BUSINESS CONNECTIONS HOUSTON
AT-LARGE #2 SHOWDOWN
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TONY BUZBEE: “I VALUE THE VOTE OF Every HOUSTONIAN.” COUNCILMAN DAVID ROBINSON AND WILLIE DAVIS WILL FACE OFF ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 IN THE RACE FOR AT-LARGE #2
Paid political advertising paid for by Tony Buzbee for Mayor, Gilbert Garcia Treasurer
TONY BUZBEE: “YES...I’M PERSONALLY ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE IN THE RACE FOR MAYOR OF HOUSTON.”
ANTHONY DOLCEFINO: “I VALUE THE VOTE OF Every HOUSTONIAN.”
Political advertising paid for by the Anthony Dolcefino Campaign.
ANTHONY DOLCEFINO: “YES...I’M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE IN THE AT-LARGE POSITION #4 COUNCIL RACE.”
WWW.ANTHONYDOLCEFINO.COM ANTHONY DOLCEFINO: “I’M A FRESH FACE ALL HOUSTONIANS CAN TRUST...THE CHOICE FOR CHANGE IS CLEAR!.”
Political advertising paid for by the Anthony Dolcefino Campaign.
WWW.ANTHONYDOLCEFINO.COM ANTHONY DOLCEFINO: “I’M PERSONALLY ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019.”
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TAKING ON SPECIAL INTERESTS AT CITY HALL
What I'm Proposing
Full Budget Transparency: I am advocating for the release of a publicly-accessible, line-item list of every dollar and contract the City spends money on. As a taxpayer, you have a right to know how and where your dollars are being allocated. Creating An Independent Inspector General: This council-approved role will serve to investigate cases of financial malfeasance, waste, and ethics violations throughout City Hall. The goal
of this policy is to move the existing position further from the Mayor's office to allow for greater investigative freedom & access to public information. Findings from the investigations will be made available to the public. Strengthening Council Power: This city has a strong-mayor form of government, meaning the mayor gets to set the agenda and decide when or if committees will meet. I would like to see a system that allows for greater representation from our district council members. Changing the city charter will serve to benefit our neighborhoods and prevent gridlock & compla-
cency from taking place. More Democratic Contract Approval: There are currently $400 million dollars in ongoing contracts being paid without the approval of city council. This is due to a loophole in state law that allows for contracts under $50,000 to be approved without a vote. I will fight to lower the limit by half to increase transparency & prevent unchecked waste in our budget. Zero-Based Budgeting Approach: This is a common-sense policy to ensure that every dollar we spend is benefitting the people of Houston. Every year, we will
THE FUTURE OF FLOOD PREVENTION
What I'm Proposing
Spend The Drainage Fee On Drainage: Currently, only about 50% of the drainage fee you pay goes to improving drainage systems & related projects. This dedicated funding source needs to provide 100% of its dollars to this purpose to prepare our flood infrastructure for extreme weather events. Speed Up Harvey Housing Recovery Program: The federal government allocated $1.2 billion dollars for housing re-
pairs of Hurricane Harvey victims. An investigation into the program revealed that only 4 homes were fixed in 2 years despite millions of dollars already being spent. I will ask the tough questions on where our dollars went & fight for an expedited process. Live-Feeds On Work Sites: The city should require contractors to install live feeds of their construction sites so that taxpayers can keep tabs on the progress of their work. This will increase taxpayer confidence that work is actually being done in our bayous to prepare for the next
storm. Transparency is key to ensuring a rapid and efficient construction process. Rapid 311 Response Times: We have an obligation to Houstonians to properly maintain storm sewers and ditches. In a city prone to flooding, there is no excuse that this critical piece of infrastructure is not maintained frequently. As your AtLarge council-member, I will work with our districts to increase response times for repairs & cleanups. Less Concrete, More Green Space: Overdevelopment has worsened our flooding problem as we have not done
build our budget from the ground up, keeping what works and replacing what doesn't. As a financial watchdog, I will make sure your dollars are best used to provide quality service to your neighborhoods. Campaign Finance Reform: Our politicians receive vast amounts of campaign contributions from developers, city contractors, and special interests. This undoubtedly creates a pay-to-play culture that is bad for taxpayers & working Houstonians. I will fight to reform our campaign finance rules to root out payto-play & prevent the buying of elections by special interests.
our due diligence to provide green space for the water to absorb. I will work to put neighborhoods above the profits of developers and curb this dangerous trend, working with all parties to strike a delicate balance between growth & safety. Houston First Flood Contracts: Millions of dollars have gone to out-ofstate companies while Houston small businesses promised work after Hurricane Harvey haven't seen a penny. We need pre-selected, Houston-based firms ready for action - I will demand this change before our next hurricane season.
