Houston Politics
Blogging City Hall and Harris County government with the Chronicle staff
Frazer, Robinson to square off for Houston controller
Carroll Robinson said Thursday that he would join Bill Frazer in running for City Controller next year, setting up an open-seat contest that likely will be overshadowed by a high-profile, wide-open mayoral race. Robinson, a Houston Community College trustee who designated a campaign treasurer on Monday, said in an email to supporters Wednesday that “I […]
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Ben Hall to run for Houston mayor in 2015
Ben Hall, the lawyer who lost to Mayor Annise Parker in 2013, will run for mayor again in 2015, he told the Chronicle on Wednesday. Hall will announce his candidacy in a radio advertisement that will begin airing this week, a year before the November 2015 election. While candidates are not allowed to collect money […]
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Council finally defines the city’s ‘core services’
That council members came up with a definition at all marked something of a victory. Lack of preparation, trouble getting a quorum and disagreement over semantics rendered the one-sentence definition a month-long project.
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Full Report: Fire Marshal investigates deadly Southwest Inn blaze
The State Fire Marshal’s office Friday released its investigation report concerning the May 2013 blaze at the Southwest Inn in which four Houston fire fighters were killed. Read the full report below.
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Ogg in new ad: Yes, criminals will find me ‘dangerous’
Kim Ogg is striking back at Devon Anderson’s new advertisement this week, releasing her own spot on Friday that says the only people who can consider her “dangerous” are the violent criminals she pledges to lock up. In Ogg’s second 30-second spot, the Democratic challenger for district attorney hits back at the notion in Anderson’s […]
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City considers rules to allow ride-share operators at airports
Days before new paid-ride regulations take effect in Houston, city officials turned their attention Thursday to how app-based ride service companies like Uber could be permitted and charged at airports in the coming months.
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Republicans use HERO pastor subpoenas to turn out base
Republicans are using Mayor Parker’s now-scrapped subpoena of the speeches of local pastors to win over voters in the election season’s closing week. In a Harris County Republican Party radio spot that began late last week, GOP senate candidate Paul Bettencourt attacks the subpoenas, which Parker said on Wednesday she would withdraw. “The City of […]
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First Tuesday spends $625,000 to help local Dems
The First Tuesday PAC is spending big to help elect down-ballot Democratic candidates, having spent $625,000 over the past four months on an aggressive direct mail campaign. The committee, led by local trial lawyer Dave Matthiesen, has spent about $500,000 on direct mail to help turn out the vote for the Democratic slate and $50,000 […]
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