In the Sixth installment of the 2013 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Zeph Capo, candidate for Houston Community College Board of Trustees District 1.
Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted verbatim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but will be considered during the endorsement process.
TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?
ZC: Zeph Capo
TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?
ZC: I have not held public office.
TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?
ZC: Government is a direct reflection of our greater society. It is a picture of what works and does not work. We get out of government what we put into it. I believe voting shouldn’t be considered a right, but a responsibility because government works best when the governed are involved in the process. Government defines us as a people and we should never take for granted that we are defined by the democratic principles that make up our society.
TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.
ZC: My top priority would be to pass a stronger board ethics policy that results in more transparent business practices by the community college. I would welcome citizen advisory oversight by accounting/financial professions to review the colleges practices and make recommendations to the board. I would work to build a coalition of board members that wanted to increase the public trust in the board by passing better policy after a thorough review of best practices nationwide and an opportunity to take input from the community.
TL: As our nation’s educational and professional landscape continues to evolve in the 21st century, institutions like HCC stand to be a critical part of that important process. In your opinion, is HCC ready for the monumental changes coming to education? What can the system do to best prepare?
ZC: HCC is a leader in distance education and has begun innovative new programs to meet the needs of our local workforce. We must improve our business practices to ensure the 425 million dollar bond program is executed with fidelity and efficiency. Additionally, we must ensure that our tax dollars allocated by the bond are used in absolutely the best manner to accommodate the needs of a 21st century workforce.
TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?
ZC: I have almost twenty years experience in public education as a classroom teacher and policy advocate. My experience with grassroots community organizing and school reform will be an asset to the HCC Board as we begin to rebuild connections with the community and reform board practices for the 21st century. I have extensive experience working with individuals from diverse and often competing backgrounds where consensus is required to be successful.
TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?
ZC: I enjoy spending time outdoors, especially on the beach. I volunteer with the Miniature Schnauzer Rescue Society as often as I can. I really enjoy cooking and enjoying the company of friends.
In the Third installment of the 2013 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Kevin J. Hoffman, candidate for Houston Community College Board of Trustees, District 1.
Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted verbatim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but will be considered during the endorsement process.
TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?
KH: Kevin J Hoffman
TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?
KH: I hold the office Harris County Democratic Party Precinct Chair in Precinct 207
TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?
KH: Government allows us as a body of people (City, State, Nation) to set rules as to live by, allows us to educate our young and workforce, set forth plans for how we move forward in our devolvement of commerce, transportation of goods and services. Government also set rules as how we enter into contracts or act with other bodies / groups of people in a hopefully peaceful matter, however governments and people from time have conflicts in which we must come together to defend ourselves and our city, state and nation from those that wish to take away our rights that we enjoy under the sets of rules that we as a city, state and nation have come to enjoy.
TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.
KH: I will work to bring back the public’s trust by making HCCS’ Code of Conduct and Ethics stronger. I will begin a dialog with the ISD’s, business community, and general public to better understand the needs of the Greater Houston Area. Based on these finding: I will build on HCC’s role in the training of tomorrow’s workforce and expand its academic credentials for those who want to transfer to higher level institutions. I will seek new programs that will nurture business partnerships and promote economic development, particularly within the area of Northeast College. I will call for HCCS and HISD and other school districts to begin a dialog about what the School Districts are doing correctly and most important the areas need improvement plans in area that students are lacking the skills and tools that they need. It is a major issue at HCCs that so many new students are not ready for the demands of college life nor do they have the basic skills needed be complete the course work required. I will work with my fellow board members to make sure that all employees of the college have as one of their health care options in their benefit package an (Employee-Plus-One Health Insurance plan). I will work to make sure this plan covers domestic partners for same or opposite-sex.
I will audit the number of classes offered at a given campus so students may complete a degree program within a two year time period. This lack of classes’ clauses students to drive or take public transportation to as many as four or five campuses in a given day to be able to take the course work required for a degree. Some students may also drop out due to the transportation needs. HCC can do better. Our students should be able to complete all basic courses at one campus.
