Dave Mann

Dave Mann has been with the Observer since 2003. Before that, he worked as a reporter in Fort Worth and Washington, D.C. He was born and raised in Philadelphia. He thinks border collies are the world’s greatest dogs, and believes in the nourishing powers of pickup basketball.

State of Texas: The Road to 500 ExecutionsMay 17, 2013
Texas will soon execute its 500th person since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Full Story
State of Texas: Who Pays How Much In TaxesApr 18, 2013
Texas' tax system is one of the most regressive in the country, meaning it falls especially hard on the poor. Full Story
Oops: The Top 10 Perry GaffesFeb 02, 2012
Full Story

Koch Comes After the ObserverOct 31, 2012
“Kochworld” profiles the fenceline communities bordering the Koch and Citgo-owned refineries in Corpus. Melissa del Bosque and Jen Reel spent months interviewing sick residents living in the shadow of refineries spewing large amounts of known carcinogens such as benzene and 1,3-butadiene. Full Story
Condemned Inmate: Prison Officials Won’t Let Guards Speak OutOct 25, 2012
Update: Willie Pondexter was executed as scheduled on March 3. Willie Pondexter has spent nearly 15 years on death row. Now some of the [...] Full Story
Who Really Runs Texas?Oct 02, 2012
It’s hard to overstate the power of money in Texas politics. If you’re wealthy, the state offers numerous ways to buy influence and implement [...] Full Story
Behind the Headlines: The Lubbock County Judge, Obama and the U.N.Aug 23, 2012
“He’s going to try to hand over the sovereignty of the United States to the U.N., and what is going to happen when that [...] Full Story
The False Narrative of Ted Cruz’s WinAug 01, 2012
By the end, David Dewhurst seemed utterly confounded that he was losing so decisively to a political novice like Ted Cruz. “You could argue [...] Full Story

State of Texas: The Road to 500 ExecutionsMay 17, 2013
Texas will soon execute its 500th person since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Full Story
State of Texas: Who Pays How Much In TaxesApr 18, 2013
Texas' tax system is one of the most regressive in the country, meaning it falls especially hard on the poor. Full Story
The Arson Files: After Serving 25 Years, Ed Graf May Finally Receive New TrialJan 17, 2013
Ed Graf had waited 25 years for a chance to prove his innocence, and late last week, he finally got it. Full Story
If It Were Up To Us…Jan 06, 2013
We detail a dozen items that deal with the biggest problems in the state. Some of them are liberal fantasies (ahem, income tax) but others are sound public policy ideas that Texans of all ideologies support because they would improve the lives of millions of people. Full Story
Five Reasons Rick Perry Shouldn’t Run for President AgainDec 04, 2012
You have to admire Rick Perry's resilience. After enduring what some political pundits call the worst presidential campaign ever, most people wouldn't want to try again. Full Story