Democrats Express Concern Over Galindo's Republican History

Phil Graham and Jim Leininger (0.00 / 0)

He supported Phil Graham? One of the most corrupt Texas Senators we've ever had.  Phil and his wife Wendy benefited immensely from the Enron debacle.  With Wendy and Phil double teaming the deregulation bill that set it up, pretty much.

And let's not even go into the Leininger plan for destruction of our public schools.

Neither of these associations are something Cid should be proud of.  In fact maybe he should reject and renounce them - Nah -isn't going to happen.  But we voters can certainly reject and renounce him!

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by: sonia @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 11:24:45 AM CDT

to be fair (3.00 / 1)

In 1995 I think he was like 19 years old or so, and the Republican Contract with America was at its height.  I knew plenty of young people who thought they were going to change the world of politics (kinda like now).

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 11:39:05 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

The way I saw it (0.00 / 0)

His dad probably wanted to donate in his name - how many 19 year olds really have $1000 to donate to a candidate anyways?

It's looked to me like his dad may not have realized how much the Republicans have changed for the worse; and Cid may be more on top of it than his old man is.

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by: m1ek @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 11:44:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Cid looks younger than he is (3.33 / 3)

According to the Travis County voterfile, Cid is 44 years old. That would make him 31 or 32 when he contributed to Phil Gramm. By his own bio, we was old enough to become the President of the Galindo Group that year, so I don't think he was a bright eyed kid just out of high school.

Elliott McFadden
Ignite Consulting
Direct Mail, Design & Automated Calling Services for Political & Non-Profit Clients.

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by: bikindem @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 11:53:52 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

wow (0.00 / 0)

that's some nice botox! :)

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 11:57:12 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

1995 (0.00 / 0)

was when his site bio says he became president of the Galindo Group - was his father running the company before that?

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by: m1ek @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 13:10:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'd assume so... (0.00 / 0)

but his father is still Chairman and CEO, so in essence he's probably still "running" the company.

wow, his dad wrote an autobiography that is posted online:

http://www.galindogroup.com/do...

He really doesn't like socialists/communists.  Robert Jensen beware.  But at the same time, he seems to have a strong sense of justice.

Money quote:

This situation has a strong smell of effete neo-colonialism.

talking about Bryan's refusal to fund infrastructure on "the wrong side of the tracks." hah, we need more of this type of rhetoric in our politics.

this is also interesting:

Thus I think a combination of a majority of precinct with a minority of atlarge
councilmen and mayor is a good solution. My thanks for this improvement to
democratic representation go to the Federal Voting Rights Act, courtesy of a Democratic
administration.

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 15:24:54 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

sorry... (3.00 / 1)

this is probably boring to most, but I find his Dad's autobiography fascinating.  Imagine if a close member of your family chose to bear all the details of the past 50 years.

Here's a story about Cid saving the family fortune:

Ram Galindo THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN Page 137
Autobiography.doc 137 of 239

Bryan high school is a 5A facility with a large student enrollment. Cid finished as
valedictorian of the class of 1981. He was also captain of the gymnastics team and was
involved in many student activities. He was heavily recruited by many universities
throughout the country with offers of generous scholarships, but decided to attend
Texas A&M. He never told me this but I am convinced he did so in solidarity with his
younger sisters and me, as we were all struggling to adjust to the rigors of a one-parent
family.

During his college years Cid continued to take an interest in my business activities and
in addition to learning about development, in his junior and senior years he became
resident manager of a 148-unit apartment complex I had developed. While doing this,
he created employment for a few more Aggies who went to school with him and
assisted him in management duties. Upon graduation, his academic standing, among
the highest in the university, coupled with his extra-curricular activities and his business
experience with me, again made him the object of heavy recruiting by some nationally
recognized graduate business schools.

Among the remarkable accomplishments he achieved at A&M was the top leadership of
the organization SCONA whose functions I had attended as a graduate student myself,
and where I became inspired to participate in the desegregation of the school's
basketball arena (see Seeding Grounds, Chapter 2). Prior to his graduation he told me
that he had decided to postpone graduate school and that he would attempt to turn
Aerofit around. This, to me and to him, was a momentous decision. He justified it by
stating that he saw it as his duty to attempt to rescue the family's fortune. I think he
mostly felt sorry for me but didn't want to tell me so. In any case, I was tremendously
happy and moved by his decision.

