Rick Cofer to Withdraw from Austin Place 1 Council Race

David Butts is mortal after all. (1.00 / 4)

Hmm...miscalculation would be putting it lightly.

I'm going to go ahead and speak for all the Internets when I say this: Fail.

Maybe this will take some of the sheen off the useless and tired artifacts that are old-line Democratic consultants.  

"There's nothing new except for the history that you don't know."
-HST

Justice Addict

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by: Colin Kalmbacher @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 02:18:00 AM UTC

David Butts useless? (3.00 / 1)

You must not know him very well.

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by: David Mauro @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 04:36:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

haha wow (0.00 / 0)

No kidding. I think David Butt's association with the race has very little to do with this decision. And "useless and tired artifact"? I don't even know what to say in response to that.  

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 05:45:34 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

really? (0.00 / 0)

this is all you can bring?

i'll certainly agree that butts is old-guard...not old-line, but he still wins races.

butts has been fighting the good fight since long before you were a faint thought.

Democratic consulting is littered with "tired artifacts" that can't win the big one...but Butts ain't one of them.

anyone running for city office in Austin is a fool not to call Butts first.

You ignore the larger point that Rick Cofer is a smart, thoughful guy who would have made a great candidate AND a great councilman.

Getting in a race and getting out of a race are very tough, personal decisions.

I'm certain that David and Rick took it more seriously than you did.

The Real Colin.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 06:25:28 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not this time (0.00 / 0)

but I expect Rick to have a great future in politics and public service. He is right that we have two great candidates in Perla and Chris, but Rick brought a lot to this race that will be missed.

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by: David Mauro @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 04:35:18 AM UTC

oops (0.00 / 0)

i was really looking forward to having a young, progressive, activist Democrat running for city council.

the older generation has not exactly distinguished themselves. despite all of the preaching and pontificating, not much has changed in the development of Austin in the last 15 years...overblown, empty development that helps home builders and corporations while screwing the larger economy and the environment.

we needed someone to say "NO".

tough decision to drop out of a race....harder than staying in and losing.

props to rick for trying it out, raising a good amount of $ and making a tough decision to get out.

hope you stay around, rick.  you are the type of cat we need running for office...especially in Austin.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 06:18:51 AM UTC

Place 5 (0.00 / 0)

There is another, virtually uncontested, Council race this spring where there is a need and an opportunity for a young, progressive voice.

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by: Jeb @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 16:59:28 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

as opposed to... (5.00 / 1)

an middle-aged progressive voice? :)

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 17:32:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Don't mistake experience for stale (0.00 / 0)

Spelman's experience as a councilmember, neighborhood representative, community leader, and academic researcher will bring a ton of relevant, progressive ideas and programs to help Austin move forward.

Just look at his campaign approach -- he's not relying solely on polls and consultants.  He's engaged young and vibrant activists, soliciting REAL input from the neighborhoods, and developing a grassroots-based organization unlike any other in recent local Austin politics.

So Spelman's not a spring chicken: fine.  But I'd rather have someone on the dias who knows how it works, has the kind of smart and informed ideas that will affect change, and a huge base of community support than some young voice just for the sake of her/his being young.

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by: barkeng @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 20:48:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Get out tonight (0.00 / 0)

Hmmm.
Do a council dance
Raise a bit of love (money)
Get out tonight

What's in store for Rick's future? Don't know...but aside from the enthusiastic words from friends who supported him, I didn't get any sense of a campaign from him. And he didn't make in-ROADS with us bike folk, which we all know will doom any candidate. Perla has at least extended her hand. Not to mention she has that bad-ass Lone-Star, Pearl Beer kind of logo in PINK.

And, of course, we wee folk on bikes don't have to mention the importance of mister O'Riley....oops, axe the 'O'

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by: D'Amico @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 07:07:11 AM UTC

hah, that's gotta be the campaign jingle... (0.00 / 0)

O..O..O..O'Riley......Cycle Parts!

then a testimonial from KT on how Chris saved the day.

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by: Kedron Touvell @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 17:37:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

lol (0.00 / 0)

Sheesh. You write one post about a candidate helping put air in your bike tire and you unleash the crazy in people!

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Thu Jan 29, 2009 at 18:29:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]