WEBVTT 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:05.440 You are listening to Queer Voices on KPFT Houston 90.1. 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:11.359 We are a radio show and a podcast that's been around in some form or fashion for over five decades. 00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:15.119 My name is Brett Cullum, and I will be your host for this episode. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:16.719 First up, author R. 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:26.559 Lee Ingalls talks with Chris Ellinger, who is running as a Democratic candidate for the HCAD Place 2 position in the upcoming election. 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:31.839 Then I talk with Courtney Costello about writing Babbett's feet. 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:40.799 This is a play that will have its Houston premiere at the Match, running September 17th through October 4th from Mighty Acorn Productions. 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:44.640 Then Arlie Ingalls joins me for a news wrap section. 00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:47.920 Queer Voices starts now. 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:55.759 Welcome everyone. 00:00:55.840 --> 00:01:05.599 My name is Arlee Ingalls, and today I am joined by Chris Ellinger, who is running for Harris County Appraisal District Place 2 in the November election. 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:07.359 Chris, welcome to the show. 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:08.719 Thank you very much, Lee. 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:09.920 Yeah, glad you could be here. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:16.959 So we're going to talk about the election in a future segment, but today I wanted to let everyone get to know you a little bit better. 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:18.959 So are you from Houston? 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:20.719 No, not originally. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:22.959 I moved here right after college. 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:24.799 So I've been here 40 years. 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:26.319 I moved here in 1986. 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:29.120 I'm originally from rural South Texas. 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:34.959 I was reared on a small family subsistence farm in rural South Texas. 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:37.840 I'm the 11th child of 12 children. 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:40.799 So I shared everything before I left home. 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:43.439 Our raising was very similar. 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:45.120 I was raised on a very small farm as well. 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:45.840 Eight kids. 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:46.560 I'm the second. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:49.200 So I'm on the older side and you're on the younger side. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:50.959 So, and what brought you to Houston? 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:56.239 My oldest brother had moved away from home. 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:59.840 He's much older than me, and he settled here in Houston. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:20.560 And when I was in junior and high school, I was fortunate that his company he worked for, which was an industrial manufacturer of drill bits for the oil and gas industry, there they hired summer interns every year, really just summer help, no intern about it, just cheap summer labor. 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:27.520 And because he had been there a number of years, he was able to get me and a couple of my brothers summer jobs. 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:34.960 And that meant a lot to us because in my little hometown in South Texas, there are no jobs. 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:40.800 And the fact that here it actually paid pretty well at that time. 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:44.240 And it was also 12-hour shifts, so 5 a.m. 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:45.199 to 5 p.m. 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:46.639 five days a week. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:48.639 So you got overtime pay. 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:55.520 And that was like we considered ourselves super lucky that we could get these summer jobs because they paid really well. 00:02:55.759 --> 00:02:58.479 We were able to share living spaces and all that. 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:04.639 Jump forward in college, and I'm interviewing for jobs and as a junior at Texas AM University. 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:07.919 I'm like, well, I don't, I've never been outside of my hometown. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:12.400 The only place I ever been to that I actually stayed at was in Houston. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:18.960 So I just naturally just picked Houston because it was a growing economy, had lots of jobs, lots of opportunity. 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:24.319 Like most people who come to Houston, I came for an opportunity for a better, brighter future. 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:26.479 I managed to land a job. 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:32.879 I felt very comfortable here in Houston, just the comfort of having knowing other people here, relatives. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:35.599 I had other relatives, uh some cousins and things. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:37.759 So that's how I decided to come to Houston. 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:38.800 I've been here ever since. 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:41.360 I've made Houston my home for the last 40 years. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:45.039 I tell people that I've lived in the same neighborhood for over 30 years. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:47.360 So I know my neighborhood very well. 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:53.840 I've been very actively involved in my civic club for over 10 years as a board member. 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:56.400 It's an all-volunteer organization. 00:03:56.560 --> 00:04:00.639 We have about 1,200 households in the neighborhood. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:08.719 I started off at the bottom, like just being volunteering as treasurer and uh worked myself to other board member positions, vice president. 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:10.639 I served as president for two years. 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:19.600 After college, when I worked at one of the big five, four CPA firms, or one of the most prestigious ones in the country, I landed a summer internship. 00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:25.439 I got very lucky because they gave me the opportunity to come start the summer before I graduated. 