In a period of two years, from September 1986 to August 1988, I saw him working
twelve-hour days seven days a week for weeks at a time, Cid stopped the
hemorrhaging and stabilized the business. He did this by radically changing the
business model, developing a new marketing program, building a strong esprit-de-corps
in the personnel, obtaining credibility among the vendors, re-negotiating payment terms
on the bank note and striving for greater client satisfaction. I will always remember the
day he came into my office to announce that he needed one more capital contribution
from me but that it would be the last. I was skeptical but he was right. From that day on I
never had to advance another penny to Aerofit. His tenure as manager was the turning
point for the company. When he departed, the company had taken off and was climbing
toward a successful maturity. Having accomplished his purpose, he finally was able to
pursue graduate studies. He went on to the University of Texas at Austin where he
simultaneously completed master of business administration and master of Latin
American studies degrees.

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 15:48:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's not a veneer (0.00 / 0)

The "protect the environment and provide affordable housing by densifying where we need to get more dense" position isn't something that Galindo just came up with yesterday - he's been pushing it for years while at the Planning Commission.

This attack is pretty third-rate stuff. Those behind it ought to be ashamed of themselves - plenty of independents decide each year which primary to vote in - and there was indeed an opportunity to vote against Bush in the 2004 Republican primary as "uncommitted":

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/ele...

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by: m1ek @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 11:35:05 AM CDT

Two Things (0.00 / 0)

(1) This Galindo guy is no Democrat.

(2) It's Phil GRAMM  I'm more than a little surprised at the error.

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by: JUICE @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 11:35:14 AM CDT

Gramm, not Graham (0.00 / 0)

Yes.  Phil Graham was the publisher of the Washington Post, husband of Katherine Graham and brother of former Gov. and Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla).

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by: TeamTexas @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 12:50:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I love every name on that list... (2.00 / 1)

and I think the issue of trust they're raising is valid, but I think they may stretch our knowledge a bit in definitively labeling Cid's "progressive veneer" as a "clever ploy."  I'd prefer that we ask voters to take the uncertainty of his commitment to progressive values into account for this election and not slam the door shut on Cid for the future.

Oh, and to nitpick, an "independent" is different than an "Independent."  The former often vote in the primaries of either party as Cid has.

That being said, all is fair in politics, and I don't think raising valid issues like this one is unfair for an opposing candidate.

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 11:36:46 AM CDT

This is as fair a line of questioning as any (3.00 / 1)

If someone is pursuing an Austin city council seat, they should be vetted as having progressive credentials.  I like to think one reason Austin isn't the flustercuck that most large Texas cities are is cause we've had years of progressive leadership.

The most alarming part of this to me is the TPPF stuff, but that looks like Cid's dad, not him.  Dad appears to be still harboring some resentment for the socialists he left years ago, so supports right wing nutjobs and their vacuous ideology, and even served as a Republican delegate to the national convention.  Now I'm curious to know exactly how far from the tree Cid fell, given his donation history and the other items mentioned.

I also wonder about the voting record--lack of primary votes, and what about voting in muni races?  How much has he really taken an interest until recently?  Cause if Austin elects an indy to city council, they should at least have a record of being involved in the community or local politics beyond the planning commission.

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by: Blah @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 12:30:19 PM CDT

he's also (0.00 / 0)

secretary of Envision Central Texas.  His about page on his campaign site shows an increasing level of involvement in local affairs starting about 1999.  Most of it is progressive land management and development groups, but he is also listed as a director of Caritas.  He has a diverse listing of business experience on the site including children's educational software, a gym, a movie production company, and a bank.

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 13:02:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Beyond the planning commission? (0.00 / 0)

The planning commission is the most serious board we've got - and the most suitable preparation for city council. I'd love if some other former PC members became council members; they're well-prepared and that role alone exposes them to about 95% of the issues the city council faces. It also is about the maximum amount of commitment you can expect from people with 'day jobs'; and I want more people on council who have backgrounds other than lawyers and "independently wealthy (self or by marriage)".

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by: m1ek @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 13:14:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Unity candidate (2.75 / 4)

I'm the unity candidate in the race for place 4 on the council. I draw support from across the board.

I'm the best prepared. I served on the Planning Commission when it was a unified body, considering all planning, zoning, and platting issues throughout the city. And I also worked as a city council aide for several years, so I'm ready to get to work right away.

