Tag Archives: houvote

Ben Hall HATES Taxes

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.

TLCQ 2013: Endorsements in HCC Trustee Races

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.

On the TLCQ Endorsements

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.

TLCQ 2013: Annise D. Parker

In the Fifteenth installment of the 2013 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Hon. Annise D. Parker, current Mayor of Houston, and running for her third and final term.

Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim 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?

AP: Annise D. Parker

TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?

AP: I am currently Mayor of Houston.

TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?

AP: In order for human beings to live in concert with one another, you have to have government. It’s a mechanism for deciding what you do as a community. I have been frustrated that, as a country, we seem to be losing that focus on community in favor of a more consumer-driven focus on individuals wanting to pay only for the services they use. It is my hope that people will think more about how we can re-engage as a community and re-engage with local government in service of community. Government should be run efficiently and effectively. I have applied many approaches I’ve learned in the business world to achieve that. But ultimately, government is a service organization, not a business. It really is about making our communities stronger.

TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.

AP: Continue to create jobs. We are seeing very good results from Hire Houston First, a program I started to give preference to firms that hire local workers when they apply for city contracts. I will continue the reforms we started in the Office of Business Opportunity – the former Affirmative Action Department. We expanded our overall city-contracting goal for small, minority, woman-owned businesses to 34 percent. We’ve helped secure more than $25 million in private funds for small business loans. We’ve provided incentives that have attracted more than $2.2 billion in economic development for the city. And we’ve worked with labor unions to provide apprenticeship programs on city-funded projects.

Continue to reduce crime and improve public safety. Since I became mayor, Houston’s overall crime rate is down more than 8 percent. We’ve modernized public safety, protected police officers from layoffs and increased the number of officers on the street. We’ve revamped the police radio and technology system, bulldozed 2,000 crack houses and dangerous abandoned buildings, opened our new Sobering Center so that police officers can focus more of their time on fighting crime, made substantial progress on creating an independent crime lab (separated from the police department), put a plan in place to eliminate the backlog of sexual assault kits and more.

Use resources available to the city to support our children’s education. Although the city is not charged with education in the traditional sense (setting the curriculum, hiring teachers, etc.) I’ve made sure that our resources are working to strengthen schools and help schoolchildren. In August we distributed 25,000 backpacks full of school supplies to children in need. I appointed a Chief Education Officer to coordinate city initiatives around education. We’re working to coordinate infrastructure projects near schools and keep our kids safe when they go to school. We’re building new libraries and funding after-school programs. We’re working with partner organizations to help children stay in school and gain the necessary skills to find good jobs when they graduate.

TL: 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.

AP: I absolutely believe we should pass an anti-discrimination ordinance. Houstonians deserve those protections. Passing the ordinance will require agreement from all councilmembers, and when we have the support necessary we can move forward.

TL: 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?

AP: The Chief of Police, his Command Staff and I take very seriously any allegation of police brutality. That’s why it is simpler and easier than it has ever been before to bring a complaint against an officer. We revised the complaint process, removing language on the forms that threatened perjury charges for unproven allegations. We made complaint forms available for the first time through community organizations like NAACP, Urban League and LULAC. We created the Independent Police Oversight Board, whose community panelists review allegations of police abuse, use of force and all discharges of weapons. We have begun to deploy body cameras among patrol officers, with the goal of having all officers wear them as soon as financially possible. We are purchasing new TASERS that limit the duration of the electrical charge administered. And we have dealt swiftly and decisively in removing officers who have violated the rights of citizens.

TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?

AP: Houston is leading the nation in job creation and the vast majority of ways that people rank cities. I’m running because I believe we can do even better. During my two terms as Mayor, Houston’s city government is borrowing less and doing more on a pay-as-you-go basis. We’ve created a dedicated fund for street repairs and flood prevention. We’ve secured funding for new libraries and laid the foundation for a parks and trails system that most cities can only dream of. We put more police officers on the street and are working to make our city safer. We’re demolishing crack houses and dangerous abandoned apartment complexes – and we’re modernizing our police and fire stations. I want to help the best city in America get even better.

TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?

AP: Between my job as mayor and my campaign, free time is a real luxury! I spend as much time at home with my family as I can – and I relax by reading and working in the garden tending my cacti, succulents and orchids.

Thanks to Mayor Parker for her participation.

TLCQ 2013: Roland Chavez

In the Fourteenth installment of the 2013 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Roland M. Chavez, candidate for Houston City Council At Large Position 3.

Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim 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. No endorsement will be issued for Houston City Council, At Large Position 3.

TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?

RC: Roland M. Chavez

TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?

RC: 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?

RC: Government is important because, citizens depend on its elected officials to be stewards of their communities, core services, public safety, quality of life, infrastructure, and tax dollars.

TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.

RC: To ensure all core services are maintained and funded, and to work with other elected officials, both city and county to provide a safe community where all citizens can work, live, and enjoy this city.

TL: 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.

RC: As a former 34 year City of Houston employee with the Houston Fire Department, Yes I support a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance.

TL: 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?

RC: Having worked as a civil servant, I will work closely with community leaders and HPD to ensure the department’s officers are diverse and highly trained to work in all communities and to provide protection for all its citizens and will not tolerate those officers who violate the public civil rights.

TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?

