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Burt Levine

Stories by Burt

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Houston Politics: Upholding Integrity Amidst Party Primaries

Discover how Houston's party primaries are challenging political integrity, featuring insights from Kim Ogg and Shawn Thierry, with a focus on local impact and community values.

In the dynamic landscape of Houston’s political scene, the spirit of bipartisanship is put to the test as the primaries approach. Esteemed public servants like Kim Ogg and Shawn Thierry stand at the forefront, navigating the complex waters where principle often clashes with party purity.

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Whitmire's Vision for a Thriving Houston

John Whitmire has firmly set his sights on "Revitalizing Houston," echoing his commitment from the campaign's inception on November 15 last year, through to his triumphant declaration of victory. His words resonated with conviction in the packed hall of George R. Brown Convention Center, where he announced, "Great cities accomplish great things. My focus is on enhancing safety and infrastructure – expect more officers on our streets and tangible improvements in our community's well-being."

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John Whitmire's Triumph and the Dawn of Transformative Leadership

John Whitmire, since November 15 last year, remains steadfast in his commitment to revitalizing Houston.

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Final Call To Voters For Houston's Decisive City Elections, Dec. 9th

This Saturday, December 9, 2023, marks a pivotal day for Houston as election polls, open from 7 am to 7 pm, invite voters to conclude the heated run-off elections. The positions up for grabs include the mayoral seats for Houston and Bellaire, the Houston City Controller, and council seats for Houston and Baytown. Up until Monday, an impressive count of over 107,000 Houstonians have already cast their ballots, in-person and by mail.

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Houston's City Councilwomen's Races Bring Out Harris County Voters

A total of 13,763 Harris County voters trekked to early vote the first day of Early Vote for Houston run-off races Monday, November 27 not only for the first open Mayor’s race in eight years featuring the first African American woman run-off candidate for mayor but women defending council seats too.

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Houston's Mayoral Run-off Election Kicks Off With Early Voting

As the buzz of civic duty intensifies, Houston residents are poised to make their voices heard with ear- ly voting for the 2023 mayoral run-off commencing Monday, November 20. This critical election, culminating on Saturday, December 9, will determine the city’s leadership and the composition of the City Council across multiple at-large positions and districts D, H, and G.

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Veterans Day Brings Cheers to City Hall

Veterans soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen crowded Houston City Hall Saturday, November 11 including a 105-year-old woman Army Veteran and a 93-year-old widow of a combat veteran to celebrate the day first known as Armistice Day, the 11th Day on the 11th month in 1918 when World War I ended in Flanders Field, France.

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John Whitmire and Sheila Jackson Lee Go Head-to-Head in Run Off

John Whitmire won 43 percent, almost avoiding the Saturday, December 9 run-off. After 50 years as a Legislator from Houston Whitmire won big on his way to city hall. Celebrating at the Marriott Marquis with African American and Hispanic icons on his stage he hammered his crowd that he is ready to go to the mayor’s office today but first he has one more election.John Whitmire won 43 percent, nearly avoiding the Saturday, December 9 run-off. After 50 years as a legislator from Houston, Whitmire secured a significant victory on his path to City Hall. He celebrated at the Marriott Marquis with African American and Hispanic icons on his stage, passionately addressing his supporters. He declared his readiness to assume the mayor's office, but first, there's one more election to win.

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Houston Elections: Race Heats Up as Early Voting Nears Its End

As the early voting period in Harris County comes to a close, over 101,000 people have already cast their ballots, leaving one more week of early voting at the county's 68 designated locations. These elections, which hold the power to shape our lives, see citizens actively engaging in the democratic process, choosing from 18 candidates vying for the position of Houston Mayor and numerous contenders in hotly contested city council races.

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Early Voting Enthusiasm Soars in Houston

On Monday (October 23rd), thousands flocked to 68 Early Vote Polls across Harris County, marking the first day of Early Voting, fueled by the determination to elect the first new mayor and controller in eight years. They were eager to cast their votes in favor of five at-large and 11 distinct district city council races, along with some Houston ISD School Board races, propositions, bonds, and 14 state constitutional amendments.

