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Texoblogosphere: week of October 21st

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The Texas Progressive Alliance is old enough to remember when everyone who ran for public office did so on a premise of making it work better as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Off the Kuff assesses the state of Houston’s elections going into early voting.

Texpatriate endorses Annise Parker for re-election as Mayor of Houston.

Eye On Williamson is blogging at a temporary home. A recent article says that Texas may be the future for the US. It will only happen if we let it, Why Texas doesn’t have to be our future.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme is really ashamed that all Texas Republicans voted to keep our government shutdown and to default on our debts. Don’t forget. it was Texas Republican rep Pete Sessions who sealed this shutdown with a pernicious rule change. Shame indeed.

There’s a disconnect between the power and influence of Ted Cruz and the Tea Party in Texas, and in the rest of the country. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs observes that this dichotomy is going to affect everything that happens between now and this time next year, and they’ll either create their reality…or suffer the effects of actual reality.

Neil at All People Have Value is looking forward with his blog and with his website. All People Have Value is part of NeilAquino.com.

Libby Shaw over at TexasKaos finds it helpful to think of Ted and his Tea Party allies as part of an “Animal House” approach to politics. Check out Ted Cruz and his Texas Tea Party Animal House Shut Down.

And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.

Grits for Breakfast eulogizes Ruby Cole Session, whose son Timothy Cole died in a Texas prison after his wrongful rape conviction before he was posthumously pardoned.

AzulTX points out that undocumented immigrants make significant contributions to the US economy.

Jason Stanford scoffs at the notion that John Cornyn is anything but a hardline conservative.

Greg Wythe takes a deeper look at the use of text messages in local campaigns.

The Texas Green Report endorses Proposition 6, the water infrastructure fund amendment.

Offcite shows what truly open streets would look like.

Progress Texas urges a vote against Pasadena’s regressive City Council redistricting scheme.

Finally, all of us at the TPA wish Karl-Thomas Musselman the very best in what comes next as he concludes his tenure with the Burnt Orange Report after ten productive and excellent years.

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TLCQ 2013: Endorsements in City Council Districts F-K

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Bolstered by unprecedented growth and diversification in Houston’s Asian community, District F is rapidly becoming a second epicenter of the Bayou City. The Asia Town area is exploding with new businesses and entrepreneurial ventures, and needs a council member with the energy, vitality and commitment to voice all of these interests within city government. After a tough campaign in 2011, current incumbent Al Hoang reclaimed his seat. Council Member Hoang’s primary focuses have been crime reduction throughout the district, and to bring in more public investment. Efforts to reduce crime have yielded significant success. While the increased public investment has been much slower, this element is finally coming into the picture. As he seeks a final term, I am hopeful that Hoang will realize what a critical role he has on Council, and fight even harder to bring investment dollars to the area. The pick for District F is Al Hoang.

As home to some of Houston’s wealthiest residents in the River Oaks, Galleria and Memorial areas, District G is not short on power and influence within city government. But even with such affluence, the district also has its fair share of challenges. Conservative Council Member Oliver Pennington has represented his constituents very well. Far-removed from the Teapublicanism of Washington, Pennington has exercised common sense judgment and good stewardship for the needs of Houstonians. Even when voicing reservations of some projects he considers “spending”, he always shares a well-reasoned opinion before casting his vote. As a Liberal blog, Texas Leftist have not agreed with all of Pennington’s actions on council. But he is respected for always being willing to all sides of an issue and acting in good faith for his constituents. Though his opponent Brian Taef has run an impressive campaign, Council Member Pennington deserves another term. The pick for District G is Oliver Pennington.

The pick for District H is incumbent Ed Gonzalez, who is running unopposed.