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:28.399 I was able to save enough money to finish college. 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:31.360 College was affordability, it was always a tough issue. 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:32.800 I had no help in it. 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:36.560 I paid for myself going through all of college. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:47.519 I do thank my sister for taking me into the summer internship pro internship, so I got to live scot-free for the summer while I was interning for uh with the uh accounting firm. 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:48.319 Good to you. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:48.720 Yeah. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:55.439 When you mentioned which uh that you are living in a particular neighborhood for uh all these years, which neighborhood is it? 00:04:55.680 --> 00:05:00.160 I live in Timbergrove Manor, and it's just next to the Heights area. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:04.879 I said, think of Leave It to Beaver neighborhood in the in the 50s show. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:05.279 Yes. 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:06.240 That's the neighborhood. 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:08.959 It has its own personality. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:09.600 It does. 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:12.160 Yeah, it's kind of what I say. 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:14.160 Yeah. 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:19.839 You have a good-sized lots, and the the houses are well maintained and taken care of. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:25.279 And it was truly built as a neighborhood, like almost like a subdivision back in there in the 50s. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:25.839 Right. 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:28.959 And which I love just love the houses. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:35.199 They were pretty much built for the returning veterans from the wars, which would make them affordable for returning from World War II. 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:35.839 So yeah. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:44.560 Well, and I do agree with you that knowing your neighborhood uh and the values and the transitions and all that of your neighborhood is important if you're gonna sit on the board of the appraisal districts. 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:49.120 Once you moved here, I'm sure Houston has changed quite a bit over the years. 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:51.120 So can you contrast that a little bit? 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:53.839 This is what it was like when I got here, and this is what I'm seeing now. 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:58.959 So when I first moved here, the whole Beltway 8 didn't exist at the time. 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:07.519 You actually drove down a dirt road from West Time with the Memorial Drive out there on the west side, because my sister lived over there. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:11.120 I lived kind of west of like Sharpstown Mall area. 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:17.680 She lived out there on the west side, and I would drive over there like, God, this is like you're uh it was just nothing out there. 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:19.600 I mean, just undeveloped. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:23.759 You know, there was a dirt road where Beltway 8 exists on the west side. 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:28.079 Moved initially to the to the Sharpstown Mall area. 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:30.079 That was gangbusters back then. 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:35.360 It was like the one of the nearest malls to go to, very busy at times. 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:40.639 Yeah, so I have seen the growth of Houston from the mid-80s. 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:45.920 What also I've seen is there was basically a bust in oil business at that time. 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:48.480 Originally, I wanted to be a banker when I grew up. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:58.079 I chose the accounting right or the public accounting route because I knew there were jobs in public accounting, no matter what the economy was doing, I could always find a job as an accountant. 00:06:58.319 --> 00:06:59.279 So very true. 00:06:59.519 --> 00:06:59.759 Yes. 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:03.680 When I was in college, I declared my degree in in business. 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:05.199 I actually chose finance. 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:07.120 So my major was in finance. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:17.040 And about a year into it, I looked at the program and I was like, well, you know, if I just stay for one more semester, I can get a second degree in accounting and sit for the CPA exam. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:18.399 I was hedging my bets. 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:19.519 I wanted to be a banker. 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:21.120 And I'll this is a funny story. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:23.519 Talk about history and past and where I grew. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:30.240 Please say the only place in my little hometown that had air conditioning was the bank. 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:38.480 And when my mother would take me as a child to go to with her to company or to deposit my dad's paycheck, I was like, wow, I want to work here. 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:45.519 I don't know what they do here, but they get to sit in air conditioning all day because I grew up in a house without air conditioning in South Texas. 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:46.480 It was hot. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:54.879 And you could imagine my mother cooking for 14 people, how hot the kitchen was when she turned on the oven for a couple hours every day. 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:56.240 So no doubt. 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:56.720 Yeah. 00:07:56.879 --> 00:07:59.839 So I tell people it was 110 degrees outside. 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:03.600 It was 125 inside the house because of my mother's cooking. 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:05.360 Uh, you know, she cooked for an army. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:10.079 There was a bus soon after, you know, I I arrived here in Houston. 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:15.759 So I was very thankful I was in the accounting industry because I had probably the least amount of layoffs at the time. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:21.519 But I saw people talk about, you know, impacting property values and home values. 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:25.040 People were just leaving like in droves out of Houston. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:32.159 And there were entire subdivisions that emptied out that were brand new subdivisions out on the outskirts of town. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:34.080 They boomed during the oil boom. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:36.159 They threw them up as fast as possible. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:39.440 There were literally neighborhoods that were completely empty. 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:46.720 And I remember one of my college buddies, he was from Houston, and his dad was an investor, real estate investor. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:58.480 And he would say he would just go to these foreclosures and buy like two or three homes every month for$20,000 or$30,000, pennies on the dollar of what you know they were originally sold for. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:02.159 That taught me a lesson about appraisals and home values and everything. 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:12.000 It was really tragic to see how much contraction and suffering went on during the that that first bust in the uh oil economy here. 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:14.799 And that was before Houston diversified. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:16.559 So it really hit Houston hard. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:18.240 I saw it, I remember it very, very well. 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:20.960 Yeah, it was very, very, very difficult for every industry. 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:23.200 And I was in the communications industry at the time. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:26.399 So even that it was impacted significantly. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:30.320 So talking about work and the industry, uh, what about play and friends? 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:33.200 What did you do for fun and your group of friends? 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:40.879 And early on moving here to Houston, I didn't have a lot of time because I was working a lot again to pay off debt that I had acquired during college. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:46.799 Luckily back then, you know, school loan, the college loans were way different than they are now. 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:50.080 They had a defer period of time before you had to make payments. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:52.240 I paid it off basically as fast as possible. 00:09:52.399 --> 00:10:03.120 But the other thing is, is I also wanted to get to graduate school because I knew, again, looking to the future to get one step ahead of everyone, it was to get a graduate degree. 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:06.799 I would uh to obtain my MBA U of H at night. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:13.039 So I worked full-time, went to school at night for almost like three years and and during the summer. 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:15.519 But, you know, along the way, I didn't make friends. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:18.080 I I have made all my friends are here in Houston. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:19.600 I mean, I've made it my home. 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:21.919 This is where all my friends are located. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:25.679 Now, some of them have moved away since then, but I met them here. 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:33.039 Uh only one childhood friend lives here in Houston, which we've reconnected over the years, and I stay in touch with him. 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:35.440 But yeah, I've made my friends here play. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:42.000 I tell people Houston has a lot to offer as far as activities, even more so now today. 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:50.159 In the previous days, you were, I'd say somewhat limited to certain venues or things to engage with, but Houston has so much now. 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:54.000 You know, even with yeah, indoor rock climbing and everything. 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:55.759 At one point I played golf. 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:59.200 I played on several of the courses, and I'm glad of that. 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:00.799 But, you know, it was not for me. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:03.600 It took up a lot of time and it was very expensive. 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:04.960 True, true. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:09.279 Um, I have friends that I've had for more than 30 years now. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:14.639 So basically friends that I've met here in Houston and specifically in the gay community. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:17.840 I surround myself with good long-term friends. 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:20.399 I've also uh been very active. 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:26.159 Like I said, when you say play, I try to think of things like I get involved with. 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:33.919 And one of the early on things was was to get involved with Anise Parker's first one of her first runs for public office. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:43.279 I saw someone um re you know, like, hey, there's this program you can join and we'll teach you how to how to be politically active. 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:47.600 Back then I was very reserved, very introverted at the time. 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:51.759 And I thought, well, maybe this might help me get me out of my shell and meet new people. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:52.879 And I did. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:59.039 And still two or three people in that first class that was put on by the Hollyfield Foundation. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:01.200 The classes met down in Midtown. 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:07.759 And yes, I block walked for Anise Parker in one of her first uh elections, and luckily she won that time. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:10.639 I learned a lot and you know, met some people. 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:24.000 I got involved with EPA at that point and became I was a member for a couple of years, and now I was secretary for one year, and you know, made lots of good friends through EPA and expanded the whole network of friendship through EPA. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:27.279 All those friends are older now, so we've slowed down a lot. 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:29.600 It does happen over time, yes. 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:30.879 It does, yes. 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:31.200 Yeah. 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:38.559 Houston does have um several organizations that have been around for many years, decades in fact, and EPA is certainly one of them. 