RC: Having worked as a Houston Fire Fighter for 34 years, and served as President of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, my experience in city government, knowledge of the city and its neighborhoods, understanding labor/management relations, and working with many leaders throughout the city gives me an advantage on core services, public safety, infrastructure, and quality of life issues. Additionally, I am from Houston, raised in the First Ward, and still maintain residence in the inner city, where it provides me a greater appreciation for my parents, my neighborhood, and the entire city.

TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?

RC: Living in the Woodland Heights allows me to spend time venturing out locally to festivals, sports, and antiques shops. I have been remodeling and restoring old homes. And I enjoy the outdoors, boating, fishing, camping, or just relaxing near the water.

Thanks to Mr. Chavez for his participation.

TLCQ 2013: Ellen Cohen

In the Twelfth installment of the 2013 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Hon. Ellen Cohen, incumbent Houston City Council Member for District C. She is running for reelection.

Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim 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?

EC: Ellen Cohen

TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?

EC: I previously represented HD 134, including Meyerland, Bellaire and the Rice U areas, in the State Legislature from 2007-2010. I’ve represented City Council District C, which overlaps with many areas in HD 134, since January 2012.

TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?

EC: Government is a place where everyone can come together to solve our communities’ problems. Everyone should have a voice and a seat at the table so we can make progress as a group instead of going it alone.

TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.

EC: Public Safety is always my first priority and to that end I’ve been working to come up with innovative solutions to deter crime. Currently, I’m working to install security cameras in Fourth Ward. Once this is complete, I intend to look at other areas which might benefit from this. Additionally, parking remains a major concern in District C communities. Now that the Washington Ave. Parking Benefit District is underway, I will begin conducting stakeholder meetings in other parts of the district so that we might come up with solutions to address unique concerns in those neighborhoods. Additionally, I want to pursue a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance in the next two years.

TL: 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.

EC: I absolutely support a comprehensive non-discrimination measure a consider it to be a major civil rights priority. Demonstrating community support and dispelling misconceptions will be critical in getting such a measure passed.

TL: 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?

EC: Police brutality must not be tolerated. Even one rouge officer is one too many. When such incidents come to light we must act swiftly and transparently in order to ensure the matter is handled appropriately. Education and training play a vital role in preventing these instances, and in-vehicle cameras are a critical part of transparency and citizen protection.

TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?

EC: Over the past six years I have proven myself as a problem-solver both in the State House and on Council. I believe that solving our communities’ problems is the first job of an elected official, and I feel up to the job for another four years.

TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?

EC: I like to work out, spend time with my family and socialize with my friends. I also love enjoying the many beautiful parks around our city.

Thanks to Ms. Cohen for her participation.

TLCQ 2013: Robert Glaser

In the Eleventh installment of the 2013 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Robert Glaser, candidate for the Houston Community College Board of Trustees, District 5.

Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim 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?

RG: ROBERT GLASER

TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?

RG: 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?

RG: GOVERNMENT PROVIDES SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OFTEN NOT BEST OR PRACTICALLY PROVIDED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR. IT PROVIDES A MECHANISM TO PROMOTE IMPORTANT PUBLIC VALUES.

TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.

RG: THERE ARE TWO THAT ARE AT THE ‘TOP OF THE LIST’. FIRST, RESTORE UNQUESTIONABLE INTEGRITY TO THE BOARD BY REVIEWING CURRENT ETHICS POLICIES AND IMPROVING THEM AS REQUIRED SO AS TO SATISFY COMMUNITY CONCERNS. SECOND, COMPLETE THE TASK OF SELECTING AND HIRING A NEW, PERMANENT, CHANCELLOR FOR THE SYSTEM BY SUPERVISING THE CURRENT SELECTION COMMITTEE PROCESSES AND ACTIVELY SEEKING OUT AND PERSONALLY INTERVIEWING QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION.

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?

RG: HCCS IS ‘BECOMING’ READY. BY IMPLEMENTING THE EXPANSION OF TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR THE SKILLS NEEDED IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, EXPANDING THE ‘DUAL CREDIT’ PROGRAM FOR HS STUDENTS, AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CLASSES PROVIDING CREDITS THAT TRANSFER TO OTHER TEXAS PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, HCCS IS RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF A 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY. FOCUSING ON TECHNOLOGY TO BETTER DELIVER CURRICULUM AND TRAINING TO STUDENTS WITH DIVERSE SCHEDULES IS AN AREA THAT HCC MUST CONTINUE TO DEVELOP. HCC MUST ALSO LEAD THE WAY IN AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR ITS STUDENTS TO BEST SUCCEED IN THE PROGRAMS AND PATHS CHOSEN.

TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?

RG: I AM A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, A PRODUCT OF THE LOCAL PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND HAVE LIVED IN THE DISTRICT ALMOST MY ENTIRE LIFE. AS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY FOR OVER 25 YEARS, I EMPLOY SKILLED LABOR AND I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR A QUALIFIED AND SKILLED WORKFORCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE FINANCES OF RUNNING AN ORGANIZATION AND AM SKILLED AT FOCUSING ON OBJECTIVES AND COMMITTING THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISHING GOALS. BEING MARRIED AND HAVING THREE CHILDREN, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND HOW THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS A BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THE SKILL SET I WILL BRING TO THE BOARD WILL BE VALUABLE IN GUIDING THE INSTITUTION ON A PATH TO CONTINUING ITS MISSION FOR THE COMMUNITY.

TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?

RG: I DIVIDE MY TIME BETWEEN MY BUSINESS, MY FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.

Thanks to Mr. Glaser for his participation.