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Harris County Approves Election Tally Despite One Complaint


November 17, 2008    
by: Pat Hernandez

Harris County Commissioners Court adopts the official results of the November 4th general election. It reflects all votes cast. Despite the success, not everyone was pleased with the outcome. Pat Hernandez has the story.

> click to listen

Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole: "I move."

Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia: "Second."

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett: "Any discussion?...All in favor?"

Commissioners: "Aye."

Emmett: "Good...and thank y'all."

Harris County Clerk Beverly Kaufman thanked County Judge Ed Emmett and Commissioner's Court for their help.

"We're so grateful to the members of the court, for the support that you give us. Without your support we couldn't do it."

Emmett says it was suggested that more early voting locations be considered to accommodate the number of people casting ballots.

"Kaufman said we were over prepared for election day itself.  And we need to consider all that — because people are changing their voting patterns. But all-in-all, we got very few complaints for a county of almost four million people."

image of kaufmanKaufman: "We knew we were going to have a very high turnout election and so, we prepared for early voting by opening more locations and expanding the existing locations or moving some to larger locations and increasing equipment and staff, and that proved to be a very wise decision because of the number of voters that we had. Literally, 62-percent of the vote occurred early for that two week period."

Kaufman says any candidate seeking a recount or filing an election contest must wait until a canvas is complete.

"A recount is a prerequisite to an election contest too. You always take things in due order. You canvas, you recount and then you may file a contest, if you feel that that's necessary. Hopefully, we've put this baby to bed."

But resident Cynthia Spooner complained about how hard it was for her to vote and claimed that some election procedures were duplicated. She says it was her goal to ensure that every ballot cast was counted.

image of Spooner"There was a poor quality of work product that was coming out of the registrar's office. There was a consistent misunderstanding, or misapplication of the Voter Registration act of 1993, which is the standard bearer of voter registration. I mean, Texas election code is fine, but Texas election code should as minimum standard be following the federal standard for voter protection at this point."

Spooner says she hopes her complaint will be followed through, but County Judge Emmett says overall.

"I think, in a county this size, I mean we have more people than 24-states and, it did go well."

Pat Hernandez, KUHF Houston Public Radio News.

key election links:
> Texas Statewide Election Returns

> Harris County returns
> Fort Bend County returns
> Brazoria County returns
> Montgomery County Elections
> Galveston County Results

> election night photos from NPR
> Watch captioning of NPR's coverage


Harris County Approves Election Tally Despite One Complaint
November 17, 2008    
by: Pat Hernandez

Harris County Commissioners Court adopts the official results of the November 4th general election. It reflects all votes cast. Despite the success, not everyone was pleased with the outcome. Pat Hernandez has the story.
> read more       > click to listen


Houston A Major Player in County's Success
November 14, 2008    
by: Pat Hernandez

Retired Army general and former Clinton administration drug czar Barry McCaffrey was in Houston to speak about the state of national security and the role Houston plays in the economy. Pat Hernandez had a chance to speak with the man who is excited about the new administration.
> read more       > click to listen


What Obama Means for Houston
November 5, 2008    
by: Bill Stamps

One of the major themes of Barack Obama’s campaign was CHANGE. He’s promised to change everything from the war in Iraq to our nation’s education system. But what does it all mean for Houstonians? Bill Stamps spoke with some political analysts to find out.
> read more       > click to listen


Pundit Surprised Dems Didn't Do Better
November 5, 2008    
by: Jim Bell

Even though Barack Obama won the Presidency by a landslide vote, one local political observer says he's surprised that the national landslide didn't help more Democrats win in Harris County. Jim Bell explains.
> read more       > click to listen


Returning Victory for Cornyn
November 5, 2008    
by: Jack Williams

Republican U.S. Senator John Cornyn will be returning to Washington after defeating Democratic challenger Rick Noriega last night.
> read more       


History is Made in Race for Harris County District Attorney
November 5, 2008    
by: Pat Hernandez

In a race that went down to the wire, voters elect Pat Lykos the first female district attorney in Harris County. She beat former Houston Police Chief C.O. Bradford. Pat Hernandez has the story.
> read more       > click to listen