Though District I may have seemed a more simplistic neighborhood community in previous years, the area has really began to heat up. With massive new investments underway in Downtown, EaDo and in other areas, Texas Leftist agrees with the Chronicle that whoever represents this District ‘should have no learning curve’. All four candidates in this arena have a wealth of experience and qualifications, and any would probably be a good addition to City Council. So much so that it’s quite surprising that none of them (particularly Graci Garces) thought to run for an At-Large seat. But one person in particular seems the best fit to represent District I. Robert Gallegos’ decades of service as a Civic Club President and Founding member and President of the Eastwood/ Lawndale Super-neighborhood have given him a proven record of success for the area. One of his most recent accomplishments was the building of an extensive coalition to support an underpass for the East End rail line. He’s also been proven in the political arena, working as a critical community liason for then-County Commissioner (now State Senator) Sylvia Garcia. With such disparate interests set to converge within District I, Gallegos the person with the skills to bring everyone to the table. The pick for District I is Robert Gallegos.

The pick for District J is incumbent Mike Laster, who is running unopposed.

The pick for District K is incumbent Larry Green, who is running unopposed.

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TLCQ 2013: Endorsements in City Council Districts A-E

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Municipal government may not have the huge budget that Texas lawmakers do in Austin, but as a $4.9 billion-dollar entity, Houston’s city budget is still larger than many countries around the world. The Bayou City is one of the world’s economic powerhouses. As such, being a City Council Member is a big job.

District A is sometimes considered Houston’s “most Conservative”, at least when one considers who shows up to vote in elections. Given this fact, it’s fair to say that the persons challenging incumbent Council Member Helena Brown live up to the political philosophies of their constituents. The field has a wealth of strong candidates, including newcomers Ron Hale and Amy Peck. But former Council Member Brenda Stardig seems the most determined to win back the seat. And it is a seat that she deserves to win back. Brown is no longer an unknown entity spewing rhetoric… she has a record of stiff opposition to various types of investment, and has proven herself to not be cooperative member on Council. Brenda Stardig did a much better job during her brief tenure. The pick for District A is former Brenda Stardig.

As one of Houston’s most underserved communities, District B is an area with great challenges, but also great potential. What’s been needed for a long time there is a politician that’s not there just to point out the issues, but one that can be a true community member and set good examples for the constituency. Council Member Jerry Davis is off to a fantastic start. He regularly leads service projects with his residents, even doing manual labor when he’s not at the Council table. Beyond the important political work, his commitment to service is encouraging residents to make the community better as well. Davis has started to great things in the District B, and deserves another term to make it even better. The pick for District B is Jerry Davis.

The sheer fact that District C Council Member Ellen Cohen is running unopposed for reelection is a sign that most of her constituents are thankful for the job she’s done, and want her to continue. She strives for the highest commitment to open, accountable and responsive government… whether that be her frequent attendance at District Super-neighborhoods and Civic Clubs, or her willingness to address constituents via social media. Though she started with state politics, Cohen has proven that she has a true passion for local government, and as such has earned another term on Council. The pick for District C is Ellen Cohen.

Though it’s perhaps best known as one of the city’s great historically African-American communities, District D is starting to experience monumental changes. As home to both the University of Houston and Texas Southern University, District D is already one of the city’s educational powerhouses. New investment in rail transportation and education set to make the district better than ever before, but good leadership is required to see the area reach it’s full potential. The race has a crowded field of strong candidates, including Dwight Boykins and Anthony Robinson. But Assata Richards rises above the pack as an experienced voice that sees District D from all sides. As a University of Houston professor, she understands the growing needs of the area’s educational institutions. As a deep-rooted community member, she’ll fight to protect what residents love most about their neighborhoods, while leading them to aspire to the next level. As a young single mother and college dropout, Richards not only found the motivation to go back to school, but did so with the help of the District D community. She is an inspiring voice that has helped and will continue to help others who need a view of how to change their circumstances. The pick for District D is Assata Richards.

District E Council Member Dave Martin is a proud Conservative, and as such, has some viewpoints that do not assuage to the political philosophy of this blog. In practice though, Martin has proven to be a voice of reason on City Council, delivering his fair share of concerns, but also voting mostly in the best interests of his constituency. Elected in January of 2013, he’s had the shortest time on council, but given his very brief record, Martin has earned a full term to work for District E. And of course he will get that full term as he is running unopposed. The pick for District E is Dave Martin.