TL: As our nation’s educational and professional landscape continues to evolve in the 21st century, institutions like HCC stand to be a critical part of that important process. In your opinion, is HCC ready for the monumental changes coming to education? What can the system do to best prepare?
KH: HCC can and should be in a major leadership role for the coming changes in education. HCC and the community must take a hard look at its self and our local ISDs. We must be willing to bring in new leadership to work foremost for students and their interest. The new leadership must follow the Rules and Ethics Guild Lines of the State and of the College in all matter before the college. This will allow HCC to Restore Public Confidence in the college and its leadership. The college must have an ongoing dialog with Houston and Harris County business leaders to find out more about the needs of the local workforce. HCC and the business leaders need to work together to design degrees and training programs that match local needs. Out of these meeting should also come a plan to assist the students with tuition reimbursement and other incentives. This dialog will nurture HCC’s business partnerships and promote economic development. HCC needs to better promote the Early College program and expand enrollment. This program allows high school students the opportunity to enroll in HCC courses while still attending high school and be able to graduate from high school and HCC at the same time. This program saves families money and can help make college dreams come true for many young people.
HCC needs do a better job at promoting all of its certificate programs for those that do not wish to complete a 2 or 4 year degree program. HCC also needs to do a better job with the Hire Houston First program. This a great program that awards contracts to our local businesses and in so doing puts local tax dollars back into the community. This program is a win, win for all parties. HCCS fits very closely into the totality of this program by: working closely with the business leaders to assist in the training of the local workforce on new skills that maybe needed for projects; creating new jobs in the Houston area for those workers that may be former students of HCCS; Contracts that are awarded locally also creates local second tier jobs like: material supplier jobs, restaurant workers, grocery store workers and other similar jobs that put money back into the local tax base.
TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?
KH: My back ground as business professional and a community activist coupled with my high levels of ethics makes me the most qualified person in this race. In my more than 20 years working in the energy industry in Project Management, Land Administration, Contract Administration, Acquisition and Divestiture I have developed a sound, proven history and ability to handle multiple tasks and make sound business decision that are required of a HCC board member.
In my role as a civic and political activist I have lobbying local, state and national political leaders for positive change for the benefit of our community. I have worked to help kept clean blighted lots and buildings, work to keep bars and cantinas from opening near area schools and churches and help keep our young people out of gangs. I have worked with the public through neighborhood meetings, stakeholder groups, and community outreach as a civic club president and board member to various civic, political and governmental groups. I have also implemented community outreach programs for stakeholder groups. For this work I have received letters of appreciation from two Mayors and members of Houston City Council.
In my roles in business and as civic leader, civic and political activist I have always acted with the high ethical standers and will continue to do so.
I have the best overall understanding of the needs of the community and how to best engage the community. I am the best knowable to be able get the message out about how and what HCC can do for to help community members move forward by providing job training and higher education opportunities.
TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?
KH: Gardening, working on community projects and spending time with friends and love ones
In the First installment of the 2013 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Dane D. Cook, candidate for Houston Community College Board of Trustees, District 3.
Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted verbatim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but will be considered during the endorsement process.
TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?
DC: Dane D. Cook
TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?
DC: NO
TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?
DC: Government is the people deciding what we want in a collective voice. We have decided we have priorities and goals simple examples are Police, Education, and Infrastructure. Government is the organized response in what one would hope would be a methodical and intelligent approach.
TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.
DC: have HCC adopt an open and transparent contracting and budget processes. A detailed budget along with contractors and there disclosure of any contractors donating to political campaigns placed on the HCC trustees website. While I am aware I am only one vote I will first find how many of other trustees support the idea then go to organizations and ask them to put political pressure on the any holdout trustees.
TL: As our nation’s educational and professional landscape continues to evolve in the 21st century, institutions like HCC stand to be a critical part of that important process. In your opinion, is HCC ready for the monumental changes coming to education? What can the system do to best prepare?
