Strayhorn Will Run For Mayor of Austin

Brewster and Strayhorn will battle for the right's support (0.00 / 0)

My take: McCracken and Strayhorn will split the right-of-center votes.

This could be great news for Lee Leffingwell.  With Brewster and Strayhorn clawing it out for the right's vote, Lee could dominate this election.  It'll likely go to a run-off, but Lee will likely be the front-runner.

I've heard from numerous sources that Lee has been successfully courting Progressve support for many months.  Few if any of these groups have heard from Carole or Brewster.  This will deliver great ROI for Lee.

With Lee continuing to capitalize on the true progressives' support, Brewster and Carole will likely drown each other out on the right.  Since 82% of Austin voted for Barack in the Nov. election, it'll be tough for either Brewster or Carole to make much progress from the right-wing of Austin.

I don't see how Carole or Brewster could pull this off.

Other than big business, where will Carole and Brewster will get their support from?  

Best,
David Kobierowski

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by: David Kobierowski @ Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 01:18:13 AM UTC

Austin Recycles (0.00 / 0)

Stayhorn and Spelman, what other former council members will run again. Too bad Jackie Goodman will not run for Mayor. I liked and trusted her judgement.

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by: ssuits @ Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 03:58:14 AM UTC

Different reclycling bins... (0.00 / 0)

I would not put Spelman in the same recycling bin as Strayhorn...very different material.

Best,
David

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by: David Kobierowski @ Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 04:47:25 AM UTC

Different take (0.00 / 0)

I think the progressive vote is also going to split. In December, Glazer noted that Brewster and Lee are different in that "Leffingwell has been an environmental leader and Brewster has focused on women's issues.  It's an over simplification, but shows the contrast in policy priorities."

Brewster was also the leader of the domestic partner benefits for city workers, hardly a "right" issue. I think Brewster has been able to do what Bill White did in Houston--build a base of supporters that transcended party affiliation with a focus on both creating jobs and advancing progressive Austin.

I know we have a tendency to demonize opponents in favor of our preferred candidate, but I think we have two progressives in this campaign (Lee and Brewster) and whatever Carole is this week.

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by: McKinney @ Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 18:48:13 PM UTC

I concur (0.00 / 0)

This mayoral election isn't going to play out according to any past scripts.  If anything, it might break along the NW Austin - South Austin split that we saw with the Prop 2 vote in November.  With NW Austin going for Brewster and South Austin for Lee.  But, Brewster and Lee have alliances and allegiances in both areas and will be making much more nuanced appeals to more finely defined fractions of the electorate.  So, the breakdown in the votes is almost certain to be more complex that we saw with Prop. 2.

Right now, I'd be surprised if Strayhorn makes it into the runoff.  Also, I suspect that we'll see more people entering the race, even though time is getting tight for the fundraising that will be needed.

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by: Jeb @ Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 21:44:31 PM UTC

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