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:44.639 It's a place and a group that you can go and meet new people that you otherwise would not have met and find uh some commonality with. 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:46.879 That's exactly what I meant when I say play. 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:48.960 Yes, what you do in your in your all-time. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:53.360 In fact, and you and I have known each other in passing for many, many years. 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:58.559 Uh the last time that we saw you before here recently was at one of the political caucus meetings. 00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:58.879 Yeah. 00:12:59.039 --> 00:12:59.200 Yeah. 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:01.039 So I knew that you were politically active. 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:04.480 I've been politically active in the caucus over the years. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:10.480 Sometimes they're easier than other years just because of my w work at the time, my job responsibilities. 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:12.960 But yeah, I've always avoided the caucus. 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:24.879 And just speaking of that, you know, the way I got for when I first joined the caucus back in probably mid to late 90s, Ken Counsel said, hey, come let's come to meet with me to the screening committee. 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:26.639 And I was like, What do you mean, screening committee? 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:33.840 I didn't know, you know, oh my God, I was so glad he drugged me to that because it was like just a light bulb went off. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:37.919 And it's like, you know, of course, I was very reserved at this time, very introverted. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:50.000 But these were small groups, and it it gave me the opportunity to realize like this is the one time that you can have undivided attention to the candidate before they get elected. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:58.559 You know, these are usually first-time candidates running, and you can ask whatever question is on your mind and what you want to know about their candidacy. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:05.360 And I was so thankful about him uh introducing me to the screening committee because, like, wow, this is really good. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:10.080 I mean, I've pretty much met every mayor before they became mayor. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:16.320 I've met many of the city council members, you know, many of the commissioners, all before they ever got elected. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:24.879 So it's like the one instance that like, wow, you really get front row seats to these people that govern our county and our city. 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:26.480 So I'm really thankful for that. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:31.600 Now I'm on the side other side of the of the of the room where I'm the one that happened to be in. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:32.559 Yes, yes. 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:34.159 Now they'll be firing questions at you. 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:38.960 Yeah, and and Kenny introduced us to that as well. 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:45.120 Now, sadly, uh the caucus happens on a night, the meetings happen on a night that we can't be there every week. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:48.879 Uh, but we've been invited to the screenings and we just have not been able to attend yet. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:51.679 So I do I do understand your point there. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:15:02.480 They can always use good screeners because especially in the midterm elections and the general presidential years, because there's so many candidates on the ballot. 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:06.320 People don't realize there's over a hundred races on this ballot. 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:09.679 You need more than 25 people to interview all those people. 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:12.240 Each screening takes an hour, more or less. 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:17.440 And so it's a real-time commitment for those volunteers at the caucus to do the screening. 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:22.559 And this is your one chance to really get to know the candidate before they're elected. 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:26.080 And you can ask them specific policy issues and matters. 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:29.440 I also served on their rules committee, just general rules. 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:32.879 There's always room for improvement for efficiency in the meetings and such. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:35.279 And so I've always tried to work on that. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:48.240 And uh I've also volunteered for their financial review committee since I'm kind of an accounting background, volunteered for that to make sure that they you know are doing the books correctly and following all the paperwork they need to file. 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:55.840 Ken as well, he introduced me to that committee, and you know, we have a good approach to just reviewing their processes and and books. 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:59.919 So it's been it's been been a good organization to be associated with. 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:00.399 Good. 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:04.320 So what made you decide that you wanted to run for this particular office? 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:06.000 Oh, that's an excellent question. 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:08.799 And I'll tell you, I have the perfect answer, I think. 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:10.000 It speaks to me. 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:17.120 It speaks to me, and I'll say this because I was a community banker for over 20 years as a loan officer. 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:21.279 So in lending, the one thing you would deal with is appraisals. 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:27.279 We lent on loans on every kind of property in Harris County or the greater Harris County area. 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:36.799 So everything from residential construction homes to big commercial operations, small office buildings, raw land development deals. 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:42.879 And I became very proficient at reading, engaging appraisals and reviewing them. 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:48.240 And pretty much as a loan officer, you have to approve the appraisal before the loan gets booked. 