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Early Voting Is Here Monday, October 23rd

Early voting is available starting Monday, October 23. This Monday, October 23, marks the beginning of early voting for the Tuesday, November 7 General Election, which includes 18 candidates for Houston Mayor, four candidates for controller, 23 running in 11 separate districts, and 27 for at-large City Council. City Propositions, County Bonds, and State Constitution Amendments are on the ballot. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Houston Stands in Solidarity with Israel

Mayor Sylvester Turner, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee, Sylvia Garcia, and Lizzie Fletcher, District Attorney Kim Ogg, County Commissioner Adrian Garcia, City Council Members Sallie Alcorn and Abbie Kamin, and NAACP President James Dixon brought Houston together on Monday, chanting, "Long Live Israel."

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One Month Left in the Race for Houston Mayor: Candidates Make Their Case

As the November 7th mayoral election approaches, seven candidates gathered on stage at Forest Brook Middle School in northeast Houston to make their case to lead the fourth-largest city in the United States. Each contender presented their vision for Houston's future, addressing critical issues such as federal funding, COVID-19 relief, infrastructure, public safety, and more.

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Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson's Party Switch and Path to Republican Alignment

In a surprising turn of events, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, a lifelong Dallas native and former Democrat State Representative, made headlines last week by announcing his switch to the Republican Party. This move makes him the only mayor aligned with the Republican Party among America's 14 largest cities.

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Nikki Haley Becomes Biggest Threat to President Biden

Nikki Haley, the first Person of Color Governor of South Carolina and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, is the sole woman in the Republican race aiming to surpass former President Donald Trump and secure the position of the Indian American President. Recent polling has identified her as the only Republican with a chance to defeat President Joe Biden.

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Houston's Ballot Order for Tuesday, November 7 Election Now Finalized

Over a hundred official candidates vying for positions as Houston Mayor, City Council members, and City Controller gathered at the Houston City Council Annex last Friday, August, to determine their appearance order on the ballot for the upcoming Tuesday, November 7 Election.

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Texas’ Will Hurd Preps for the First Presidential Debate

Will Hurd, a former Congressman from south Texas and the first black Texas A&M University Student Body President during its bonfire tragedy 25 years ago is thankful to the 42,500 campaign donors that put him past the 40,000-threshold required by the Republican National Committee to be in Wednesday’s debate.

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Ten Weeks Until Early Voting in Houston Municipal Races

Monday, October 23, from 7 am to 7 pm, marks the beginning of the opportunity for early voting in the Houston Mayor, City Controller, and City Council races. Early Voting will continue until Friday, November 3, leading up to the General Election on Tuesday, November 7.

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National Urban League: Celebrates Achievements and Advocate For A Better Nation

Thousands of National Urban League convention goers from all corners of the country gathered at the George R. Brown Convention Center last week for a momentous event. The occasion was not only a celebration of the organization's remarkable achievements but also a collective commitment to improving the nation for everyone.

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Senator Scott Makes Presidential Primary Debate Stage

United States Senator Tim Scott, elected in 2016 as the first black U.S. Senator since Reconstruction and in 2010 as the first Republican African American elected from South Carolina to the U.S. Congress since 1897, has raised the money and poll numbers to qualify to compete on the August 23 debate stage with former President Donald Trump.

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City Council Member Plummer Celebrates Big Birthday

Houston City Council Member Letitica Plummer recently celebrated a milestone birthday with a vibrant Third Ward celebration. The event drew a crowd of enthusiastic supporters and generated excitement for the upcoming early vote election period from October 23 to November 3, just around 100 days away.

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Demographic Factors Shaping Houston Council Races

As the deadline approaches for filing for ballot space in the upcoming Houston elections, the city's council races are being influenced by its diverse demographics. Houston stands out among America's and Texas' largest cities with its combination of at-large and district City Council Members.

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Houston City Candidates Continue to Play Musical Chairs

With two months to go until the Monday, August 21 filing deadline for Houston Mayor, City Controller, five at large (citywide), and 11 City Council seats, the list of candidates continues to shuffle at the city secretary’s office, where candidates are required to name a campaign treasurer before being permitted to politicize, raise, or spend campaign money.

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Stafford Elects Its First Minority Mayor

Stafford, a city located southwest of Houston, made history on Saturday, June 10, by electing Ken Matthew as its first minority Mayor. Matthew secured a victory in a run-off election, receiving 500 votes, while incumbent Mayor Cecil Willis received 484 votes. Matthew's extensive experience includes 17 years of service on the Stafford City Council, making him the longest-serving council member in the city at the time of his candidacy.

