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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Ross Ramsey Managing Editor

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Ross Ramsey is managing editor of the Texas Tribune, and continues as editor of Texas Weekly, the premier newsletter on government and politics in the Lone Star State, a role he's had since September 1998. TW was a print-only journal when he took the reins in 1998; he switched it to a subscription-based, Internet-only journal by the end of 2004 without a significant loss in subscribers. As Texas Weekly's primary writer for nearly 11 years, he turned out roughly two million words in more than 500 editions of the Weekly, added a blog, a regular digest of the best in Texas political blogs, an online library of resources and documents and items of interest to insiders, and a daily news clipping service that links to stories from papers across Texas. Before joining Texas Weekly in September 1998, Ramsey was Associate Deputy Comptroller for Policy with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, also working as the agency's Director of Communications. Prior to that 28-month stint in government, Ramsey spent 17 years in journalism, reporting for the Houston Chronicle from its Austin bureau and for the Dallas Times Herald, first on the business desk in Dallas and later as the paper's Austin Bureau Chief. Prior to that, as a Dallas-based freelance business writer, he wrote for regional and national magazines and newspapers. Ramsey got his start in journalism in broadcasting, working for almost seven years covering news for radio stations in Denton and Dallas.

rramsey@texastribune.org
512-716-8611

Recent Contributions

Democratic Gubernatorial Debate: Liveblog, Video, Audio

by Ross Ramsey  |  3 hours ago

In their first and probably only televised debate, Bill White sounded experienced, as you'd expect of a three-term mayor of Houston, while wealthy hair care magnate Farouk Shami was more passionate, more animated, and much more prone to political mistakes.

The Democratic Gubernatorial Debate: Liveblog

by Elise Hu and Ross Ramsey  |  14 hours ago  |   5

We're live-blogging the Democratic gubernatorial debate from Fort Worth. (Check your local listings for stations and times and so on). We welcome your input in the comments or on Facebook and Twitter.

Donkey Business

by Ross Ramsey  |  2/8/2010

In the run-up to their first appearance together on statewide TV, the leading Democratic contenders for governor are sticking to the script: Bill White sounds like a guy prepping for a town hall meeting, while Farouk Shami is testier, spoliing for a chance to hold the frontrunner accountable.

The Capital Gang

by Ross Ramsey and Matt Stiles  |  2/5/2010

The six Texas congressional candidates who ended the year with $1 million or more on hand are incumbents. Only two of the candidates with the 20 biggest bank accounts are not.

That's Right, He's Not From Texas

by Ross Ramsey  |  2/4/2010

Farouk Mohammed Shami, who's running for governor as a Democrat, has a strong Middle Eastern accent and a strange name. Some of his fellow Democrats are loathe to talk about it. He's not worried. "If a president can be named Barack Hussein Obama, a governor can be named Farouk Shami," he said. "If a president can be black, a governor can be brown."

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

by Ross Ramsey  |  1/30/2010

The death penalty and DNA testing in a 16-year-old triple murder in the Texas Panhandle. The second debate between the three Republican candidates for governor. Charter schools are having a hard time hanging on to the employees that matter the most: Teachers. The possibilities and perils of a switch to electronic medical records. A rundown of top races. Who's giving to candidates, and how much? Social networks and politicians. Ballots: The slow reveal. And a new and highly requested feature makes its debut. The best of our best from January 23 to 29, 2010.

The 2nd GOP Gubernatorial Debate: Liveblog

by Ross Ramsey and Emily Ramshaw  |  1/29/2010  |   5

The three Republican gubernatorial candidates — Kay Bailey Hutchison, Debra Medina, and Rick Perry — met for the second, and probably final, time in Dallas tonight. We came, we watched, we wrote, live-blogging all the way.

File Not Found

by Ross Ramsey  |  1/29/2010

In the Information Age, it still takes the major political parties in Texas three weeks to figure out who should be listed on their state ballots.

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Medina Ad: "One of Us"

by Ross Ramsey  |  1/27/2010

GOP gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina introduces her family, trying to connect with voters as "one of us."

The Last Picture Show

by Ross Ramsey  |  1/27/2010  |   4

At Friday night's second and final debate between the Republican gubernatorial hopefuls, Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison will try not to make any career-threatening gaffes, while Debra Medina hopes to add momentum to an outsider run that has made her the most interesting candidate in the race.

Life of the Parties

by Ross Ramsey  |  1/25/2010  |   2

Early voting in the Republican and Democratic primaries starts in three weeks, and the election is in five. While there are nearly 200 legislative races on the ballot, only a few are real contests. Here are the ones worth watching — as of now.

The Spigot Turns On

by Ross Ramsey and Ben Philpott  |  1/22/2010

The U.S. Supreme Court freed corporations and unions from a century-old ban on political spending Thursday, ruling that restrictions on their electioneering expenditures violate their First Amendment Rights. Ramsey explains what the ruling says; Philpott, covering politics for KUT News and the Tribune, reports on how it will affect a state like Texas, which has long had a corporate cash ban in effect.

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Signs of Discontent

by Ross Ramsey and Bob Daemmrich  |  1/17/2010

Texans gathered for a "nullification" rally at the Texas Capitol on Saturday, January 16, in protest of federal healthcare plans in particular and federal spending and laws in general. They called on the state government to "nullify" what they contend are unconstitutional actions by the federal government — that is, to opt out of pending healthcare legislation and other federal programs and laws they feel go beyond the bounds of the U.S. Constitution. Most of the photographs that follow were taken by Bob Daemmrich; a few were shot by Ross Ramsey.

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

by Ross Ramsey  |  1/16/2010

A big week, with the State Board of Education working on social studies textbooks — Thevenot was all over that this week, starting with a story that got national attention — and then the first debate between the GOP gubernatorial candidates, a story we tag-teamed with poll analysis, Hu's and Ramsey's live-blogging, Philpott's audio, and video. Our first TribLive event coaxed some news out of House Speaker Joe Straus, and E. Smith also interviewed Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson on beaches, politics, and, um, politics. We featured M. Smith on athletes in politics, Aguilar on the pack of Republicans chasing U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall, Rapoport on women in campaigns, and Hamilton on candidates outside the spotlight. The best of our best from January 11 to January 15, 2010.

Not Exactly a Game-Changer

by Ross Ramsey  |  1/15/2010

In the first debate of this political season, Rick Perry didn't fall on his face, and Kay Bailey Hutchison didn't either. For a politician with a reputation to protect, that's the description of a win. The third candidate in the race, Debra Medina, held her own.