DC: NO, Successful student’s come from quality educators, HCC needs to look at policies that encourage quality educators to remain within the HCC school system. We currently place numbers of graduates above quality of graduates, and HCC does not even do that well with a 14 percent graduation rate. We must allow our faculty to educate without unnecessary administrative markers and bureaucratic red tape. This will allow for a more rigorous curriculum. I believe when our students are challenged intellectually they will become more engaged and rise to face the challenge. Then we will produce more students with the critical thinking skills to meet the evolving challenges in the 21st century.
TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?
DC: I am the only candidate that has gone to HCC. I have dealt with the issues of HCC not from hearing or being told by administrators. I have dealt with the bottom line issues from the perspective of a student, and student leader. I am completely removed from any contractors and will provide a neutral perspective free from any implied or unapplied preferences.
TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?
DC: mountain bike, reading, cooking, going to Houston Dynamo and Astros games.
After lots of consideration, I have decided to develop a candidate questionnaire, with the possibility of endorsements for some races. It’s important for voters to have as much information as possible when they go to the polls, and this blog is a way to add to that body of information. The questions will be emailed to all candidates, and responses will be published on the blog as they are received.
Along with the questionnaire, Texas Leftist will also issue endorsements once the responses are received, though I may not endorse for all races. For readers, here is what will be sent to the political candidates…
1. What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?
2. Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?
3. As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?
4. If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.
5a.(For Houston municipal candidates) With the exception of city government and some other select businesses, Houstonians can still be fired for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender because we do not have a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for general employment. This lags behind other Texas cities such as Dallas, Austin, and Ft. Worth. Do you support a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for the city of Houston? If not, please explain why. If so, please explain how you would work to pass such a measure.
5b.(For Houston municipal candidates) There have been an alarming number of complaints filed against officers in the Houston Police Department, accused of unwarranted police brutality towards citizens. A disproportionate amount of this violence occurs in minority communities, and in the vast majority of these cases, officers have gone unpunished. As a result, these incidents cause a cycle of mistrust between Houstonians and the very officers sworn to protect them. What can you do to increase oversight of the Houston Police Department, and help ensure that these incidents do not continue?
5c.(For Houston Community College district candidates) As our nation’s educational and professional landscape continues to evolve in the 21st century, institutions like HCC stand to be a critical part of that important process. In your opinion, is HCC ready for the monumental changes coming to education? What can the system do to best prepare?
6. What makes you the best candidate for this office?
7. When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?
Responses will be published as they arrive, and will be considered during the endorsement process. In the mean time, I highly recommend similar work already being done by Off the Kuff and Texpatriate, which will factor into the Texas Leftist endorsement decisions as well.
The Honorable Annise Parker Mayor of Houston 901 Bagby Street Houston, TX 77002
Dear Mayor Parker,
I am writing to propose that you and I share our contrasting ideas and vision for the future of this great city through a series of debates.
Three debates should be held after Labor Day but prior to the start of early voting and three additional debates after the start of early voting and before our November election. Too much is at stake for us not to share our plans for Houston with her citizens, and I hope you agree promptly to debating six times this fall.
I have instructed my staff to contact your campaign staff to begin discussions on the details.
Please accept this invitation.
Sincerely,
Ben Hall
This bold challenge comes at a time when the Hall campaign has struggled to dominate the news cycle. The seemingly endless parade of “Houston is best” lists continue to cast a resplendent light on the Parker administration. And what little press Hall is garnering is sadly not so good. As fellow blogger Horwitz at Texpatriate writes, Hall’s social media outreach has become something of a worst-case scenario.
To be clear, I fully support Mr. Hall’s call for some Mayoral debates. This election is important to Houstonians, and they deserve to hear contrasting visions for the city. But six debates, especially three packed in during early voting, seems overly excessive. It smacks of desperation from the Hall campaign if they are trying to rely so heavily on undecided voters. As the percentage of early voters continues to climb… 30 percent voted early in the last Mayoral election and a whopping 58 percent in 2012, the thought of having some last-minute debate shocker save the day isn’t very feasible. Hall needs to start sharing with voters the specifics of what he can offer the city of Houston, and why he would be a better choice than the current administration. If Facebook troubles weren’t enough of an indicator, it’s time for the Hall campaign to think quality over quantity.
