Raising Campaign Cash: Houston City Elections

March 10, 2023

As I have said in the past, before you run for office make sure you know the laws concerning campaign donations.

City of Houston elections will be in November. The Houston Chronicle has a list of candidates that have filed. The filing deadline is in August so this list can change. Also candidates will have the opportunity to move to different positions until the deadline.

A couple of notes. I believe there is a $5000 limit on donations from individuals and PACs. Robin Williams, who is running for Mayor, has a number of donations, including one from herself, that has violated this limit. An amount of NA means the candidate has not filed a report yet. I only included At Large and the District E race which includes Clear Lake. For incumbents I included the figures only from their last report. Some of the candidates have reported fundraising numbers over the past year and some have raised money only over the last few months. Senator Whitmire has listed Cash on Hand including his donations from his previous years in office, as did Martin and Kubosh. Here are the totals for Houston City Council races:

CandidateRaisedSpentLoansCOH
John Whitmire$1,148,015$249,142$0$10,100,086
Amanda Edwards$1,356,232$291,636$0$1,044,338
Chris Hollins$167,034$607,220$0$1,062,754
Lee Kaplan$1,300,390$340,962$200,000$1,164,527
Robert Gallegos$48,837$27,626$0$133,471
Derrick BrozeNANANANA
Naoufal HoujamiNANANANA
Raykey TezinoNANANANA
Robin Williams$188,995$0$52,700$188,995
At Large 1
Conchita Shelly ReyesNANANANA
Isaiah MartinNANANANA
Leah Wolfthal$43,812$16,683$0$24,953
Melanie MilesNANANANA
At Large 2
Danielle BessNANANANA
Marina Coryat$13,714$4,063$0$1,562
Holly Flynn VilasceaNANANANA
Julian RamirezNANANANA
Nick Hellyar$65,854$6,772$0$44,710
At Large 3
Donnell Cooper$25,977$17,631$0$9,189
Ericka MczcrutcheonNANANANA
James JosephNANANANA
Obes NwabaraNANANANA
Richard CantuNANANANA
Twila Carter$85,926$9,456$4,000$78,768
At Large 4
Letitia Plummer$4,125$10,309$0$24,741
John BranchNANANANA
Roy Morales$0$465$5,838$0
At Large 5
Sally Alcorn$155,531$28,187$0$206,273
Undeclared
Charles OnwucheNANANANA
Mark McGeeNANANANA
District E
Fred Flickinger$0$1,933$50,000$0
Martina Lemond Dixon$254$254$100$84
Patricia OlivaresNANANANA
Controller
Dave Martin$8,250$12,493$0$161,851
Michael Kubosh$22,900$3,612$196,000$54,289


League City Councilman, Captain Chaos, calls for smoking out a leaker of public information

March 9, 2023
From Galveston Daily News.

This ought to get wild.

According to the Galveston Daily News League City Councilman, Justin Hicks, seen here posing for a Grecian Formula commercial, has called for the “smoking out” of a leaker, a city employee, who tipped the Galveston Daily News about his racist email sent in 2021 to the Police Chief. Last week a citizen posted the emails Hicks sent to the police chief questioning the hiring practices of the department. As posted last week:

“Please tell me that LCPD is committed to hiring officer candidates based on qualifications, NOT skin color.”

It didn’t go well for Hicks and he was left with egg on his face and in his beard. Instead of letting this email, obtained via an Open Records Request, die out, Hicks has breathed life into it by calling for the outing of the city employee who tipped the Daily News of it’s existence. From GDN:

“Someone is going to get busted,” Hicks said Tuesday. “What you do on government time is going to come back to bite you.”

Hicks might want to review the Freedom of Information Act, the Open Records Act, and maybe the legal do’s and don’ts of being on the League City Council. Every record, email, letter, correspondence, etc is subject to the laws governing all elected officials with few exceptions. Also calling for retaliation against an employee for disclosing public information might also disqualify you for serving as an elected official. It might be considered an abuse of power. That usually doesn’t end well.

Luckily Hicks is in Texas where lawlessness is considered part of being a republican.


Questions we should ask CCISD candidates.

