Who are the superdelegates? "Watchers" of the gate?

Superdelegate
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"Superdelegate" is an informal term for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the quadrennial convention of the United States Democratic Party.

Unlike most convention delegates, the superdelegates are not selected based on the party primaries and caucuses in each U.S. state. Instead, the superdelegates are seated automatically, based solely on their status as current or former elected officeholders and party officials. They are free to support any candidate for the nomination.

The Democratic Party rules do not use the term "superdelegate". The formal designation (in Rule 9.A) is "unpledged party leader and elected official delegates".[1] In addition to these unpledged "PLEO" delegates, the state parties choose other unpledged delegates (Rule 9.B) and pledged PLEO delegates (Rule 9.C).[1] This article discusses only the unpledged PLEO delegates.

The Republican Party also seats some party officials as delegates without regard to primary or caucus results, but the term "superdelegate" is most commonly applied only in the Democratic Party.

At the 2008 Democratic National Convention the superdelegates will make up approximately one-fifth of the total number of delegates. The unforeseen and unprecedented closeness of the race between the leading contenders Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama following Super Tuesday has focused attention on the potential role of the superdelegates in selecting the Democratic nominee, inasmuch as in the aggregate they could come to be kingmakers to a degree not seen in previous election cycles.[2] Such an outcome would result in the first brokered convention since 1952.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 History
* 2 Superdelegates in 2008
o 2.1 Pledged and unpledged delegates
* 3 Criticism
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 6 External links

[edit] History

After the 1968 Democratic National Convention, the Democratic Party implemented changes in its delegate selection process, based on the work of the McGovern-Fraser Commission. The purpose of the changes was to make the composition of the convention less subject to control by party leaders and more responsive to the votes cast during the campaign for the nomination.

These comprehensive changes left some Democrats believing that the role of party leaders and elected officials had been unduly diminished, weakening the Democratic tickets of George McGovern and Jimmy Carter. In 1982, a commission chaired by former North Carolina Governor James Hunt created superdelegates. Under the original Hunt plan, superdelegates consisted of 30% of the total delegate count, but when it was finally implemented in 1984, superdelegates consisted of 14% of the total count. The number has steadily increased until today, where superdelegates are approximately 20% of the total delegate count. [3]

In the 1984 election, the major contenders for the Presidential nomination were Gary Hart and Walter Mondale. Each of them won some primaries and caucuses. Hart was only slightly behind Mondale in the total number of votes cast, but Mondale won the support of almost all the superdelegates and became the nominee.[4]

In 1988, a study found that superdelegates and delegates selected through the primary and caucus process are not substantively different in terms of viewpoints on issues from each other. However, it also found that superdelegates are more likely to prefer candidates with Washington experience than outsider candidates.[5]

The superdelegates have not always prevailed, however. In the Democratic primary phase of the 2004 election, Howard Dean acquired an early lead in delegate counts by obtaining the support of a number of superdelegates before even the first primaries were held. Nevertheless, John Kerry defeated Dean in a succession of primaries and caucuses and won the nomination.

[edit] Superdelegates in 2008

Main article: Democratic Party (United States) Superdelegates, 2008

Superdelegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention include all Democratic members of the United States Congress, Democratic governors, various additional elected officials, members of the Democratic National Committee, as well as "all former Democratic Presidents, all former Democratic Vice Presidents, all former Democratic Leaders of the U.S. Senate, all former Democratic Speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives and Democratic Minority Leaders, as applicable, and all former Chairs of the Democratic National Committee."[1] There is an exception, however, for otherwise qualified individuals who endorse another party’s candidate for President; they lose their superdelegate status. In 2008, Senator Joe Lieberman was disqualified as a superdelegate because he endorsed Republican John McCain.[6], although Lieberman's status was questioned because of his status as being elected in the Connecticut for Lieberman party.[7] However, Lieberman was not listed as a superdelegate one month prior to the official disqualification. [8], and the count for Connecticut's delegates has always excluded Lieberman's spot[9][10].