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Tony Buzbee is a decorated Marine, successful lawyer and business owner, philanthropist and change agent. He is running for Mayor of Houston to end corruption, restore effective government and deliver results for all Houstonians.
“SUPPORT FOR TONY BUZBEE IS CONTINUING TO GROW IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.” Paid political advertising paid for by Tony Buzbee for Mayor, Gilbert Garcia Treasurer
YOUR VOTE COULD BE THE DECIDING VOTE ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019. CAST YOUR VOTE FOR TONY BUZBEE.
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TONY BUZBEE is a decorated Marine, successful lawyer and business owner, philanthropist and change agent. He is running for Mayor of Houston to end corruption, restore effective government and deliver results for all Houstonians...Tony is frequently asked about his party affiliation; whether he is a Republican or a Democrat. The simple answer is that Tony is Independent — independent of divisive partisan politics and partisan bickering…independent of cronyism and special interests and…independent of the pay-to-play donors who control politicians with their campaign contributions...Tony Buzbee is THE Independent voice for all residents of Houston, whether Republican or Democrat.
RELATIONSHIPS MATTER... 06B
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“Tony Buzbee has made it a part of his “BUSINESS STRATEGY” to support candidates running for president, as well as, U.S. Presidents like President Barack Obama, the first African American to become president of the United States of America, former U.S. President William “Bill” Jefferson Clinton. And yes, he supported current U.S. President Donald J. Trump back when he was running for office. However, he also supported Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to name a few.”
Yes, Attorney Tony Buzbee supported President Barack Obama. His daughter loves President Barack Obama, and was so happy to meet him.
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Dear Houstonians,
As a successful businessman, I have spent my career helping those in need of fair representation. My company has hired many individuals that make up the diversity of Houston. As mayor, my staff and leadership team will reflect the demographics of Houston, as you should expect as a taxpaying citizen. As Houston continues to grow, as a firstclass city, we will face more challenges, from flooding, crime reduction, homelessness, and others. So, I implore you to work with me to engage our federal and state officials to help us with getting the funding we need. Over the years, I have built relationships with both Democrats and Republicans to make sure that I had lines of communication open at the local, state and federal levels. As mayor of Houston, having relationships with both Republicans and Democrats
Yes, Attorney Tony Buzbee supported President Bill Clinton.
will allow my administration to have open lines of communication with Washington D.C. should we need it. Under my leadership Hurricane Harvey residents would have received funding quicker (due to relationships) rather than waiting on the state reimbursement process.
RELATIONSHIPS MATTER...
I am Tony Buzbee, and as your Mayor, I promise you “Performance Not Politics,” as we work together to move our city forward.
Attorney Tony Buzbee and Sylver, a small business owner.
WE CAN DO BETTER WORKING TOGETHER... Yes, Attorney Tony Buzbee supported Gov. Rick Perry.
ATTORNEY TONY BUZBEE: “I don’t have a taxpayer funded security detail to carry me around Houston like our current mayor does. And I won’t have one as your mayor. I’ll pay my own way. Everytime I’m in an Uber, the driver is excited and wants a pic. This is Sylver. He is from the Congo. He owns a small business here. He loves Houston but tells me the streets are terrible. I already know that Sylver! We will do better!!!”
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SUE LOVELL: “Please join me in voting for Tony Buzbee in the race for mayor of Houston on Saturday, December 14, 2019.”
“I’M STANDING WITH TONY!”
Attorney Tony Buzbee is THE Independent voice for all residents of Houston, whether Republican or Democrat.
Yes, former Houston City Councilwoman Sue Lovell has endorsed Tony Buzbee in the race for mayor on Saturday, December 14, 2019.
TONY BUZBEE: "My life has been nothing but serious. My mother drove my school bus. My father was a meat cutter. So, I know what it’s like to be in want. We will tackle homelessness, hunger, poverty, potholes, illegal dumping, flooding, and other pressing matters when I’m your mayor. Oh, and we are going to damn sure take care of our firefighters too.”