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Ben Hall HATES Taxes

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I haven’t been following every twist and turn of the Houston Mayor’s race, but this latest revelation was simply too hard to resist.

In Mayoral candidate Ben Hall’s latest TV ad, he reveals that his true opponent in the race isn’t current incumbent Annise Parker, but perhaps it’s any government authority that has ever existed since the dawn of governance? Decide for yourself…

I hate taxes, but my feelings toward the IRS aren’t much different. How about yours? Mayor Parker was kind enough to tell you the IRS and I’ve had some disagreements over my taxes. But, she just forgot to mention that right before those disagreements started we had sued the IRS for over nine million dollars, and won. Now, think that’s a coincidence?

It’s no secret that most Americans (and definitely most Texans) don’t enjoy the act to paying their taxes. But the point of taxes is not to love them or hate them. It’s to pay them. Thus why we view tax payment as an obligation. I don’t happen to love taking out the trash or cleaning my bathroom, but they are things that I’m obliged to do. The same is the case for a community, large or small. Most voters understand that taxes have an important purpose. That tax money goes to protect the citizens of Houston through our brave police and firefighters. They ensure that we have clean water to use, and that our children can attend school. Whatever your opinion of the current state of Houston’s streets and infrastructure, it wouldn’t even be built if not for the tax payments of citizens from previous generations.

Of course nobody is perfect. It’s probably safe to assume that many Houstonians haven’t always paid their taxes on time, or exactly the way they need to (count me in as one). Everyone makes mistakes. Hall has owned up to those mistakes, and paid most of his past due taxes. But boasting about being a “former deadbeat” does not instill confidence in most people that Hall can run a major city effectively. One would hope that a candidate running for a place in city government would at least recognize the value of taxes, even if that particular candidate doesn’t always enjoy paying them on time. And winning a lawsuit against the IRS may prove Hall to be a good lawyer, but it doesn’t qualify him to be the Mayor of our nation’s fourth largest city. I can’t see how this ad will prove to be a smart move for the Hall campaign, unless he’s decided to abandon the Mayor’s race, and run for TEA Party chairman.

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TLCQ 2013: Endorsements- Harris County Bond Election

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As the largest county government in the state of Texas, and 3rd largest in the nation, it’s no stretch to assuage that many decisions made within Harris County have nation-wide and sometimes world-wide implications. This is well exhibited among this November’s bond election.

Proposition 1 is for the issuance of $70 million dollars to create a joint Detention Processing Center with the City of Houston. The proposition doesn’t directly raise property taxes at this time, but gives Harris County the flexibility to do so if needed. As our understanding of criminal detention continues to evolve away from locking up as many people as possible, and more to the development of services to help people deal with the issues that lead to certain forms of criminal behavior in the first place, this co-venture of the City and County seems a next logical step. By avoiding redundancy, this will ensure that not only fewer of our future tax dollars are spent to house non-violent offenders, but will allow our law enforcement agencies to do better coordination for the area. Texas Leftist is FOR Harris County Proposition 1.

Proposition 2 for some voters will surely be the “main event”… where we decide if we want to Save the Astrodome. This one ballot initiative is expected to drive some citizens to the polls who wouldn’t normally go as well. Given that it is one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of Texas, and Harris County has created a very practical way for the Dome to utilized in it’s newest stage, Texas Leftist is FOR Harris County Proposition 2. I sincerely hope voters agree.

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TLCQ 2013: Endorsements in HCC Trustee Races

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As the second-largest College system in Texas, and the 6th largest in the United States, Houston Community College is a pillar entity in Houston and Southeast Texas. Even for Texans that don’t directly attend HCC, they interact with students and alumni on a constant basis. It is an integral part of the educational life of Houston… almost as much as its progenitor the Houston Independent School District. HCC’s trustees are elected by voters in Houston and other cities within the school’s jurisdiction. For all of these reasons, Texas Leftist wanted to examine these races and issue endorsements for the candidates.