The 2008 Democratic National Convention will have approximately 794 superdelegates,[11][12] although the number can change up to the beginning of the convention (Call to the Convention Section IV(C)(2)). Delegates from state caucuses and primaries will number 3,253, resulting in a total number of delegate votes of 4,047. A candidate needs a majority of that total, or 2,024, to win the nomination.[11] Superdelegates account for approximately one fifth (19.6%) of all votes at the convention. Delegates chosen in the Democratic caucuses and primaries account for approximately four-fifths (80.4%) of the Democratic convention delegates.[11][13] Note: All numbers in this section assume that Michigan and Florida delegates are not counted per current Democratic National Committee rules. If those rules are changed before or during the convention, the numbers above will change as appropriate.

The media commonly cites 796 superdelegates[14] [15] but due to the death of Representative Tom Lantos and the move from Maine to Florida of former Maine Governor (and Distinguished Party Leader) Kenneth Curtis, the total is now approximately 794.[16]

The Politico found that about half of the superdelegates are white men, compared to 28% of the Democratic primary electorate.[17]

In the Republican Party, as in the Democratic Party, members of the party’s national committee automatically become delegates without being pledged to any candidate. In 2008, there are 123 members of the Republican National Committee among the total of 2,380 delegates to the 2008 Republican National Convention.[13] There are three RNC delegates (the national committeeman, national committeewoman, and state party chair) for each state, except for the ones who had primary contests before Super Tuesday. [18] Despite this similarity in procedure, the term "superdelegate" is generally used only about Democratic delegates, although there are exceptions.[19]

[edit] Pledged and unpledged delegates

The Democratic Party rules distinguish between pledged and unpledged delegates, with the selection of the former being based on their announced preferences in the contest for the presidential nomination.[1] In the party primaries and caucuses in each U.S. state, voters express their preference among the contenders for the party’s nomination for President of the United States. Pledged delegates supporting each candidate are chosen in approximate ratio to their candidate’s share of the vote. In some states, the delegates so chosen are legally required to vote for the candidate to whom they are pledged, at least on the first ballot at the convention. By contrast, the superdelegates, selected by virtue of their status as current or former elected officeholders and party officials, without regard to their presidential preferences, are all unpledged delegates. Many of them have chosen to announce endorsements, but they are not bound in any way. They may support any candidate they wish, including one who has dropped out of the presidential race.[20] There are also "unpledged add-on delegates" selected under Rule 9.B and "pledged party leader and elected official delegates" selected under rule 9.C.[1]

The process of selecting delegates is described here and here. To sum up, the Democratic Party's delegates fall into seven categories:

* District-level delegates
* At-large delegates
* Unpledged party-leader delegates
* Unpledged elected-official delegates
* Pledged party-leader delegates
* Pledged elected-official delegates
* Unpledged add-on delegates

Both the Democratic and Republican party have a number of state level unpledged delegates that are chosen by each state's party through convention, caucus, or state party leader vote (depending on how that particular state-party body has decided to choose them).[21] The state level unpledged delegates tend to vote for the candidate who received the most votes from their state (although they are not required to and some state parties give them more leeway than others). Many state Republican party delegations are made up entirely of unpledged delegates which gives them the distinction "winner take all". Even with these traditions, unpledged delegates are allowed to change their vote at any time before the national convention. This is why both the Republican and Democratic parties have the potential for a brokered convention. This is far less likely for the Republican party where the traditions are more strict and there are far fewer unpledged delegates who are given a free hand.

[edit] Criticism

The Democratic Party has been criticized for conducting its nominating process in an undemocratic way,[4][22][23] because superdelegates are generally chosen without regard to their preferences in the presidential race and are not obligated to support the candidate chosen by the voters. Television commentator Dan Abrams has called it "troubling" that the superdelegates might decide the race, arguing, "Each of the superdelegates' votes is now equivalent to about 10,000 Democratic voters."[24]

There have been repeated calls to eliminate the superdelegates from the nomination process to more accurately reflect the popular vote, including an online petition.[25]

Delegates chosen in primaries and caucuses may not exactly reflect the votes cast, although party rules require proportional allocation rather than winner-take-all.[26]

