Travis County GOP Supports Pressley, Chavez, Ireland in Austin City Elections

"an opportunity to win up to 3 council seats" for Republicans? No Way! (2.00 / 2)

I envision 3 Hispanics, 1 African-American, 2 very  liberal Anglos, and 4 suburban moderates under a 10-1 election system. The Republicans will be lucky to get 1, extremely lucky if they get 2. Having 3 to 4 moderate Democrats in elected office seems like a good idea to me.

We need YOUR help! Download the petition, print it out and get your friends and family to sign the petition. Find it here: http://citizensdistricting10-1...

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by: ssuits @ Thu May 10, 2012 at 01:32:03 AM UTC

You can envision whatever you want... (2.00 / 2)

...but until there are lines on paper, that's what they believe.

The 10-1 system with no at-large system benefits the Republicans who can win higher turnout Western Austin districts and better leverage that support into runs for Mayor. At-large council seats would add balance and give us a system. It creates a better pipeline of potential Mayoral candidates because some Democratic leaning members can run and win citywide first and keep strong GOP district members from having the advantage running for Mayor from their (likely) higher turnout districts.  

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu May 10, 2012 at 01:48:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Pick a BOR position and then advocate for it (3.00 / 1)

I and many others are for 10-1. Is the Central/West Austin Machine for 8-2-1 or 10-2-1? Let's put the alternatives side by side and debate it. Enough of the potshots and stories of a possible Republican bogeyman. Let's also not play the map game. Austinites for Geographic Representation wants an independent citizens commission to draw the district lines based on neighborhoods and communities of interest, not where incumbent council members live.

South Austin and North Austin want representation on the Austin City Council, they have none. The minority communities want their representatives to be the choice of their communities, not a set aside of only one African American and one Hispanic per the current "Gentlemen's Agreement". Hispanics are underrepresented on the Austin City Council.

The petition drive to put this on the November is not about asking those in power to be fair. It's about citizens taking control and reforming a broken system of government.

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by: ssuits @ Thu May 10, 2012 at 02:41:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

What's there to pick? (2.33 / 3)

The City Council makes the next choice of what they want to put on the ballot. I've told people that are in favor of a mixed at-large and SMD system that they needed to present something. They didn't and so 10-1 was all that was being organized around since it takes much less explanation and doesn't have to deal with the nuances of how many seats once you add at-large representation in.

It's a complex issue and in my view 10-1 is a simplistic solution, but not really the best one. It also does nothing to address the fact that the GLBT community is underrepresented on council and population wise is as big as the African American community in Austin. Seems like you're bending over backwards to go with 10 seats over 8 just to make the African American seats 3% more black at the expense of extra seats for the GOP, yet no thought was given to the Asian or GLBT community in Austin until it was brought up.

And if the Black or Hispanic community doesn't like Mike or Sheryl- well, then RUN AGAINST THEM. The 'agreement' boiled down to which seat minority candidates should run for, not which color of candidate was allowed to run. Why didn't any step up other than Anglos Pressley and Ireland? If Mike and Sheryl aren't the candidates of choice for the Hispanic and Black communities (and I'm guessing Pressley and Ireland aren't) then there is very little to complain about unless someone else runs.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu May 10, 2012 at 02:59:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

So the BOR position is for 8-2-1? (2.00 / 2)

And yes, there was thought given to the Asian and GLBT community by AGR before it was brought up at the dog and pony show, appointed by the city council, called the Charter Revision Commission.  Also, there was discussion about how gentrification and housing affordability were displacing minorities in East Austin making drawing minority districts an even tougher task.

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by: ssuits @ Thu May 10, 2012 at 04:00:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hey to disappoint you... (3.00 / 2)

...but I'm not BOR's position. :)

The "dog and pony show" endorsed the 10-1 proposal. Guess that wasn't good enough? And 'thought was given' to the Asian and GLBT community but nothing was actually done about those concerns?

I like your comment about East Austin. As someone who actually lives here, re-founded a neighborhood association, and then fought against it on behalf of the economically disadvantaged I've worked first hand on addressing some of these issues here. I know that's a long way from South Austin, but over here things are changing and becoming more diverse.

African-Americans continue to move to the suburbs (a pattern that is NOT unique to Austin and is part of a national shift of black residents moving out of traditional neighborhoods). Hispanics are replacing many of them as they move North of the traditional 7th Street boundary. The Asian population is increasing here just as it is everywhere in it's relatively disbursed way. In all of these situations, it's more about money than it is about race- another reason why gentrification has fallen out of usage as a term because it's loaded with old meaning that doesn't really fit what's going on. It's less about replacement than displacement, just as the childless urban core is largely the fault of baby boomers- their kids have grown up, but they aren't moving out of their houses or having more kids. Their decision to stay put and resist change around them has affects not only directly on their neighborhoods, but everywhere in the city.

