Tag Archives: Ronnie Earle

RIP, Ronnie Earle

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The iconic former Travis County District Attorney has passed away. Ronnie Earle, who served as Travis County district attorney for more than 30 years and was best known for prosecuting some of Texas’ top politicians and for championing the community … Continue reading →

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The UT/TT poll’s track record in past Democratic primaries

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The one result in that UT/TT poll from Monday that has people freaking out is the one that shows nutball LaRouchie Kesha Rogers leading the Senate race with 35%, followed by David Alameel with 27%. I expressed my skepticism of … Continue reading →

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Can you believe it’s been ten years?

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Ten years (and one week) ago, four defeated Democratic candidates for the State House filed a lawsuit against the Texas Association of Business, claiming that TAB funneled illegal corporate contributions into state legislative races in the 2002 election. As you … Continue reading →

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Colyandro takes a plea

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this on Friday. It took five minutes for Capitol figure John Colyandro to end a decade-long saga that swept his boss, former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, out of Congress and politics altogether. Colyandro, the last individual with … Continue reading →

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Doesn’t he know that Valjean was French?

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Poor, pitiful Tom DeLay. DeLay, and his attorney, Brian Wice, are hoping to get his convictions overturned. On Oct. 10, they will finally get a chance to make their case to the 3rd Court of Appeals, arguing the once-powerful Republican … Continue reading →

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Former DeLay aide Ellis pleads guilty

Posted on June 30, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This was out of the blue. Tom DeLay’s chief political aide, Jim Ellis, pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony charge of making an illegal campaign contribution during the 2002 election. Ellis, who headed DeLay’s Americans for a Republican Majority political … Continue reading →

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Time for the biennial attack on the Travis County DA

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Every two years, some Republican legislators try to kill the Public Integrity Unit of the Travis County District Attorney’s office. An amendment tacked on to the House budget bill approved last week would shift roughly $3.4 million a year from … Continue reading →

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For those who are just tuning in to the whole Tom DeLay saga

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman has a useful overview of How We Got Here in the DeLay money laundering case, which goes to trial today. I love the fact that it all began with a little hubris. It was November 2002, just days … Continue reading →

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DeLay “headed to trial”

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

After day one of the pretrial hearings, Tom DeLay will get his trial, and he’ll go before his co-defendants. Motions to dismiss the charges against the former Sugar Land-area representative on the grounds of misconduct by prosecutors remained pending late … Continue reading →

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At long last, the DeLay trial gets underway

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You know what today is? It’s Tom DeLay Sees The Inside Of A Courtroom Day, that’s what day it is. Yes, I know, he’s out of trouble with the feds – this is about the state charges that have been … Continue reading →

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Feds clear DeLay

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll be honest, I’d forgotten there was an ongoing federal investigation of him by this point. It had been so long since I’d seen any news about it. Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, today said he … Continue reading →

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CCA overturns “checks aren’t cash” appeals verdict

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

For once, their pro-prosecution proclivities were good for something. The Austin appeals court erred in deciding that the state’s money-laundering statute – used to prosecute associates of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay – did not apply to transfers … Continue reading →

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The Lite Guv race by the counties

Posted on March 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Lite Guv primary was an interesting race. One candidate, Ronnie Earle, had a decent amount of name recognition, a base of support in a vote-rich area, with likely secondary support in other populous counties, and electoral experience. He didn’t … Continue reading →

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Election results: Other statewides

Posted on March 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The big story in the other statewide primaries is the loss of Railroad Commission Chair Victor Carillo to a first-time candidate. David Porter, who moved to Giddings after building a business in Midland, ousted Victor Carrillo, the highest-ranking nonjudge Latino … Continue reading →

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Eight days out reports

Posted on February 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The 8 days out reports aren’t available on the TEC website yet for the Governor’s races, so I can’t show you the details. The Trib did it the old-fashioned way, by viewing the actual paper forms, so go look at … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Statesman for LCT

Posted on February 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman endorses Linda Chavez-Thompson for Lite Gov. We believe longtime labor leader Linda Chavez-Thompson can do the most for the Democratic ticket, perhaps especially for Bill White, the party’s probable gubernatorial nominee. Through her inspiring life story — as … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Another split for the Lite Guvs

Posted on February 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor, the Chron goes with Ronnie Earle. As lieutenant governor, Earle says, he would be able to work across party lines to reach consensus and avoid paralyzing the legislative process. “I have a long … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: A split for the Lite Guvs