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:56.720 You're reading these long, detailed methodology about how they come up with the value of the property that you're gonna lend money on. 00:16:56.879 --> 00:17:02.960 I always tell people in my first role as a loan officer is to protect the bank's interest because that's my job. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:09.359 But on the other hand, I realize that if I want to serve the customer, I have to make sure the appraisal is correct and support the law. 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:10.400 So, so to speak. 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:19.200 When I was reading and learning about what the, of course, I own property, so I've been before the appraisal review board to protest my appraisal values. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:23.759 I was like, wow, this is something that actually speaks to me because I know appraisals. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:27.920 Ran a credit department for almost a year at one bank. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:38.559 So I had to actually train people how to engage an appraiser, how to review their appraisal, and to make sure it checks all the boxes as far as it, the quality of review. 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:41.279 So it was like, this is right out of my wheelhouse. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:47.839 This, I know this, and this is why I'm running for this specific position, is because I know appraisals. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.720 So yeah, it does sound like it was a good fit for sure. 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:54.640 There's not a lot of other things out there that speaks to me, and I this would. 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:56.079 Yep, it sounds like it does. 00:17:56.240 --> 00:18:03.359 So now are you at the point where you are looking for questions and feedback from potential voters? 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:19.839 Yeah, so I am engaging with voters at all kinds of events and opportunities, and it's amazing how few people even know that this these three publicly elected seats on the board are even on the ballot. 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:38.640 Because the way that these the Republican control state legislature that wrote these positions into play into it enacted these positions, they wrote this thing to make it very clear that they wanted somehow a backdoor entry into local government, in local government control. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:41.599 So they purposely made it nonpartisan. 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:47.440 They purposely made them at large so the whole county votes on all three positions. 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:57.039 They want to trick the because they can't, because the Republicans can't win necessary countywide elections in Harris County, they wanted another method to do so. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:00.799 And this is their way of trying to control the uh local government issues. 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:02.480 Well so a two-part question. 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:06.559 One, i if you are going to be out and about, or do you have a schedule? 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:10.880 And if so, is is that available to people who want to meet you in person? 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:12.559 Yes, or they go see that. 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:22.240 Yeah, so I don't have any scheduled events yet, mainly because uh I want to get a little closer to the election, early voting, which starts October 19th. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:22.799 Sure. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:29.200 In the meantime, I'm visiting all kind of what they call clubs and orgs for the Democrat Party. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:29.519 Okay. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:38.640 And they have meetings regularly, you know, ever all the clubs and orgs, there's probably 20 of them here or more in the Houston and Greater Harris County area. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:40.640 And they have regular meetings every month. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:42.160 So I've been attending those. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:48.640 So and I'm also attending just events where there's other Democrat candidates that are appearing. 00:19:48.799 --> 00:20:03.839 So they might just have a forum where there's several of the, say the judges, the civil court judges, or the criminal court judges, or the county executive people who are running, such as the judge or a tax assessor collector, right, county clerk, you know. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.079 Yes. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.519 I can send those as well. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:07.599 So it's it's a really a cross max. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:12.319 It's that any one of those that you could run, you know, I I could engage with voters. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:18.240 Uh well now, if somebody had a question for you or a suggestion, is there a way that they can get it to you? 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:19.200 Well, yeah, absolutely. 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:26.720 So in my website, yeah, there's a form that anyone can fill out and just submit it and we'll we reply to all those inquiries. 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:28.640 So just chris ellener.com. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:31.599 So chriselllinger.com just all run together. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:38.160 And also, so I have my Facebook page or Chris Ellinger campaign that I always respond to inquiries through there. 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:48.000 But yeah, just uh info at chriselllinger.com is the email address that people can submit invites or questions or comments about the office. 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:54.240 When I'm talking or people are in your do for a lot of these clubs, don't even know these elections are on the ballot. 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:55.359 And so I'm like, yeah. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:21:02.000 And it's like, so it's like 99% of the population out there doesn't even know what this office is. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:05.440 Like they don't even know their elected positions in this office. 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:07.119 So or how important it is. 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:15.839 Yeah, oh how important and I exactly and so educating the voter is my biggest challenge is really just educating him and then getting them, okay. 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:22.000 Now you have to vote all the way down to the bottom of the ballot where there is no party labels uh associated with your name. 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:23.839 It's just your name on the ballot. 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.400 That's it. 