[edit] See also

* Democratic Party (United States) Superdelegates, 2008

[edit] References

1. ^ a b c d e Democratic National Committee (August 19, 2006). "Delegate Selection Rules for the 2008 Democratic National Convention". Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
2. ^ Nagourney, Adam; Hulse, Carl. "Neck and Neck, Democrats Woo Superdelegates", The New York Times, 2008-02-10.
3. ^ Nather, David (February 25, 2008), "Leaping Voters In a Single Bound", CQ Weekly: 482,
4. ^ a b Berman, Ari. "Not So Superdelegates", The Nation, 2008-02-18.
5. ^ Are "Superdelegates" Super? Herrerra, Richard, Political Behavior, Vol. 16, No. 1. (Mar., 1994), pp. 79-92.
6. ^ Pazniokas, Mark (February 6, 2008). Lieberman No Longer a Super Delegate. courant.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-07.
7. ^ http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2008/02/obama-leads-cli.html
8. ^ http://graphics.boston.com/multimedia/politics/2008/superdelegate_list/superdeleg.pdf
9. ^ http://www.ctdems.org/documents/2008planv4FINAL.pdf
10. ^ http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/02/everybody-wrong-on-lieberman.html
11. ^ a b c "The Primary Season: 2008 Democratic Calendar", The New York Times, 2007-01-07,
12. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/13/everything-youve-ever-wa_n_86335.html
13. ^ a b Election Center 2008: Delegate Scorecard. CNN.
14. ^ http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/13-0&fp=47c86d832767ae19&ei=FezIR6raCo7eqgO9ivDPCQ&url=http%3A//www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/02/25/superdelegates/&cid=0
15. ^ http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/10-0&fp=47c89ea33f9bd60c&ei=LuzIR7OyEZ6arAPppczgCQ&url=http%3A//www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/now/stories/2008/02/27/1_OHIO_PRIME_ART_02-27-08_D1_869EDH0.html%3Fsid%3D101&cid=1137561861
16. ^ http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/02/superdelegate-from-maine-moves-to-fl.html
17. ^ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8535.html
18. ^ http://www.gop.com/images/2008_Call_FINAL.pdf
19. ^ Marcus, Ruth. "Looking Beyond Tsunami Tuesday", The Sacramento Bee, 2008-01-17.
20. ^ "Romney suspends presidential campaign", CNN.com, February 7, 2008,
21. ^ "Maine Caucus Results", The New York Times.
22. ^ Snell, Teddye. "A Presidential Primer", Tahlequah Daily Press, 2008-01-09.
23. ^ Chaddock, Gail Russell. "If Superdelegates Pick Nominee, Democrats Face Backlash", Christian Science Monitor, 2008-02-20.
24. ^ Abrams, Dan (February 8, 2008). "Voters Not Superdelegates". The Huffington Post. Retrieved on 2008-03-01.
25. ^ "Democrats for Democracy Superdelegate Petition"
26. ^ Cook, Rhodes, The Presidential Nominating Process: A Place for Us?, Rowman & Littlefield,

[edit] External links

* Democratic Convention Watch - lists which superdelegates have and have not endorsed a candidate
* List of Democratic superdelegates
* "Delegate Selection Rules for the 2008 Democratic National Convention" - official Democratic Party rules (note: this is a redirect from the link www.democrats.org/page/-/dem_convention/rules.pdf, on http://www.demconvention.com/how-to-become-a-delegate/)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superdelegate"
Categories: United States presidential nominating conventions
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ilovemycc.blogspot.com/ - A stronger Web presence? We Love Our Corpus Christi

Local

Has NY no love for CC?

Local effort to stir city pride overcame protest from home state of the famed heart logo

By Denise Malan (Contact)
Originally published 02:54 a.m., October 7, 2007
Updated 02:54 a.m., October 7, 2007

Not even mighty New York could keep Corpus Christi from loving itself.

That state holds the trademark for the instantly recognizable "I NY" logo and picked a brief copyright fight with an "

I Love My Corpus Christi

" campaign.

The local version was the brainchild of Leadership Corpus Christi Class XXXIV sponsored by the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce. The campaign lost some steam after several months, partly because the leadership class was concluded and partly because of the legal discussion with Empire State Development, the state of New York's economic development arm that oversees the "I NY" trademark.

http://ilovemycc.blogspot.com/

Now, the legality of "I My CC" no longer is in question and a company has bought licensing rights from the Chamber of Commerce Foundation to bring the logo back.