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The two major Democratic candidates for Lieutenant Governor split a pair of endorsements yesterday. The Dallas Morning News went with Ronnie Earle. Given the choice facing Democrats in the March 2 primary, the better candidate is Earle, who served 31 … Continue reading →

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Two more polls

Posted on February 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We are suddenly awash in hot polling goodness. First up, a new result from the University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll: Gov. Rick Perry is well ahead of U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and former Wharton County GOP chair Debra Medina, … Continue reading →

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Still more polling

Posted on February 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Via the Trib, there’s another gubernatorial primary poll out there. The Texas Credit Union League Poll of Texas Primary Voters, released today, shows incumbent Rick Perry close to a majority, holding a 22 point lead over Kay Bailey Hutchison in … Continue reading →

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The Lite Guv primary

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We’re two weeks out from the start of early voting, and I don’t feel like I know any more about the prospective candidates for Lieutenant Governor than I did when they first announced their candidacies. [T]he odds remain long that … Continue reading →

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More on Chavez-Thompson

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Express News does a nice profile of Democratic Lite Guv candidate Linda Chavez-Thompson. The most important bits are right here: Party leaders gathered in Austin last month to brainstorm on promising candidates for the lieutenant governor’s race. They had … Continue reading →

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A brief intro to Linda Chavez-Thompson

Posted on January 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Video of Linda Chavez-Thompson’s filing day remarks, from The Trib. They have more on Chavez-Thompson here. As I said, I’m really looking forward to Chavez-Thompson and Ronnie Earle making the case for themselves. And as expected, Chavez-Thompson’s candidacy has generated … Continue reading →

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Chavez-Thompson to file for Lite Guv

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Excellent. Linda Chavez-Thompson, a national leader within the AFL-CIO and the Democratic Party, plans to enter the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor on Monday, according to a source familiar with her plans. She is expected to file Monday afternoon at … Continue reading →

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The Lite Guv may not be what it used to be

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Now that we have an interesting race for the Democratic nomination for Lite Guv, it’s worth wondering whether a Lt. Gov. Earle or a Lt. Gov. Katz would wield the same power as Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and his predecessors. Dave … Continue reading →

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Katz files

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As expected, Austin restauranteur Marc Katz has filed for Lite Guv on the Democratic side, saying his family will contribute “millions” to his effort. Austin deli owner Marc Katz, filing papers to run for lieutenant governor at Texas Democratic Party … Continue reading →

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Katz to file for Lite Guv

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like we’re in for another contested primary for Democrats in statewide races. Two weeks after former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle surprised many by filing to seek the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, Austin deli owner Marc Katz … Continue reading →

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Earle explains why he picked Lite Guv

Posted on December 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ronnie Earle talks to the Trib about why he decided to run for Lieutenant Governor when all the previous speculation had been centered on Governor or Attorney General. Earle, who retired at the end of 2008 after over three decades … Continue reading →

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Earle files for Lite Guv

Posted on December 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this was unexpected. Former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is running for lieutenant governor of Texas. Earle, who retired last year after more than three decades as district attorney, filed paperwork with the Texas Democratic Party late Friday … Continue reading →

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Shami and Shapleigh

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Farouk Shami will make his entry into the Democratic primary for Governor official tomorrow afternoon at his business’ headquarters in Houston; details are on his website. The Trib gives us a peek behind the curtain. Shami, running as a Democrat, … Continue reading →

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Keep talking, Tom

Posted on September 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll leave the commentary on Tom DeLay’s dancing prowess to the experts and simply note that he has succeeded in getting himself back in the news. Which means people are asking him for his opinions on things, which in turn … Continue reading →

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Earle still pondering a run for Governor

Posted on September 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ronnie Earle reminds us that he’s still out there, and still thinking about mounting a campaign for Governor. Former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who most recently got national attention for his prosecution of former House Majority Leader Tom … Continue reading →

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The state of the Governor’s race

Posted on August 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So we know that Tom Schieffer is in. So are Mark Thompson and Felix Alvarado. Ronnie Earle may or may not be in. Hank Gilbert now says that he’s in. Kinky (sigh) is fixing to be in. Some people think … Continue reading →

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Gilbert for Governor?

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Hank Gilbert, the 2006 Democratic candidate for Ag Commissioner who had been up till recently running for that office again, is now thinking about running for Governor. [A]ccording to multiple sources that have confirmed this to Burnt Orange Report, Hank Gilbert, … Continue reading →

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