I'm also the working class candidate. Yes, I'm a lawyer, which is an asset, but I also have a background other than the law. I was 45 when I received my law degree. I spent about ten years driving a cab in this town in my twenties! I also worked in small business in the printing and publishing industry. My parents were hard-working people.

I have the best voting record. I have consistently voted in city elections for decades. Laura has only voted in four of the last eight city elections. I'd also like to know if either Laura or Cid has ever done blockwalking for any candidate besides themselves.

Most important, I have the deep understanding of Austin's past and the vision of Austin's future that can meet our challenges the Austin way.

If you want to learn more about me, what I've done, or what I want to accomplish for Austin, my website is www.robincravey.com.  Or check out my recent BOR post on the distinctions that make me the best candidate in Place 4.
-Robin

Robin Cravey

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by: Robin Cravey @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 17:03:44 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Absolutely (0.00 / 0)

Robin, sorry if I implied you weren't also on the planning commission at one point - I meant to point out that it gave both you and Galindo the most solid base of experience possible.

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by: m1ek @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 07:33:19 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks for that (0.00 / 0)

I did look at his website, and Morrison's too.  And this post was helpful for giving me info to try to separate the two candidates (it's the one council race I don't know anything about, need to look into Cravey still).

I'd rather vote for Betty for a third term, but I can't.

I'm surprised theres as big of a split in constituencies as there is between Galindo and Morrison.  She seems to have pulled every progressive endorsement and the progressive crowd, he pulled a more pro-business crowd and the unions--which, personally, I'm concerned about just because of how much of the budget they consume.

Still wish I had a list of their respective muni participation/votes.

I also wonder what happened to the 'gentlemen/women's agreement' about having another woman on the council in Place 4.

Anyway, this process has been helpful in making up my mind and sparking me to do some research, so thanks BOR for reporting it.

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by: Blah @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 14:55:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

just curious... (0.00 / 0)

what's your politics that you want to elect Betty to a third term?  Are you a budget hawk?

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 15:30:35 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I've known... (0.00 / 0)

...Cid for seven years. He's always had some conservative views (he's an aggie people). But I think living in downtown for the past few years has given him a chance to look at some things he can do for the community. Say what you will, but more often than not, those doing work for those within their community tend to be more left leaning. And what might be more important than any of these things is that I trust him. I think that's all you can really ask for in a candidate.

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by: Bobby Gene @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 13:15:57 PM CDT

The Best Progressive Democrat for Austin City Council Place 4 (3.00 / 1)

The above letter circulated by Morrison supporters calling out Galindo as a Republican raises another issue. If he is disqualified to serve on the Austin City Council because he is an "independent" and/or Republican Primary voter in a heavily Democratic city, then it would follow the any other candidate in Place 4 with the better Democratic credentials would be the better choice.

So with Galindo out of the picture, why is Morrison a better Democrat that Robin Cravey? Cravey has a strong record going back the 70's, supporting social equity, neighborhoods, our environment and activity with the Democratic Party. The Central Austin political crowd says he is a good guy, but cannot beat the Republican candidate. Why?

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by: ssuits @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 17:25:51 PM CDT

Interesting question (0.00 / 0)

For just looking into this today (literally, cracking open the Chronicle and reading the article and looking at BOR), I have to assume this was decided weeks or months ago to support Morrison over Cravey, and maybe some of the rationale was more political calculation--a woman candidate, ability to fundraise, experienced political team (Butts and crew).  City council stuff, where turnout is abysmal, makes for great insider-baseball.  

I'm looking into Cravey now and your description sounds accurate so far.  To be honest, a candidate having to come to a blog to self-promote instead of sending a surrogate struck me as a little amateur-hour...surely there are fundraising calls to be made or doors to knock on?  That builds the above theory.

Anyway...maybe I can write in Betty.

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by: Blah @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 18:13:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Why is Morrison a better Democrat? She isn't! (3.00 / 1)

My dad (whose campaign I'm working on) is the strongest Democrat in place 4. Cid's record is discussed above, and Laura has only voted in 2 Democratic primaries in the last 20 years (and incidentally, also did not bother to vote on the 1992 SOS petition).  Why some Democratic clubs didn't think that was an important consideration for their endorsements I don't only they know.