Paid political advertising paid for by Tony Buzbee for Mayor, Gilbert Garcia Treasurer
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HCRP Chairman Paul Simpson Fights on Behalf of All Harris County, Texas Voters in November 2020 Election
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voting centers that smaller counties use. Every HOUSTON – Harris electronic poll book in every countywide voting center must update in real time so people can vote only County Republican once. In the very-low-turnout May 2019 election, the Harris County Republican Party documented that the poll books used in voting centers did not Party Chairman Paul update in a timely manner. “Currently, the County Clerk’s electronic poll book Simpson issued the system may not be ready for what could be one of the largest simultaneous voting operations in the nation in following statement November 2020. Furthermore, shrinking the number of polling locations as a band-aid to make that system regarding the County work would defeat its stated purpose and make voting less accessible to voters. “We thank the Secretary of State for recognizing Clerk’s adoption of the challenges in using election day countywide voting centers in Harris countywide voting County by requiring better communication and COUNTY MATTERS centers in the electronic records so the Democrat Clerk November 2019 shows that her voting center equipment is ready for prime time in November 2020 – which will likely be election instead the largest turnout Harris County has ever seen. We will remain vigilant, as should all voters, to ensure the County Clerk’s voting center electronic poll books acof the longstanding tually comply with the law.” County Republican Party remains enprecinct-based Election gagedTheonHarris election integrity issues. Chairman Simpson recently spoke out against a proposal by Day model: the Harris County Clerk to move to“All Harris County voters benefit from convenient and readily accessible voting locations; and because every vote should count equally, all voters benefit by maintaining election integrity. That is why we appreciate the good work of the Secretary of State to require the Democrat County Clerk show her countywide voting center scheme meets the law – so it does not do more harm than good. “As the nation’s third-largest county, Harris County poses unique challenges for countywide
wards a “joint primary,” saying the proposal would empower government bureaucrats, let one party's workers run the other party's primary election that selects its candidates, and run the risk of disenfranchising, inconveniencing, and confusing voters. Click to view the full story in the Houston Chronicle.
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
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DID SOMETHING ILLEGAL HAPPEN IN HARRIS COUNTY?
DIANE TRAUTMAN Harris County Clerk
Democrat County Clerk's Office Planned to Use 'Risky Method' for Election Results, Even Though They Knew It Was Illegal According to Paul Simpson, Chairman of the Harris County Republican Party
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Wednesday evening. HOUSTON — Before polling places "'As the clerk’s office confirmed to us, the even opened Tuesday, November 5, county was proposing to take memory cards containing raw vote totals and inHarris County Democrats were scram- (MBBs) sert them into a computer connected to bling to blame others as a pre-emptive an intranet,' Ingram said in an email. were then going to transmit cover-up for their mistakes in reporting 'They these results over a T-1 line to anelection-day results. The reality is, De- other computer connected to the intranet for tabulation. The MBB and mocrat County Clerk Diane Trautman the computer tabulating results are both components of the voting sysattempted to use a system not ready tem used in for prime time and that Harris County. The clerk was backfired with the historic COUNTY MATTERS planning to use delay in reporting the votthis risky method of results reporting even ing results. What's worse, is that she though they were fully aware it was illegal to do so, and with apparent displanned to hook up voting equipment regard to the fact that the intelligence to an external network, breaking a 10community has repeatedly warned elecyear-old law and putting all our votes at tion officials since 2016 of the continuing desire of nation-states to interfere with our risk. Election integrity and security election process. Directly connecting the county’s voting system to the intranet would should be the number one priority for have eliminated the protections that an airClerk Trautman, not pushing her gapped system provides and subjected the county to major security risks.' agenda with no regard for the law. As the Harris County Republican Party has consistently stated, all voters should have convenient and readily accessible voting locations, and benefit from election security and integrity, because everyone's vote should count equally. We appreciate the good work of our Ballot Security Committee and the Secretary of State requiring the Democrat County Clerk to obey the law – so she does not put our elections at risk. Fox 26, Nov. 6: "Keith Ingram, elections director for the Texas Secretary of State’s Office issued a scathing response
"Ingram said his office issued [an Oct. 23] advisory in order to formalize guidance they had previously given to counties in April 2019, and the Secretary of State’s Office did not change or issue any new requirements for the November 5 election."
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
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Will we turn out if it rains? I wonder…
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Rev. Robert L. Thomas, Jr.