March 8, 2023

Maybe the moderators of the various debates would consider asking these questions to the candidates.

The parents, students, and teachers are lucky to have a very impressive School Board to represent them in educational matters. Most of them are truly dedicated to making CCISD a shining example of how a school board can maintain and improve education for those entering the workforce or moving on to a college degree.

Unfortunately over the last coupe of elections special interest, partisan politics, and unlimited outside campaign funds have been introduced into our elections resulting in electing UFOs (Unqualified For Office) and bringing chaos into the board. Our district has survived this attack so far and has rejected extreme candidates in the last two elections but it continues in the election of 2023. With that in mind I think these are very valid questions to ask candidates running for the CCISD School Board:

Will you accept the results of the election after certification? The only answer should be YES or NO not YES or NO (unless I win) In the last two elections the losing candidates requested recounts, demanded investigations, and one actually sued the winning candidate to force a new election. (it was eventually withdrawn) There hasn’t been one single credible bit of evidence of voting irregularities in any local election, so will you accept the results of the election or should we expect you to whine like a little bitch if you lose?

Why are you running? If you are running against an incumbent tell us what drove you to challenge him/her. What is the School Board lacking that made you wake up one morning and say “I’m running for the school board!”. All candidates should make it very clear why they are running for an unpaid job that will take time and effort.

Will you accept out of district money? In the last election thousands of dollars came from a partisan organization into a losing effort to win a seat on the board. In one race $8000 was spent. In another $20,000 plus the partisan organization’s contribution in mailers. Will you be accepting support in money or resources from partisan organizations, PACs, out of district donors, or special interests?

Have you ever been a member of a political organization. If so what positions did you hold and how will that help you in school board matters? Participation in a political organization should not be a disqualifying attribute but it should be made clear to the voters. Many former board members have been associated with political organizations but they did not wear it on their shoulders and they have successfully represented the district and not party politics.

If you win and serve your term what will you want to have accomplished? Looking ahead, and looking back, what would be your shining achievement serving on the school board. What would you consider as your specific major accomplish?

What educational qualifications do you bring to the board? Have you participated in school board committee? Do you have an education background as a teacher, administrator, or employee of the school district. Have you participated in school activities with your kids?

We have a couple of good races coming up in May. Contact info, websites, etc will be provided soon. If you have other questions that should be asked please send them and I will update this post.


Texas Republican files bill to end NASA in Houston

March 7, 2023

We do things bigger in Texas, like having bigger idiots in office.

Texas State Representative Brian Slaton pictured here with his first (or second?) wife, after walking on water, has filed a bill to start Texas secession from the United States. If this bill would pass (it won’t) the bill would allow a public vote on secession in November. It’s nothing more than a right wing idiot dog whistle perking up the ears of the ignorant and stupid people in Texas who think Texas could actually leave.

For the sake of the ignorant and stupid people who think this is actually a possibility let’s review what would happen if Texas was allowed to leave. First all military bases would be closed. All military equipment would be shifted to other US bases. Military personnel would have to either move to the United States or quit. The federal teat would dry up with Military towns being abandoned. Businesses that support the military bases would have to close shop. The tax base for cities would be devastated.

All federal offices such as Social Security, Medicare, Veterans Affairs, etc would be closed. Social Security payments would end leaving millions of stupid old people fighting over cat food. Medicare would end with medical facilities and healthcare providers losing billions in profits and old people dying from contaminated cat food. Federal transportation funds for roads, rail, and airports would dry up. NASA’s facilities in Houston would be closed and moved to Alabama or Florida. NASA employees would either move or quit. The community would lose billions in revenue. (See how stupid this sounds?)

Best of all, with Texas having no military, Mexico would cross the river and take back Texas. Much like the Alamo Texans would be defenseless except for a few bubbas with their AR-15s as Mexico walks into Texas reclaiming the land that was stolen from them back in the 1800’s. Lucky for Texans there will be too many bodies to pile up and burn as they did after the fall of the Alamo.

As I said, we do things bigger in Texas. If you think Texas can leave the United States you are a Texas sized idiot.


Remember the Alamo? Maybe we shouldn’t

March 6, 2023

It’s was just a plain old fashion ass kicking.

