will finish the Council races with At Large #5 next week, then the Mayor … Continue reading →

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Interview with Kristi Thibaut

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We conclude our tour of the At Large #2 field with Kristi Thibaut, who was the State Representative for HD133 from 2009 to 2011. Thibaut has worked for Continental Airlines and as a fundraiser for non-profits such as the American … Continue reading →

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Interview with Bolivar Fraga

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Next up for At Large #2 is Bolivar “Bo” Fraga, who is the son of former City Council member Felix Fraga. Fraga is a graduate of the Air Force Academy who spent more than six years on active duty, including … Continue reading →

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Interview with David Robinson

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We continue our tour of At Large #2 with David Robinson, who is an architect and neighborhood activist. Robinson has served on the Houston Planning Commission and is currently an Advisory Board Member on the Hermann Park Conservancy. He is … Continue reading →

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Interview with Eric Dick

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in At Large #2 is Eric Dick, who is an attorney that runs his own firm after having spent time in the Attorney General and District Attorney’s offices. You’ve probably seen his campaign signs around the city; they’ve … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jenifer Rene Pool

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We now turn our attention to the last open seat for this year, At Large #2, where a diverse group of candidates are vying to succeed CM Sue Lovell. First up is Jenifer Rene Pool, a community activist and business … Continue reading →

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Interview with CM Al Hoang

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

CM Al Hoang is serving his first term in District F. He was born in South Vietnam and emigrated to the US in 1975. An attorney by trade, Hoang is the first Vietnamese-American to serve on Council, and serves as … Continue reading →

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Interview with Kathy Blueford Daniels

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Wrapping up my weeklong tour of District B is Kathy Blueford Daniels, who is a retired postal worker and lifelong resident of the district. She is also the founder of BLACMoM (Black, Latino, Asian, and Caucasian Mourners of Murder), which … Continue reading →

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Interview with Alvin Byrd

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

District B candidate Alvin Byrd is the Constituent Services Director for current Council Member Jarvis Johnson. He is a Navy veteran who has worked at numerous community organizations and was the first president of the Greater Fifth Ward Superneighborhood Council. … Continue reading →

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Interview with Bryan Smart

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

District B candidate Bryan Smart is, at age 24, the youngest candidate I’ve interviewed since I started doing this regularly in 2006. Smart is a graduate of Howard University, where he was the Executive President of the Howard University Student … Continue reading →

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Interview with Phillip Paul Bryant

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in District B is Philip Paul Bryant, whose bio lists him as a Community Organizer, Television Talk show Host, and Businessman, among other things. Bryant is the son of Bishop Prince Earl Williams Bryant, Sr., who is the … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jerry Davis

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

For this week, I have five interviews with candidates from District B, which like District C is open this year. First up is Jerry Davis, founder of the nonprofit organization Making It Better and co-owner along with his brothers of … Continue reading →

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