"Over the past three days, I have been inundated with phone calls and emails from friends, supporters and strangers, urging me to stay in the race for Place 3, and worried that they will no longer be represented at City Hall. I intend to run and win in the run-off election on June 18."
"Despite the view of some political pundits, I am confident that we can compete effectively and win the run-off election. The turnout on May 14th was just 7% -- the lowest turnout in decades. The final margin between myself and my opponent on Election Day was just over 4,000 votes -- less than 1/2 of 1% of Austin's population. That margin is too small, and the differences between myself and my opponent are too big, for me and my supporters to quit this race."
"On a broad range of issues critical to Austin's future, my opponent and I have fundamentally different views. The run-off election will be about those issues and differences, and with just two candidates in this race, voters will have a very clear choice to make."
"Some of my opponent's supporters have said that I should quit this race to avoid the cost of the election. But I believe that my opponent's positions on the issues would put millions of public dollars at risk. I cannot in good conscience quit this race when the stakes, and the potential costs, are so high."
"Our entire campaign team is energized and looking forward to a vigorous contest. I am hopeful that Austin voters will participate in this run-off election in numbers that are worthy of our great city and its greater future."
Council Member Shade will hold a press conference on Thursday to talk more about the key issues in the run-off election.