So instead of subtly making jabs about East Austin and those of us forced to move, rent, and adjust to the available housing stock in this city, maybe the eye should look at those whose desire to live comfortably and resist change and how that is affecting the rest of us.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu May 10, 2012 at 05:53:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

as much as I'm ok with 10-1... (3.00 / 1)

I do think 10 single member districts could potentially bring 3 Republicans onto the Council. I don't think that's terribly likely. I think 1 or 2 would be likely because Democrats would start working harder with city elections.

I'd vote for 10-1 if it got to a ballot box and I signed the petition to get it there, too, but I'm not going to say there aren't potential disadvantages.

"Let us tenderly and kindly cherish therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write."  -  John Adams

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by: Michael Hurta @ Thu May 10, 2012 at 02:20:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The evidence in support of a hybrid city council system (3.00 / 1)

You might find some of the evidence I've helped put together in favor of a hybrid city council system to be compelling. You can get the position paper at:

www.fairdistricts.org

Let me know what you think of the core arguments.

www.keepaustinwonky.wordpress.com + www.twitter.com/juliogatx

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by: Julio Gonzalez Altamirano @ Fri May 11, 2012 at 04:14:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Single Member Districts May Hurt More Than Help (3.00 / 2)

Be careful what you wish for.

It's concerning that so many Austinites are putting so much faith into SMD....like it's going to be this cure for all the city's challenges.

There are trade offs in everything.  The short of it is SMD will introduce a plethora of new positives AND negatives into our local electoral system.

I'm personally torn on this issue.  Taking the tradeoffs, risks, and negatives into considertion, part of me wonders if we should keep our existing system.  

I just hope voters realize that they maybe shooting themselves in the foot.

There will be pains with SMD.  Progressive Dems will likely be hurt the most.   Generally speaking, I could also see where more Austin citizens of ALL political stripes may benefit overall by going to an SMD model, such as 10-1.

Best,
David

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by: David Kobierowski @ Thu May 10, 2012 at 03:43:55 AM UTC

Thank you for your candid and thoughtful comments (0.00 / 0)

This is exactly the kind of dialog we need to have as a community on this subject. Not shouting each other out. Our system is broken, we need some alternative solution.

I have always hoped that BOR would be a platform for Progressive Democrats to air out their differences and develop a consensus on good public policy. I hope others seeking a solution will join into this conversation.

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by: ssuits @ Thu May 10, 2012 at 23:48:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lost your readers' interest (1.50 / 2)

Think you lost your readers' interet with this story, Karl-Thomas.  They are all commenting on single member districts rather than some sort of scandal that you hoped to reveal.  

By the way, these were not actual endorsements by the Travis County Republican Party.  They did not actually "endorse" anyone in the City races.  

Also, your assumptions about City races (in May) as opposed to County races (in November) are misplaced and show a lack of nuanced sophistication of what can happen with a 10% turnout.

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by: ATXBrad @ Thu May 10, 2012 at 04:57:59 AM UTC

Huh (2.00 / 2)

You're paranoid if you think every post written on this site is part of some scandal or agenda. You might be totally wound up in your paid support for your candidates.  

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu May 10, 2012 at 05:57:56 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Would be nice (1.00 / 3)

Would be nice if they COULD afford to pay me for all the volunteer work I do, but they can't and that's the nature of an insurgent campaign.  

As for you all's unsophisticated, hack agenda, it is patently obvious.  You all defend conventional wisdom incumbents, principles be damned.

BTW, they tell me you are dopy Bruce's campaign manager.  I still think of Bruce as a Precinct Chair max.  Assume he would be a figurehead if elected as the Tax Assessor Collector.

Speaking of Head.  The best reporting I have seen out of you all since last summer was introducing Glen's book.  I kept waiting for you all to post excerpts out of Glen's book, but to no avail, so I finally bought it.  That would have been some good reporting if you all had ever gotten around to it.

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by: ATXBrad @ Thu May 10, 2012 at 22:27:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It is nice (2.00 / 2)

Sorry that the candidates you are supporting can't raise any money. It's hard out there even for incumbents so I can only imagine how impossible it is to raise money as a challenger. I've had those cycles, you'll get use to it if you stick around.

Also, I'm not Bruce's campaign manager. You seem to be getting a lot of very simple facts wrong and engage in no positive debate other than to attack. Not exactly the most helpful thing you could be doing for your candidates. But by all means, please spend more time commenting on old posts instead of doing something that would actually earn your candidates votes.  

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu May 10, 2012 at 23:27:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

There you go again... (0.00 / 0)

...I did not say they "can't raise any money."  Both Laura and Brigid have done well raising money, none of it bundled from lobbyist and developers, that being the difference with those to the respective incumbents.  I don't mind, I don't need the money, it's just the nature of a principled, non-incumbent campaign.  In the case of Brigid, she has actually done very well raising money almost all with small donations and then at the end here is willing to throw in $60,000 of her own money, such that she now has more cash on hand than Leffingwell even with his corruption money.  That's all quite impressive.