Remember the Alamo was a pretty simple minded and effective battle cry even though most never could or can remember what the battle was all about. Today most don’t even know the date when the Alamo fell. (Hint: It was on March 6 1836.) Today most don’t want to remember what the battle of the Alamo was all about, and for good reason.

Texas, at the time, was part of Mexico. It was their land. Mexico reached out and invited settlers to come to Mexico (Texas). All they asked was for them to learn the language and become Catholics. During that time Mexico helped the settlers by providing weapons to fend off attacks by the Native Americans. Instead of being thankful for the land, hospitality, and lifestyle provided by Mexico, about 200 white guys, led by leaders wearing raccoon hats to drive fear into their rivals, decided to steal the land from Mexico starting with a stand at the Alamo. BIG MISTAKE!

The battle of the Alamo was probably the biggest military blunder next to the Iraq war in American history. They raccoon army had limited supplies. They had no reinforcements from the United States. They had no support and was abandoned, left to die all for a simple minded and effective battle cry. And they did. All of them. And their bodies were piled up and burned. (except for Gregorio Esparza who was provided a Christian burial)

The 200 poorly equipped, poorly dressed, land stealers picked an unfortunate fight with thousands of well armed, well fed, Mexican soldiers who spent a few nights camped outside blaring music from Mexico’s boy band, Menudo. The Alamo fell on March 6. The land stealers were considered heroes even though they were military idiots who basically lost their lives for pretty much nothing but a battle cry. What did anyone expect? What would you do if you had invited someone into your home, gave them food, water, and a place to raise a family and then they decided to steal your house and land? Todays Texans would grab their AR-15, put their teeth in, and kick the living shit out of the squatters and then expect to be interviewed on FoxNews. That is what Mexico did. They kicked the shit out of the ungrateful, land stealing, hillbillies, stacked their bodies in pile and burnt them. (FoxNews didn’t cover that)

So. Let’s really remember the Alamo. They deserve it.


Who represents us in the Bay Area and how do I contact them?

March 4, 2023

Bay Area Houston covers portions of Galveston, Brazoria and Harris County. On the State level BAH is in Senate District 11 and is in House District 129 in Harris County and House District 23 in Galveston County. On the Congressional level the area is in Congressional District 36 and District 14. Here is the contact information for each:

Mayes Middleton, Senator District 11
Senate webpage: https://senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=11
Austin Phone: (512) 463-0111
Email: See website above
Galveston Office phone: None listed (Will update once I find it)
Brazoria District Office phone: None listed (Will update once I find it)
Harris District Office: There is no office

Dennis Paul House District 129
House webpage: https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=129
Austin Phone: (512) 463-0734
Email: Dennis.paul@house.texas.gov
District Office: 17225 El Camino Real Blvd Suite 415

District Phone: (281) 488-8900

Leo-Wilson, Terri House District 23
House webpage: https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=23
Austin Phone: (512) 463-0502
Email: None listed
District Office: None listed

Congressman Brian Babin District 36
House Webpage: https://babin.house.gov
Washington DC phone: (202) 225-1555
Email: https://babin.house.gov/contact/
District Office: https://babin.house.gov/contact/officeinformation.htm

Congressman Randy Weber District 14
House Page: https://weber.house.gov
Washington DC Phone: 202-225-2831
Email: https://weber.house.gov/contact/
District Office: https://weber.house.gov/contact/officeinformation.htm


Texas Republican bill will limit tax breaks for the divorced. (Praise the lord?)

March 3, 2023

No place but Texas. Literally.

Republican State Representative Tony Tinderholt, pictured here as he looks at a new intern, is not happy about House Bill  HB No. 2889, introduced by Republican representative Bryan Slaton. HB2889 will give huge tax breaks to those who are married and with lots of kids.

Unfortunately the bill excludes same sex marriages as well as those who are divorced. This has pissed off Tinderholt because he has been married FIVE times, twice to the same woman. He has clearly violated the “Sanctity of Marriage and One Man One Woman”. He has 3 kids from 2 of his wives. According to Reform Austin Tinderholt has voted against protecting women’s health and safety of children. He had a restraining order placed on him after his first marriage which included:

  • “Threatening Petitioner in person, by telephone, or in writing to take unlawful action against any person.”
  • “Causing bodily injury to Petitioner or to a child of either party.”
  • “Destroying, removing, concealing, encumbering, transferring, or otherwise harming or reducing the value of the property of one or both of the parties.”