There’s a New Sheriff in Town
November 5, 2008    
by: Bill Stamps

Houston City Councilman Adrian Garcia easily defeated incumbent Tommy Thomas to become Harris County’s new sheriff. Bill Stamps was at Garcia’s victory party for this story.
> read more       > click to listen


REPORT COURTESY OF NPR
Political Rewind: NPR's Best Election-Related Stories
Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:52:00 -0500
"Political Rewind" is National Editor Muthoni Muturi's biweekly take on NPR's best election-related stories from the campaign trail and around the country.
> click here for the full story     > click here to listen

REPORT COURTESY OF NPR
Dean Explains The Democrats' '50-State Strategy'
Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:29:00 -0500
Howard Dean, former presidential candidate and chairman of the Democratic National Committee, implemented the "50-State Strategy" to help the Democrats win big in 2008 — and it appears to have worked. This campaign approach doesn't write states off as "unwinnable."
> click here for the full story     > click here to listen

REPORT COURTESY OF NPR
Where Does The Republican Party Go From Here?
Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0500
After George Bush's unpopular presidency and John McCain's decisive defeat, there is a battle underway for the soul of the Republican Party. Conservative leaders weigh in on how to reinvigorate the GOP.
> click here for the full story     > click here to listen

REPORT COURTESY OF NPR
An Election Day Letdown For Gay Americans
Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:22:00 -0500
Commentator Marc Acito is pleased that President-elect Obama included gay people in his victory speech, but Acito worries about the future. Voters in California, Florida and Arizona banned gay marriage on Election Day.
> click here for the full story     > click here to listen

REPORT COURTESY OF NPR
Election Exclamations Nationwide
Sat, 08 Nov 2008 11:02:00 -0500
Sample reaction to Barack Obama's historic election across the map. We'll keep adding more voices leading up to Inauguration Day on our Soapbox blog.
> click here for the full story     > click here to listen

REPORT COURTESY OF NPR
Letters From Listeners: Remembering Past Elections
Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0500
This week's historic elections brought us lots of comments from listeners about the election and our coverage of it. Some people liked our remote in Ladera Heights much more than others.
> click here for the full story     > click here to listen

REPORT COURTESY OF THE NEWSHOUR
Newly Elected Senators Assess Priorities en Route to Capitol Hill
Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:28:00 EST
After Tuesday's election, a handful of newly elected U.S. senators will help reshape the Congress. Senators-elect Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Mark Udall, D-Colo., and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. assess their goals and what influence they will have on the 111th Congress.
> click here for the full story

REPORT COURTESY OF THE NEWSHOUR
Historians Answered Your Questions on Obama's Win, 2008 Campaign
Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:10:00 EST
Sen. Barack Obama will become the country's first black leader after a campaign season that broke records and saw female candidates break new ground. Historians Richard Norton Smith and Peniel Joseph answered your questions on this historic election.
> click here for the full story

REPORT COURTESY OF THE NEWSHOUR
Democrat Merkley Unseats Smith in Oregon Senate Race
Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:30:36 EST
Democratic challenger Jeff Merkley has been projected the winner of Oregon's Senate race over incumbent Republican Sen. Gordon Smith, bringing the Democrats to at least 55 seats in the Senate.
> click here for the full story

REPORT COURTESY OF THE NEWSHOUR
Obama Adds North Carolina to Victory Column
Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:24:46 EST
The Associated Press declared that President-elect Obama had won North Carolina after canvassing counties and determining that there were not enough outstanding provisional ballots to close John McCain's 13,693-vote deficit.
> click here for the full story

REPORT COURTESY OF THE NEWSHOUR
After Landmark Victory, Challenges Begin for Obama
Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:42:00 EST
President-elect Barack Obama rode to victory on a platform of change and unity. Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks mull the challenges ahead for the Obama administration and reflect on his victory speech.
> click here for the full story

REPORT COURTESY OF THE NEWSHOUR
Obama's Win Earns Emotional Reactions, Turns Page in History
Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:21:00 EST
The election of Democratic Sen. Barack Obama presents a new chapter in American history. After a look at how Americans across the country are reacting to the news, a panel of historians discusses the significance of the nation's first black president.
> click here for the full story




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