BTW, I just block walked another precinct today between commenting here and there.  By the end of tomorrow it will be 14 or 15 precincts that I have canvassed entirely during this campaign.  So no worries, I'm not wasting all of my time here.

BTW, Debbie Russell has a good response to your original report here.  Will repost that next.

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by: ATXBrad @ Fri May 11, 2012 at 02:27:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Also, stop abusing the rating system (0.00 / 0)

Consider this your warning. If you need a refresher on how it works, just check out my comment signature.  

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Fri May 11, 2012 at 03:52:08 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Are you calling Bruce Elfant stupid? (2.00 / 1)

I trust you are not calling Constable Bruce Elfant "Dopey" or stupid.  Please tell me I misunderstood your above comment.

Best,
David

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by: David Kobierowski @ Fri May 11, 2012 at 03:31:52 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Significance of Laura Pressley's Support (0.00 / 0)

by Debbie Russell on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 4:04pm

Mike Martinez's main talking points on why he should stay in office is that: while the gentleman's agreement is racist, we should still keep this Hispanic in 'his place' AND that his contender shouldn't be trusted because of who supports her (local Republican party*) and whom she supports as a presidential candidate - as if that has anything to do with the local issues...which she's obviously winning on (or he'd not have to resort to this).

After Martinez' letter about Ms. Pressley being an evil Republican b/c of her Ron Paul support was forwarded to the Austin Neighborhoods Council (ANC) listserve, I followed with this commentary:

Truly sad.  The incumbent can't run on his own merits - all he has is partisan politics? Which are NOT supposed to play into council elections...but no one seems to remember our Charter.

Republicans in this town have also supported the 10-1 plan (as has ANC...AS HAS MARTINEZ!); does that make the 10-1 plan automatically suspect? "Bad"?

ANC endorsed Pressley - does that make her a member of ANC? No. Does that make ANC Republican because TCRP also supports her*? No. Hispanic groups are endorsing Pressley - does that make her Hispanic, or ANC Hispanic?  No.  Neither does Republicans supporting her make her "Republican." She's voted in Democratic primaries and until this past year, only given money to Democratic candidates.

She's supporting a Republican candidate for president because he's right on foreign policy, because he's the only one else in the primary race to deride the wars/occupations - no DEMOCRATS have been doing that (now, however, are 2 candidates running outside of the major parties doing that: Rocky Anderson and Gary Johnson). No candidate during the primaries besides Paul has been talking about the drug war...at all. Some people believe these to be their major priority issues, and are willing to look past differences on other issues. Does that make them a member of the party that candidate belongs to? Nope. Giving your money to the party and/or voting in that primary consistently does (or it does in Texas, anyway).

Has anyone heard of being an "independent"? I'm one. Ms. Pressley's one. In fact, a third of this country considers themselves independent-and frankly, I'm much more trusting of independents in office than partisans. Independents don't buy into a football mentality in politics. "Us" v. "them." [That's you guys, BOR. - ATXBrad]  If anything, it's "us" - the people...v. "them" - those in power screwing the people. Party matters little when policies are crafted to keep us poor and hungry.

Parties matters little when their respective platforms are constantly being upended. They've made themselves irrelevant. Just as irrelevant as the argument Martinez poses about his opponent.

Some people in this town want better government...that's why they are endorsing Pressley. Some people are tired of giant corporate giveaways (which have become a staple as much, if not more so, by Democrats: take Pressley's opponent, for example). Some people are sick of not only the anti-neighborhood/anti-community votes by the incumbent, but of his tactics as well - name-calling....bullying, etc. Some people want a responsive councilmember in that place. That's why all walks of life, from the most progressive east Austin Democrats-of-color to the moderate Libertarians to even the (gasp!) northwest, semi-conservative Republicans support Pressley.

Unless Pressley has indicated she wishes to stem the flow of undocumented workers, get rid of environmental protections or infringe on our right to choice (NOT!), there is no basis for alluding her support of Paul will 'infect' her policy decisions on Council. We know where she stands on the issues that affect us on a day to day basis (which local politics do) and we know she's a more responsive, courageous person that isn't afraid to tackle the status quo.

So when I think about it, although I don't support Ron Paul, Pressley's support of him is actually significant.  It shows she isn't beholden to party politics and isn't afraid of the heat she knew she'd take on the matter in this race.

That's why she's my gal :-)

*as are many progressive groups: http://www.betteraustintoday.org/  and Democrats and more...

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by: ATXBrad @ Fri May 11, 2012 at 02:33:56 AM UTC