You will not find anyone more dedicated to big- and small-D democratic ideals.  His Democratic credentials: he's voted in every Democratic primary in the last 20 years, he consistently caucuses in his precinct, he has canvassed his neighborhood for many candidates, most recently John Courage, and he was a delegate to the Democratic state convention in 1988 and 2006.

As far as sending a surrogate, Robin Cravey is not the only candidate to engage the BOR community, and I wouldn't think that's something to be held against him!

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by: emma.cravey @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 18:40:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Go Emma! (3.00 / 1)

I am a huge fan of both Emma and her dad. Robin Cravey is a lifelong Austinite who has a lot more in common with us than either Laura or Cid.

You really have to admire the fact that he has spent so much of his life protecting our environment and quality of life in Austin and has chosen paths in his life that allow him enjoy the city he loves. He's a poet, a former cab driver, an independent publisher, an organizer, a former member of the planning commission, a bonafide environmentalist who drives a scooter, a LOYAL DEMOCRAT, a neighborhood leader, a new-ish blogger, and from what I can tell, a great dad too!

Robin Cravey is a excellent option in Place 4.

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by: Amy Everhart @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 23:18:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

criticizing a candidate (0.00 / 0)

for engaging the BOR community is a little strange. It has been great to have both Robin Cravey, and more recently Randi Shade, posting on BOR.

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by: David Mauro @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 20:44:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

agreed (0.00 / 0)

I'm glad to have the candidates on BOR.  Candidates running for local government should spend as much time interacting with the community as possible, whether it's block-walking, attending political club meetings, or posting on blogs.

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 21:47:42 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You're right (0.00 / 0)

It's great when candidates participate on BOR, when they write diaries announcing their candidacies and promote platforms or visions.

But it's amateurish when, deep in a thread that ostensibly has little to do with them, they post a "Hey, look at me, I'm awesome and relevant' response.  It looks a lot better when you have a respected surrogate, a la Amy Everhart, say that there's a third, excellent candidate in the race than the candidate or his daughter having to respond and self-promote.  It adds credibility and shows a base of support.  That's campaign 101.  Disagree with me all you want on this, but it still struck me as amateurish, and thats the key--not the nobility of their posting and engaging the community, but the immediate perception.

David, imagine Garry was locked into a contested primary in 1998 and his idea of publicizing his candidacy was to streak across one of his opponents press conferences screaming 'LOOK AT ME, I'M A ROCKSTAR!!1!'.

It's an exaggeration, but the same principle.

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by: Blah @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 10:22:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

i hear ya (0.00 / 0)

we actually had a city council candidate who was doing just what you're describing but they havent been around for a few weeks.

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by: David Mauro @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 12:42:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Not applicable here (3.00 / 1)

This thread clearly has a lot to do with Cravey and Morrison (especially after comments have mentioned both); and either one posting here is completely acceptable.

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by: m1ek @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 13:12:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Attacking your opponent? Please have the courage to do it openly (0.00 / 0)

Mark Duncan gets a letter from 13 well known Democratic activists concerned about Galindo's Republican connections and it is posted in BOR on Thursday. 12 of these 13 activists are listed as Morrison supporters at her website and/or show up as contributors on her campaign filings.

Then on Friday, the Morrison Campaign sends out a mass email quoting selected parts of this letter to Democratic voters and neglects to give out any of the names of the persons who signed this letter.

Why the ploy? Should not the Morrison Campaign have the courage to attack Galindo directly? I noticed they left Terry Keel out of their letter, so I wonder what their plan is for getting this "issue" covered by the Statesman?

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by: ssuits @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 19:39:59 PM CDT

Ploy? (0.00 / 0)

A bit hyperbolic, no? As Blah calls it, that's campaigning 101.

MORE ON CID'S REPUB CONNECTIONS. If you don't like the GraMM/Leininger connections, check out his BFF status with Guv  Hair:

http://209.189.226.235/spotlig...

"... Galindo saw himself on screen for the first time in the office of Gov. Rick Perry.

" On the last day of shooting, I walked out of a Porta-Potty and right into the governor," he said. "He recognized me because my family has known him since he was a student at Texas A&M. I gave him a tour of the set.

" A couple of months later, the governor called and said, 'You are going to be famous! They just sent me a copy of the trailer, and you're on it. Come on over to my office and we'll watch it.'"  ..."

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by: Deb @ Thu May 15, 2008 at 10:01:32 AM CDT