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Houston Council Races Are Crowding

While most of the focus is on who is running for president in 2024 or even who is running for mayor this year, Houston has five at-large City Council members elected citywide, and 11 district City Council members who vote on the mayor's $6.2 billion budget, every expenditure over $50,000, city laws called ordinances, and the care for local citizens' needs.

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Houston Mayor’s Race: The Hottest Ever

With Memorial Day over, summer is soon here. Hot temperatures are continuing to climb in Houston, and the upcoming Mayor, City Controller, and City Council races are becoming hotter than anything seen before in the money likely raised, spent, and votes sought to lead a city that covers 640 square miles and includes 2.4 million people.

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Pollard Proves That Race Doesn’t Matter

Houston City Council Member Edward Pollard, 38, represents District J, the southwest Houston areas of Galleria, Gulfton, Sharpstown, Braeburn, and Alief. Each of these areas are completely different with a wide range of different ethnicities and political ideology.

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Minorities achieved milestones in the May 6 elections

Last Saturday, May 6, on Texas’ second uniform election date other than the second Tuesday in November, African Americans, Hispanics, and Indian Americans won big milestones in suburban city and school board races that determine metrics in taxes, the quality of life, and the quality of education where minority families have been moving.

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Saturday, May 6 Polls Provide Plenty Political Picks

This Saturday, May 7th, is Texas’ second Uniform Election Date other than the second Tuesday in November. This Saturday, with early voting having happened from Monday, April 24th, to this past Tuesday, May 2nd, features mayor, city council, school board, and bond elections throughout the region, deciding the fate of suburbs and our schools.

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Judge Lina Hidalgo Commits to Harris County

Lina Hidalgo’s strikingly small figure and bright-eyed Latina looks caused political handicappers to dismiss her at 27-years-old for most of 2018. However, that happens no more around Harris County, where in her second month as the top elected official in America’s third largest county, Harris County Judge Hidalgo oversees a $4.1 billion budget that employs more than 17,000 people.

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Rep. White Wants Texas Fathers’ Role Valued in Texas Law

Rep. James White, Houston native and former teacher at Third Ward’s Cullen Middle School, was elected to his fourth term last fall as the only African American to represent Texas’ Piney Woods in the Texas Legislature. Today he's fighting for Texas families with his House Bill 453.

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Culbreath Celebrated as Montgomery County's First Black Chief

Ken Culbreath, a north Houston native and 23-year veteran of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, has been appointed Chief Deputy overseeing the fast growing county north of Houston's 800 sheriff's employees and $70 million budget as the county's first black chief.

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Rep. Reynolds Welcomes Commissioner Morales

State Rep. Ron Reynolds, recently re-elected to his fourth term with nearly 70 percent, as Fort Bend’s first African American State Legislator, came back from Austin last Thursday, January 26 to introduce his friend, recently elected Fort Bend County Commissioner Vincent Morales to the constituents they share in east Fort Bend County.

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Sen. Miles Starts Session Making Major Legislative Impact

Boris Miles, with the winter sun piercing the Texas Capitol, was cheered on by half a dozen bus loads of supporters that traveled to Austin Tuesday, January 10th when he was sworn-in to succeed Rodney Ellis as Houston and south Texas' only African American State Senator. Miles raised his right hand to represent SD 13 in the upper chamber.

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State Rep. Johnson Starts Session Filing 17 Bills

Surrounded by family and friends, Jarvis Johnson was sworn in as State Representative for House District 139 succeeding Mayor Sylvester Turner. Shortly after swearing to represent the people of his district, Johnson hit the ground running listening to his constituents of north Houston at open houses and community forums. He acted on addressing their concerns by filling 17 bills to achieve results.

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Constable Majors Leads Dedication of Street Naming in Honor of The Late Constable Ruben Davis

Constable Gary Majors, appointed unanimously by Commissioners Court to succeed the late Fort Bend Constable Ruben Davis, led the renaming dedication of the street in front of the east Fort Bend Annex to Ruben Davis Drive. With freezing temperatures and tears coming from his eyes, Majors was joined by hundreds Saturday, January 7th to remember his mentor.

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Ellis Leads Harris County Democrats Into Office

Rodney Ellis in one of his first acts as County Commissioner hosted a formal inaugural event at NRG Stadium Monday, January 2nd featuring Mayor Sylvester Turner administering a celebratory oath of office to Ellis, DA Kim Hogg, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Tax Assessor Ann Bennett Harris and 30 judges and constables in the largest Harris County Democrat stampede to office in decades.

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