On The Record: Charles Kuffner

For this episode of On The Record, we speak with Charles Kuffner creator of Off The Kuff and Kuff’s World.

How did you get started in politics? Did you come to it in your youth or later on?

I really didn't do much until I started blogging. I had always voted, and I had volunteered for causes like Planned Parenthood. But I didn't really get involved until I began blogging. I like to say that blogging has made me a better citizen. I'm more informed, more involved, and more active.

Who are some of your political heroes?

I don't really have any "political heroes," per se. I admire politicians who year after year do the right thing and remain as idealistic as they were as a candidate.

The system does things to you, and the power received as an elected official is not for themselves or people close to them to benefit from. So I admire the officials that stay true to their original beliefs.

What inspired you to begin blogging about politics?

I began blogging as an excuse to write. I wrote a sports column in college and I missed that. I began my blog thinking I would start writing about sports again, but it turned out to be political.

What are you looking forward to in the coming cycle?

For the Senate race, I have a preferred candidate in Representative Noriega, and there's a lot of excitement about him.

Harris County has prospects to win a Democratic seat in the Senate, as well as countywide races. We will also have numerous opportunities in state House races, and even in Congress. I'm excited to be a part of it.

Have you ever wanted to work / worked professionally in politics? In what capacity?

Yes and no. I'm happy with what I do now; I have an I.T. job in corporate America. I have thought about working in professional politics, but I'm not sure on which area I would like to focus.

Tell us a little bit about your blogs, and what roles they fulfill in the political arena in today's politics?

I have two blogs. Off The Kuff is a personal blog I created in 2002. I also created Kuff's World for the Houston Chronicle.
I have found a niche in local and state politics. I interview candidates up for election, and I follow legislation. In the recent Houston City Council race, I interviewed more than half of the candidates who ran, which was something no one else did.

I also interviewed all the Democratic State Representative candidates with an opponent last year. There just isn't that kind of coverage in the papers.

I also do analyses of voter trends. I have a degree in math, so I'm a bit of a numbers geek at heart. I like breaking out the Excel spreadsheets and analyzing voter data. I also like examining policy as it comes along, especially when the legislature is in session. I like understanding the consequences of government actions.