This election cycle has proven to be a very interesting one so far. School boards ripe for change with new voices for candidates; a Mayor’s race that is troubling with all of the misinformation and half-truths being thrown around; and then there’s the BIG ONE - the race for the White House. In 2008 everyone felt the buzz of a possible black man being elected as President of the United States - the young and old turned out in droves. In 2012, ditto we got up and took someone with us to the polls to put 44 back in office for a second term. And then it appears that apathy or lethargy or just plain ole’ disinterest caused us to stay home instead of staying woke. Now we see the results of what can happen if we aren’t diligent and dedicated to the power of the process. I did not think that everything President Obama did was exactly right. I disagreed with some of his policies and whole-heartedly agreed with others. I always like to provide a cushion of pause in my analysis of the job of a politician. They are privy after all to information that you and I do not have access to, so with our current president, I try very courageously to give a pass to, but in less than 2
years I have simply run out of passes. The arrogance, blindness to the truth, enriching himself and his family by using the office of President is deeply disturbing and certainly is not the type of character necessary to safely guide the most powerful country on the planet. I don’t have space enough in this short piece to address all of my concerns with the current administration. Education, the environment, the poor and immigrants are all bearing the brunt of kneejerk reactions and shortsighted policies, while the connected and well-heeled continue to prosper by policies enacted to continue to enrich
them. You may say “pretty dark picture you’re painting there preacher!” Well, it’s always pretty dark the moment a good ole’ Texas thunderstorm blows through and washes the landscape clean, but the sun does come out and its radiance reveals the freshness of renewal. We need the freshness of renewal in our local, state and federal elections. You are, we are much stronger together than we realize. Our vote is our voice; our vote is our good ole’ Texas thunderstorm! On Election Day let’s cloud up and rain - it’s time for renewal!
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
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HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
Rev. Robert Thomas is pictured above with his wife Tracey. Rev. Thomas is the senior pastor at Olivet Missionary Baptist Church, located at 3115 Lyons Avenue in Houston, Texas 77020. You can reach Olivet Missionary Baptist Church by phone at (713) 224-1515. You can learn more about Olivet Missionary Baptist Church on the worldwide web at: www.olivetmbc.com.
DEMOCRAT Happenings
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Congratulations to Audrie Lawton for winning Re-Election as Chair of HBAD I would like to take this moment to congratulate Audrie Lawton (Chair), Almeda Dent (Second ViceChair), Joy Dawson-Thomas (Treasurer), Christian Evans (Sergeant at Arms), Clinton Horn (Chaplain) for winning election to the board of HBAD. In case you don’t know, Houston Black American Democrats is a political organization whose goals are to advance and support black communities through Democratic politics.
(281)788-3033
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AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS
COMMUNITY BULLETIN 957 NASA Parkway #251 I Houston, Texas 77058 Email: aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com
Audrie Lawton (left), and Attorney Jeralynn Manor at the recently held 2019 HBAD Board Elections in Harris County.
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
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THANK YOU EVERYONE!
“I would like to take this time to thank everyone who came out on Saturday, as well as those who could not. I am super excited and humbled at this opportunity to continue to serve this great organization! Thank you to all the candidates who answered the call for service! Let's keep this momentum going! So much work to be done! Let's win 2020!” — AUDRIE LAWTON, CHAIR THE HOUSTON BLACK AMERICAN DEMOCRATS
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
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DEMOCRATS ON THE MOVE: Attorney Dawn Rogers (left) is running for Judge, 334th District Court in Harris County, Texas on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Judge Mike Engelhart (middle) incumbent Judge for the 151st District Court is running for re-election in 2020. Attorney Jeralynn Manor is running for Judge, 80th District Court in Harris Count in 2020.
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
DEMOCRATS ON THE MOVE: Georgia D. Provost is pictured with Attorney Jeralynn Manor, a Democratic candidate running for Judge, 80th District Court in Harris County, Texas on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Early voting for the 2020 Democratic Party Primary for Harris County, Texas will begin on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, and end on Friday, February 28th..
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DEMOCRATS ON THE MOVE: Attorney Dawn Rogers (left) is running for Judge, 334th District Court in Harris County, Texas on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. And Attorney Jeralynn Manor is running for Judge, 80th District Court in Harris Count in 2020. Early voting will begin on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, and end on Friday, February 28, 2020..
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS
DEMOCRATS ON THE MOVE: The Honorable Carroll G. Robinson (left) and other members of HBAD. Houston Black American Democrats is a political organization whose goals are to advance and support black communities through Democratic politics. For more information on HBAD please send an email to: info@h-bad.org.
“Mayor Sylvester Turner finished first in the race for mayor of Houston to make the runoff. If you like him, you have a right to cast your ballot for him.”
“Tony Buzbee finished second in the race for mayor of Houston to make the runoff. If you like him, you have a right to cast your ballot for him.”
“Anthony Dolcefino finished first in the race for At-Large Position #4 to make the runoff. If you like him, you have a right to cast your ballot for him.”
“Letitia Plummer finished second in the race for At-Large Position #4 to make the runoff. If you like her you have a right to cast your ballot for him.”
“Sallie Alcorn finished first in the race for AtLarge Position #5 to make the runoff. If you like her, you have a right to cast your ballot for him.”
“Eric Dick finished second in the race for AtLarge Position #5 to make the runoff. If you like him, you have a right to cast your ballot for him.”