The leadership class, which met in 2005-06, wanted to foster a sense of pride in a community that tends to suffer low self-esteem. Mayor Henry Garrett declared Valentine's Day 2006 (and all subsequent Valentine's Days) I Love My Corpus Christi Day.

Among other aims, the campaign "seeks to encourage all the citizens of Corpus Christi to act as ambassadors for the city, sharing positive information with potential visitors, family and friends," the proclamation states.

Soon after, the now-familiar "I My CC" logo began popping up all around Corpus Christi -- bumper stickers, billboards, banners on light posts and television commercials. Full-page ads ran in April, May and June 2006 in the Caller-Times, sponsored by the newspaper's marketing department. Some carried testimonials from prominent residents touting the area's health care, career opportunities and recreation.

One example is this endorsement from Realtor Kim Erwin: "I love MY Corpus Christi because there's no better place in the world to relax and enjoy laid-back island living in such a pristine setting."

But in May 2006, the Chamber of Commerce Foundation received a letter from CMG Worldwide, a trademark protection firm, on behalf of Empire State Development. The letter demanded the chamber cease and desist from using the logo.

http://ilovemycc.blogspot.com/

Local attorney John Bell responded for the chamber, and the two firms traded several letters, which the Caller-Times obtained under the New York Freedom of Information Law.

"There is no reasonable debate but that the (chamber) built its campaign around the 'I NY' mark," the firm wrote.

Bell responded that many cities use the heart. "If the design trademark originally obtained ever had such distinctiveness, it obviously has been lost," he wrote.

After several months, New York decided to drop its claim, which never progressed as far as a lawsuit. The Corpus Christi logo's font (it's more script than New York's block letters) and the word "my" apparently made all the difference.

"The decision eventually was that it was different enough not to pursue our trademark claim," said A.J. Carter, senior vice president of communications for Empire State Development.

Ken Treviño, chamber executive vice president, said the chamber wanted to carry on the campaign but needed an outside company. It would be difficult for the chamber staff to take on the project, plus a business with experience could build a stronger Web presence.

"We were looking for a company that had the same vision," Treviño said.

Chad Magill, who owns a local identity theft protection business, was in the leadership class that started the campaign. He and his business partner, Cecil Johnson, decided to take it on, hoping to build on the community pride fostered in the first campaign.

"It seems like everybody outside Corpus Christi knows how great it is," Johnson said.

They formed a company, CCLS Marketing LLC, and bought the licensing rights from the chamber foundation for an undisclosed amount. The chamber still owns the trademark and receives a cut of profits to benefit future Leadership Corpus Christi classes, Treviño said.

To regain some of the momentum lost during the lull, CCLS hosted a "kickoff" party at House of Rock downtown. The party was Sept. 20, more than a year and a half after the original "I My CC" kickoff Feb. 13, 2006.

The company sells T-shirts, mugs, Koozies and bumper stickers on its Web site, ilovemycc.com, at the Omni hotels and Corpus Christi Visitor's Center on Chaparral Street. Johnson and Magill said sales have been steady on the Web site.

That's not the case at the Omni Bayfront, which has a table full of "I My CC" merchandise on sale.

"They're not selling," said Sylvia Silva, a gift shop sales clerk at the hotel. "That's why they're 30 percent off."

Contact Denise Malan at 886-4334 or at maland@caller.com

CCISD: Freedom of Information Request: The process the CCISD Board used is unethical and unfair.

CCISD: Freedom of Information Request: The process the CCISD Board used is unethical and unfair.

CCISD: Freedom of Information Request: The process the CCISD Board used is unethical and unfair.


Freedom of Information Request

This Publication request any and all communications including email and written correspondence from one week before Trustee Harry Williams resigned.

Must I formalize it on Monday?

Think I am bluffing?

You gotta ask yourself

Do you feel lucky?

Well Do ya?

Go ahead.........


You guys get the idea?

Now, don't go and seek the OAG's opinion as it will delay our children.

Just fess up and conduct business with honor and integrity and at least give us an appearance of due process. Not one black appointment. You guys are definitely walking on thin ice or maybe already fallen through but just don't know it. Such inadequacy is unacceptable.

CORPUS CHRISTI - CCISD school board members interviewed five candidates Friday to fill the board position vacated by Reverend Harry Williams.

The school board said it will set another meeting to discuss the finalists, and will possibly make a decision then, but still no word on when that would be.