In HCC’s District 1, current incumbent Trustee Yolanda Navarro Flores is running for reelection. But given a torrid history with the HCC Board, including suing her fellow trustees for defamation, it’s no surprise that she has drawn two challengers in the race. It’s a sampling of many issues that have plagued the Board of Trustees in recent years. Both of her challengers, Kevin J. Hoffman and Zeph Capo, have strong records of public service. But in this race, Mr. Capo’s record in the classroom, especially in dealing with at-risk youth is what makes him stand out. His first-hand experience working with students not unlike many attending HCC would prove a great attribute to the system. The 2013 pick for District 1 is Zeph Capo.

District 3 has incumbent Herlinda Garcia with two respective challengers. Dr. Adriana Tamez is an educator with extensive knowledge of HISD and the K-12 system. But Dane D. Cook also has a wealth of unique experiences, both as a recent student of HCC, and as one of our nation’s veterans that would be of great asset to the school’s governing body. Many of the school’s current Trustees are so far removed from the student experience that their vision for the future of the institution can become uninformed by reality. It’s true he is the youngest candidate, but Mr. Cook’s leadership skills have been proven both in the theater of war, and transition back to American society. This is an experience that will continue to be vital to HCC as the war in Afghanistan draws down and our soldiers come home to face real-world decisions about the next stages of their lives. For many of Houston’s veterans, HCC will be a critical part of that journey. The 2013 pick for District 3 is Dane D. Cook.

District 5 has been mired in difficulty as well, following the resignation of Richard Schechter and later his interim replacement Leila Feldman, so it is certainly the hope that voters can find some stability for this constituency. As a native Houston and lifelong resident of the District, candidate Robert Glaser will be there to provide stable leadership. Bringing his experience in both public education and as a small business owner, he has been able to see the important role HCC plays in training the Houston workforce. As college costs continue to skyrocket, he also sees the benefit of reducing redundancy in college and high school programs to both enrich the student experience and lower education costs for families. Affordability is perhaps the greatest attribute that HCC has, and Mr. Glaser brings that aspect as a central part of his goals for the system. The 2013 pick for District 5 is Robert Glaser.

Though District 7 incumbent Trustee Neeta Sane has drawn one challenger in this race, she has proven her skills as an effective leader and visionary for the system. Like her rapidly growing and diverse district, Ms. Sane brings a wealth of diverse experience as a naturalized US citizen and small business owner. She has demonstrated how HCC can be more than an educational institution, but can really mold and shape a growing community. Ms. Sane has overseen over $140 million dollars of investment in her district, including the establishment of the Alief ISD Early College High School, the HCC Stafford Fine Arts Center, the ASPIRE scholarship program to promote educational opportunities in the Asian community, the Bissonnet workforce building and HCC Missouri City. She has a thorough understand of the growing needs in her district. For all of these reasons, the 2013 pick for District 7 is incumbent Neeta Sane.

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On the TLCQ Endorsements

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Just wanted to share a note about the endorsement process before they are released…

The Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire has been a great learning experience for me. I am especially thankful to all of the candidates that took the time to read the questions, think about them and respond back. Working with a political campaign, I know how busy and very tired all of these candidates must be as we round the bend to November 5th… the countless number of public appearances, constant scrutiny by voters and news media, and hardly any time to themselves. I honestly admire you all, and sincerely don’t know how you do it!!

That being said, TLCQ did not get quite as many responses as I had hoped for, but even with the ones received I am very glad to have contributed to the important political conversation, and raised some issues that others may not be discussing. The voters of Houston and Texas deserve a full, diverse compendium about our elected officials and those who seek said offices. I also salute the great work being done by other bloggers on the 2013 elections, and recommend that voters visit their sites before heading to the polls. Off the Kuff has done a superb job of compiling information on the candidates, so if you’re still trying to find information, check out his 2013 elections page.

Look for the first TLCQ endorsements tomorrow.

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