Will voters allow state official to serve from prison?

I smell a conspiracy.

I have just learned that we Texans will be asked in November to vote on a peculiar amendment to our state Constitution.

For 139 years, that constitution has required certain statewide officeholders to live in Travis County while serving all the people of Texas.

When the Constitution was passed in 1876, undoubtedly the reasoning for this provision had to do with the state’s vast geography.

Taylor and Van De Putte in runoff | May 15, 2015

Last Saturday's election determined that San Antonio will be led by a woman, but the two contenders are women of contrasts. One is a consummate Latina politician who has spent 24 years in the Legislature. The other is a trained city planner, an African-American technocrat who has spent years in City Hall as a staffer, councilwoman and interim mayor. Both join us to talk about their plans.

Voters to decide city charter changes | April 17, 2015

It seems you can’t go a day in San Antonio without a mayoral debate. By the time people go to the polls, they should know enough to cast an intelligent vote. But there’s more to the May 9 election than a selection of the mayor and council members – there are some important proposed amendments to the city’s charter. Probably most important is a proposal to pay our elected officials more.

Mayor erred on proposed resolution | Last Word

A story in the Houston Chronicle this week offered powerful evidence that Mayor Ivy Taylor is correct on one of the most contentious issues in the mayor’s race.

The story is about Uber driver Duncan Burton, who sits in the Harris County jail accused of raping one of his passengers.

It also points to an error she made.

San Antonio Mayoral Forum | April 3, 2015

The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce hosts a Mayoral Forum featuring Tommy Adkisson, Ivy R. Taylor, Leticia Van de Putte and Mike Villarreal in the KLRN Studio. The forum is moderated by Rick Casey and is being broadcasted as a one-hour Texas Week special.

Feb. 20, 2015 | Implications from latest runoffs

San Antonio has a new state senator and a new state representative, and there’s still one more special election needed to complete our local legislative team. Meanwhile, 12 people have signed up to run for mayor of San Antonio, virtually assuring there will be another runoff election in our future. Political consultants Christian Archer and Kelton Morgan join us.

Texas runoff harks back to 1-party state | Last Word

The wild and woolly race for Leticia Van de Putte’s seat in the Texas Senate is both a throwback to Lone Star days of old and a Texas test of a new election reform in California.

Because this is a special election, the first round was not a pair of separate primaries for Democrats and Republicans.

It was, in effect, an “open primary,” open to Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens and even Whigs.

But this particular race is in a district that leans Democrat.

Issues in Texas Senate seat runoff | Feb. 6, 2015

On Monday, San Antonio voters will begin heading to the polls once again. That’s when early voting begins for the Texas House and Texas Senate seats. Rick Casey discusses issues with the two Senate candidates – state representatives Trey Martinez Fischer and Jose Menendez.

Texas House seat 123 runoff election | Jan. 30, 2015

With Republican Nunzio Previtera facing Democrat Diego Bernal in a runoff election Feb. 17, to see who will fill Texas House seat 123, we take a look at the issues.

Ushering in the political new year | Jan. 9, 2015

The new year has barely begun and politics have already taken center stage – though with a whimper. A special election held this week to elect a state senator and representative drew less than 5 percent of voters and only yielded runoffs. Meanwhile, the lineup for the May mayor's race appears to have solidified, if not exactly started to sprint.

Making lawyers the bad guys | Last Word

It must have seemed like a good idea to Walter Martinez, the former one-term state legislator and city councilman who last held office two decades ago.

He had decided to mount a political comeback by running for mayoral candidate Mike Villarreal’s legislative seat and he needed a catchy issue to overcome Diego Bernal, the frontrunner who had resigned from City Council to make the race.

He would, of course, fight for economic development and better schools, but every politician fights for economic development and better schools.

What else?

Candidates to replace mayor, Part 2 | July 18, 2014

Four San Antonio City Council members have thrown their hats in the ring to replace outgoing Mayor Julian Castro. Two are in their first terms and are not regarded as having much of a chance. The other two, first elected to the council in 2009, are contenders.

Last week we spoke with District 6 Councilman Ray Lopez. This week we welcome District 2 Councilmember Ivy Taylor.

Candidates to replace mayor, Part 1 | July 11, 2014

It looks like a special City Council session could be scheduled for the week after next to pick an interim mayor to replace Julian Castro until next May's election.

The City Charter says council members must select a mayor from among themselves. At least half the council would enjoy the appointment, but two members emerged as leading candidates. We talk to one this week, and the other next week.

Mayor's race has frontrunner | Last Word

The race for interim mayor is not the only campaign under way in the wake of Mayor Julian Castro’s Senate confirmation for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Next spring’s non-interim mayor’s race is also under way – and from where I stand it appears we already have a frontrunner.