Williams served the school board for more than seven years before resigning last month.

Nick Adame

"Do not be a disservice to our community and choose because this guy is my friend or this guy is my business associate," Dr. Nick Adame said. "I don't want to hear that. I want to hear that we're going to choose somebody because they're going to do right for the community."

Last week, the board narrowed the list of 20 candidates to five

Kenedeno:

Where is the criteria the process for "narrowing the list"?

The process the CCISD Board used is unethical and unfair. Every single applicant took the time to fill out an application, and the thought process for the letter of interest and update of their resume and references. For all intensive purposes this CCISD Board just threw that work product into the trash can while opting for business partners, friends cronies and industry allies.

It is not about the 5 selected it is about how the 5 were selected. It is not about Barrera or Prezas or Bill Clark or Lucy Rubio.

It is about a change of policy where policy is defined by processes of the past. Lucy is the only one with the guts to make the motion, "for the board to scrap the current process and start over. There was no second to the motion." Are there others in that room who agree with her, but politically, they are bound & gagged. The current process is in conflict with current policy. The current process is now a civil rights issue. Is that what CCISD wanted, another Cisneros v CCISD?

We have 19 Candidates who deserve Equal Opportunity and fair consideration. It is called due process.


1. Herbert Cromwell Arbuckle, III Retired Teacher
2. Rolando G. Barrera Insurance Agent
3. Tony C. Diaz, Ed.D. Retired CCISD Administrator
4. Victor Frazier, Ed.D. Minister and University Instructor
5. Cezar Galindo Business Owner and College Instructor
6. Marsha Lynn Grace Professor of Education
7. Coretta Graham Lawyer
8. Helen Gurley, Ph.D. Educator, Director of Academics
9. Patricia Harris Educator
10. Robert Elliott Jones Pastor and Business Manager
11. Deborah W. Johnson Retired Firefighter
12. Bradford Lee Kisner Director of Music and Fine Arts
13. Verna Faye Portis Retired CCISD Administrator
14. Raul R. Prezas, Ed.D. College Professor
15. Norman Haden Ransleben Certified Public Accountant
16. Woodrow Mac Sanders Medical Social Worker
17. Ronald G. Sepulveda Athletic Aquatic Superintendent
18. George Wetzel Retired Public School Administrator/Consultant
19. Goldie Lamarr Wooten Retired Educator

Rubio has said she disagrees with the selection process and would have preferred to use a scoring system instead.

Trustees selected the five candidates to be interviewed by each nominating one from a pool of 20 applicants.

We elect you guys to represent the district with honor & integrity

But before trustees interviewed the first candidate, trustee Lucy Rubio motioned for the board to scrap the current process and start over. There was no second to the motion.

Rubio has said she disagrees with the selection process and would have preferred to use a scoring system instead.

CCCT Editorial

The trustees' refusal to lay out the cards is beyond irritating; it borders on the outrageous.

Particularly disturbing is the fact that three new trustees elected last year - Carol Scott, John Longoria and Dwayne Hargis, all of whom emphasized their intent to bring new openness to the board - appear to have bought into the mum's-the-word ethos that has dominated this exercise.

To be sure, they (and their colleagues) could, and should, reverse their field.

CCISD Trustees: Pick and choose Policy Making with malice. Shame on YOU.

CORPUS CHRISTI - CCISD school board members have decided not to change their policy which forbids seniors who fail the TAKS from graduating.

One parent we spoke with Thursday said the policy didn't make sense, because while students who fail the TAKS test during the school year aren't allowed to take part in graduation ceremonies. The same doesn't hold true for summer school grads. They're allowed to participate in summer graduation ceremonies without knowing whether they passed the test.

The decision didn't sit well with some parents and students.

School board member Lucy Rubio had hoped to amend the policy, and allow seniors who failed the TAKS to at least walk in with their class during may commencement. But other school board members didn't agree.

Nueces De La Parra: Nobody kicked Joe Elizondo off of the CCREDC Board. He was inebriated and "with" females not his wife. Ask Denise about the "Bache

Nueces De La Parra: Nobody kicked Joe Elizondo off of the CCREDC Board. He was inebriated and "with" females not his wife. Ask Denise about the "Bachelorettes' dancing w/ her hubby?