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:25.039 Yeah. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:29.119 So yeah, education and outreach to the voter is important. 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:43.039 This is one office that actually affects every resident in Harris County because you have to cover if you're uh patronizing a business, you know, you're buying something from their inventory, pairs of shoes or clothes off the shelf. 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:50.799 Those that business had to pay property taxes on, you know, their goods and services and and their inventory and fixtures and furniture. 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:54.559 So that's all part of the appraisal district. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:56.079 They have their appraisal of that. 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:59.759 So again, this is where my community banker is alone officer cutting into good. 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.079 Yes, yes, yes. 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.680 Well, final question then. 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:08.720 Is there something that you would like our listeners to know uh that we haven't talked about already? 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:12.240 So I'm a first-time candidate and I am running as a Democrat. 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:15.519 I am the most endorsed Democrat in this race. 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:20.720 I do want them to know that there are three places in the you know there's a place one, place two, and place three. 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:25.440 They all get everyone in Harris County gets a vote for all three of them, but you have to know the candidate. 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:31.440 And I I really want people to remember Chris Ellinger, that I'm running for HCAT 2, the board place two. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:33.039 It is nonpartisan. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:37.039 It is an it's an unpaid volunteer position at that too. 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:45.599 So I feel like my extensive community banking experience is directly related to this office and in so many ways. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:50.480 And I just feel like it's a great fit for both me and the district. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:55.839 I've talked to several of the members of the current board, and they already said, Chris, you're already overqualified. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:23:00.160 You know, the fact that you're a banker and a loan officer, and you know, know the appraisal. 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:09.119 And and you know, being a you know, former certified public accountant, because oh, that just adds extra, you know, meaning to it because you know what you're doing, you know. 00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:16.880 I feel like once people understand how important the appraisal district is in everyday life, I think they will see it in a different light. 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:21.519 And so I just want to get that message out there to everyone in Harris County. 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:25.119 I'm just a regular, you know, citizen of the of the of the city, you know. 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:27.359 I made this my home and I want to keep it my home. 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:32.400 And I and I, you know, I realize that appraisals are kind of a double-edged sword. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:44.240 And this is kind of what a lot of people I think don't get is if you set appraisal values or the fair market value too high, it makes it unaffordable for a lot of residents here, both renters and owners. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:48.480 If you set it too low, then essential government services can't happen. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:53.680 Your fire, your police protection, they can't get funded if you don't have enough tax revenue. 00:23:53.839 --> 00:24:01.200 So it's a it's a fine line of how to get that those numbers to work for you know all the taxing authorities out there. 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:01.920 Perfect. 00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:02.400 Perfect. 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:10.480 Well, I look forward to our next segment where we can talk more in specific details about the office itself and what you'll be looking at and what you'll bring to it. 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:14.640 But for today, I appreciate you joining us and and giving us a little bit of your history. 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:15.119 All right. 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.640 Well, thank you very much for inviting me. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.039 Yeah. 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:20.960 What is the website and email where they can reach you? 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:31.440 Yeah, so it's infoinf o at chris ellener.com, and I'll spell it out just so it's C-H-R-I-S-E-H I-N-G-E-R. 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:35.039 So chriselllinger.com, info at chris ellener.com. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:35.519 Okay. 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.400 I appreciate it. 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.440 And thank you for being here. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.799 Thank you, Lee. 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:54.960 This radio program, Clear Voices, has existed since the 1970s on KPFT. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:25:13.759 We have this little crew of folks working every week to produce what's no longer unique because we're almost mainstream now, but we're still an important voice that might not otherwise get heard because it's not on that many places. 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:22.000 So KPFT is very important to give voices to those who might not otherwise have voices. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:31.599 So as Glenn always says, you participate by listening, you should also participate by supporting the station. 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:38.160 So please go to KPFT.org and make your donation right away. 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:44.960 Hi there, this is Brett Cullum, and I am here with Courtney Costello. 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:52.960 She is an actress and a playwright from New York City who received her training at Vassar College and the Eugene O'Neill Center's National Theater Institute. 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:59.440 She was an original member of the Project 400 Theater Group, and basically Courtney has kind of done it all. 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:02.000 I mean, movies, plays, soap operas. 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:06.000 She's founder of the theater production company, uh Wiltsie Bridge Productions. 