Slaton’s bill will deny Tinderholt the right to benefit from the tax cuts for straight, white, christian, praise the lord, couples. Tinderholt responded:

“I intend to fight this bill and will beat off my opponents with both hands!.” (Actually he didn’t say this but it is funny!) It is clear the from bills filed the republican purity police is out in force.


The fix was in at League City Council meeting on the book ban

March 1, 2023

We have seen this 👩‍👧‍👧before and it didn’t end well.

The all white male League City Council voted 5-3 to approve the book ban resolution last night even after hours of testimony in opposition. What was interesting was the no show of those who supported the resolution in its original form. It’s clear they were told not to attend since it was going to pass anyway. And it did by a 5-3 vote with Councilmen Crews, Tessler, and Bowen voting no.

Speakers were not only passionate they brought great information, some quoting Supreme Court cases and Texas law. Some called for the resignation of Councilman Justin Hicks (Captain Chaos) who authored the resolution. Hicks was clearly the target of verbal attacks and sat there like he just got caught watching porn on his city laptop. You can see the public comment here.

Let’s make sure we all know what this resolution is about. It has absolutely nothing to do with “christian family values”. If it did they would have included the call for banning books on those having an affair, or getting divorce violating the sanctity of marriage, or those who lie on a daily basis, or those who pork a porn star, pay her off, and lie about it to voters. It has nothing to do with wholesome christian family values.

In the first version of the resolution there was a clear attack on the gay community. That language was removed in the modified version but, as the old saying goes, when they tell you who they are, believe them. This is an attack on our families, friends, teachers, students, and others in the community. As in the 1930’s they have picked a group of people to be the enemy. It didn’t end well.

This resolution is no different than the resolution’s being passed in other white wing city councils. The Council will eventually spend your tax dollars to defend this in a lawsuit which they will lose.

This is who they are.


“They ought to teach this in school”…well CCISD Does! Career & Technical Education

February 28, 2023

In High School I made a cutting board.

I attended the 6th Session of Inside CCISD and once again was very impressed with the education and resources available to students in our schools. Besides preparing kids for college and giving them the tools to help select a university, apply, and pay for the classes CCISD provides a great Career and Technical Education program for those who will enter the workforce right after high school.

The picture to the left is a two seater plane. The students build this from a kit with the adults being responsible for the items required for certification. They will later sell the plane. Across the hall was the automotive repair shop where students work on their own cars or on cars owned by CCISD employees. This includes oil changes and complete break rebuilds among other things. We also toured the Audio/Video workshop. Students are responsible for the video presentations at football games on the big screen, making the videos for the Inside CCISD presentations, and anything the school requires. If you are watching a video at a CCISD school it was probably made by the students. Many of these students work part time in local auto dealers or with the NCAA in helping with on the field photos and videos during games.

Our meeting included a great lasagne dinner not only served by the students but made by the students. CCISD has Culinary Arts classes as part the Hospitality and Tourism career cluster. It was pretty good! These are just a few courses available to students in CCISD.

So if you hear someone say “They ought to bring back teaching of hands on technical skills” tell them to look at the Career & Technical Education provided by CCISD:


Join us TONIGHT to stop the book banning in League City Texas

February 28, 2023

We need your help to stop Agenda Item 8A at the upcoming League City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 28, at 6 PM. This is the second and final ordinance reading, and we must make our voices heard loud and clear.

-Reminders-

  • Protest: Tuesday, February 28 | 4:30-5:50 PM – Bring a banned book and wear green! Helen Hall Library 100 W. Walker St. League City, TX 77573.
  • Speaker Sign Up: Tuesday, February 28 | 5-5:50 PM League City Council 300 W Walker League City, TX 77573
  • Petition: Sign it and share it


Bay Area Houston

Hard hitting political commentary always full of wit in Houston Texas.

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