If the situation was reversed I would definitely be the bad guy. Maybe I should go yell at Juan's next event "WHO GIVES A F//K" and chant the CCREDC mantra Chorus. "JUAN MORE" "JUAN MORE" and ask him if he remembers? Juan must be held to a higher standard. Keep the reigns tight on him and everytime he starts to veer byte his a$$.

LOL


Joe Elizondo, surely he is a gentle man and a member of our leadership INFRASTRUCTURE? However, there must be HOUSECLEANING and the "Pulling of Weeds" that poisons us from the Top Down.


Elizondo began chanting JUAN MORE, JUAN MORE over and over (increasing in menacing heckle tone). Everyone ignored him so he continued with the JUAN MORE, JUAN MORE escalation. Then the Guitar Guy with the HAt "straight off of the sunset strip" was suggesting songs (lead ins). Elizondo yelled, "WHO GIVES A FUCK" and some other MINUTIA (uncalled for). He was directing his disrespect at the stage. My wife & I at the same time said, "HEY" and we turned to him with a meeting of the eyes. His group separated and Elizondo departed in a new truck. The others with him were friendly & charming before and after.

South Texas Anti Incumbent Candidates: And you can take that to the bank!

South Texas Anti Incumbent Candidates: And you can take that to the bank!

Romans 8:31 - What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Gladiators - Not In My Life Before

Song Lyrics	Biblical Reference
Do you, do you I never, never ever felt this way Not in my life before Visions through the power of the Most High
Thy rod and thy staff protect me	Psalm 23:4 - Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Through the night I go to sleep And wake me up safe and sound	Psalm 4:8 - I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
With Jah before us, who can be against us?	Romans 8:31 - What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Oh no, oh, oh no, not one
I will forever sing praises	Psalm 45:17 - I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever. Psalm 61:8 - So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
I will forever be content I know my troubles are over All my joys coming over I never, never ever felt this way Not in my life before Visions through the power of the Most High Thy rod and thy staff protect me Through the night I go to sleep And wake me up safe and sound With Jah before us, who can be against us? Oh no, oh, oh no, not one Do you feel what I feel? Do you know, do you know what I know? Do you feel what I feel? Do you know, do you know, do you know what I know? I will forever sing praises I will forever be content I know my troubles are over All my joys coming over Never, never ever felt this way Not in my life before Visions through the power of the Most High Thy rod and thy staff protect me Through the night I go to sleep And wake me up safe and sound With Jah before us, who can be against us? Oh no, oh, oh no, not one I will forever sing praises I will forever be content I know my troubles are over All my joys coming over Never, never ever felt this way Not in my life before Visions through the power of the Most High Hey, do you know what I know? Do you feel, do you feel, do you feel what I feel? Do you know what I know? Do you feel, do you feel, do you feel...

underground utility includes replacing, upgrading and relocating water, waste water and storm water lines.....this area is not the colonias is it?

City approves $95 million in bonds for underground utility work

Sep 26, 2006 07:23 PM CDT








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CORPUS CHRISTI - The city council approved bonds to be used toward costs for underground utility work around the city at its Tuesday meeting. They approved a total of $95 million, which includes $10 million for refinancing some bonds that were previously issued, at a new, lower interest rate.

The underground utility projects are scheduled to coincide with street projects, such as one currently in progress on Cimarron and Yorktown, near Mireles Elementary, where the city's looking to make some storm water drainage improvements.

The bonds will be used on current projects as well as some that will be started in the next few months. City officials said they're saving money by working on the underground utilities while the construction on the streets are in progress.

"Once the street is paved, we don't have to be digging up an old water line that broke. We would have already replaced that and be good to go for another twenty years, and we won't have to be digging up streets," City Engineer Angel Escobar said.

The underground utility includes replacing, upgrading and relocating water, waste water and storm water lines. At Cimarron and Yorktown, they're laying down new water pipes - just one the 14 underground utilities projects the $95 million will cover.

Another drainage improvements project is in progress is at Kinney and Water Street, and another big project that will begin shortly consists of drainage improvements on the westside in the Mansheim area near Sunnybrook.

Most of the projects were scheduled to be completed within the year and the next fiscal year, which is about 12 months.

Online Reporter: Jenny Suniga