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:09.680 But we are talking to Courtney today because she is also a playwright. 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:19.599 And her adaptation of Babbette's Feast will be performed by Mighty Acorn Productions starting September 17th and running through October 4th at the match. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.720 So welcome, Courtney. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:21.599 I'm so glad to see you. 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:22.640 Thank you, Brett. 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:24.000 I'm delighted to see you too. 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:25.039 It's nice to be here. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:30.480 Yeah, you know, the plot of this story, Babbette's Feast, it's pretty straightforward. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:34.640 It's about a remote village where tradition and sacrifice shape everyday life. 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:40.319 And then we have the arrival of a mysterious outsider, and she quietly transforms an entire community. 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:44.000 Of course, it was based on a short story by Isaac Denison. 00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:44.640 Is that right? 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:46.079 It is correct, yes. 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:46.480 Okay. 00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:53.920 And it was made famous, of course, the 1987 Academy Award-winning film, which is how I kind of became aware of the story. 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:59.200 So, right off the bat, what made you want to adapt Babbitt's Feast for a stage production? 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:07.440 I was offered this opportunity by my collaborator, Abigail Clean, who is a wonderful theater maker, now a professor at Bowdoin College. 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:12.240 And she had a vision to put the stage to put this story on stage. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:15.440 She felt that it was inherently theatrical. 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:20.799 And she wanted someone who could adapt it and make it a stage play. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:22.559 And so she kind of approached me. 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:27.519 And I felt like I had just been given this enormous sense of prize opportunity, really. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:32.880 She had procured the rights from the Denison estate, which was its own feat. 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:36.400 She did that largely through her own power of persuasion, you know? 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:42.559 I mean, she she really just called them and said, I have this vision and I have a love of this story. 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:46.000 And they they allowed her to do it, which is really incredible. 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:48.559 So it was really an opportunity that came to me. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:53.119 And of course, I leapt at it because it was an incredible piece of literature. 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:59.039 I also felt like I was suited to it as a writer, that I could, I could at least make a good attempt at it. 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:00.400 So that's why I said yes. 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:04.720 Well, it's an interesting story, uh, and it's an interesting idea for a play. 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:11.759 Tell me a little bit about the themes that run through Babbett's feast that really attracted you to the work and that you wanted to bring out. 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.319 Yeah. 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:18.000 I mean, luckily I was actually very aligned with with Abby and also eventually with our director, Karin Kuhnrod. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:32.240 We we were very aligned in the sense that the thing that most stood out to us about the story was the sense of the stranger arriving in a strange land and being embraced, feared, bearing gifts, bearing mysterious gifts. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.359 It was a story. 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:44.000 The reason we were all compelled by that aspect of the story is that at the moment that we all started working on it, it was the moment when immigration became a flashpoint in American culture. 00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:53.359 And we thought, you know, this story is just ripe for sort of bringing that into our consciousness in a way that isn't political and isn't didactic. 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:55.279 It's just fully, fully human. 00:28:55.440 --> 00:29:04.640 The way this story shows us of a stranger arriving in a strange land and being feared and eventually actually being transformative to them. 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:09.279 So we thought there was great value in that at that moment in American culture. 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:11.839 And unfortunately, still in this moment. 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:12.319 Yes. 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:14.240 Yeah, it has a lot to say. 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:19.920 So you kind of had this whole career as an actor and doing all these different things. 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:22.240 Like what what got you into the arts originally? 00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:29.839 Oh gosh, that's it's very personal actually, because I was so shy as a child that I could hardly talk to people. 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:32.000 I really could hardly hold the conversation. 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:36.400 And when I was like six years old, my parents, I grew up in New York City, right? 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:48.799 And my parents enrolled me in this children's acting company where where, you know, we performed these plays, but we also had grown-up professional actors performing along with us. 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:56.960 And as honestly, as soon as I arrived at my first rehearsal, and like I think I stood on stage, I think I might have burst into tears. 00:29:57.200 --> 00:30:02.559 I was so overcome with this sense of like relief that I had found my place in the world. 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:09.519 Like I thought, this is a place where I could just be myself and be, you know, these people are gonna like they, I don't know. 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:12.240 I felt very aligned and very at home. 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:17.519 And honestly, I'm very lucky because from that moment I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:19.359 And I think that's a rare gift, right? 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:23.359