Central Labor Council Issues Austin Municipal Endorsements

oblig. (0.00 / 0)

you didn't give Riley a call?

---

by: Kedron Touvell @ Sat Feb 07, 2009 at 23:18:41 PM CST

I'm confused? (0.00 / 0)

What do you mean by your question? Did they dual-endorse?  

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

---

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 01:37:01 AM CST

[ Parent ]

I think (0.00 / 0)

He's referring to this

---

by: George @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 07:20:11 AM CST

[ Parent ]

oh duh (0.00 / 0)

LOL

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

---

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 07:51:15 AM CST

[ Parent ]

March 9th is the filing deadline for the May 9th Election (0.00 / 0)

As an AFSCME member and contributor to that union's PAC every payday. I agreed with most of the endorsements they ramrodded thru the CLC. I disagreed with the early timing and the continued extension, by default or design, of  the "Gentleman's Agreement" for Place 6 on the Austin City Council.

It hard enough to recruit and to raise campaign funds for community based candidates to challenge incumbents. It really stacks the deck against them when it comes to Place 6, the designated African American seat, with all these early endorsements. Why bother running when you have to run At Large and the "establishment" political leadership has already made their choice?

Council Member Cole really needs to be called to task for her defense of At Large elections and the rapid loss of affordable housing units in East Austin on her watch as will as other major issues. Out of 434,659 eligible voters, 35,858 (8.25%) bothered to vote May 10, 2008 in the Austin City Council Elections.

Does anyone wonder why the participation rate is so low? It could be lack of meaningful choices along with a big disconnect with City Hall by voters. In April 3, 1971, the first election of an African American to the Austin City Council (Place 6) occurred. Out of 93,957 eligible voters, 53,149 ballots were cast (56.78%). That election was also the first election where the Mayor was elected directly by the voters instead of picked by city council members.

---

by: ssuits @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 01:19:39 AM CST

Is anyone else running? (0.00 / 0)

Is their a declared candidate for Place 6? Is their even a likely candidate?

---

by: matthew_lt @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 13:27:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

To my knowledge: No (0.00 / 0)

Once in 2007 at fundraiser for Sheriff Hamilton and once in 2008 at another political function, I encouraged DeWayne Lofton to run again for Place 6. I told him he would have my full and very active support for another race. He supports Single Member Districts. For my part, I have tried unsuccessfully, thus far, to recruit a candidate to run against Council Member Cole.

In 2006, DeWayne Lofton's major supporters were Sheriff Greg Hamilton, former State Rep. Glen Maxey, and former County Attorney Ken Oden. He was endorsed by the Black Women's Political Caucus, the Mexican American Democrats, and the Austin Lesbian Gay Political Caucus. Davis Mauro was also listed on his supporter list. I had really hoped he would run again and add to this great list of community support he had in 2006.

---

by: ssuits @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 19:43:04 PM CST

[ Parent ]

on DeWayne (0.00 / 0)

Yes, I did work on DeWayne Lofton's campaign in 2006. He is a great guy and will make a great councilman someday.

I ran into him at Perla's kickoff last week and he said he has been urged by many people to run this year but doesn't think he has enough time to mount a viable campaign.

DeWayne has continued to be active in his neighborhood association, Democratic politics and other community endeavors. I have little doubt he will be on the ballot again in the near future.

Going back to the '06 race, Sheriff Hamilton was listed on the supporter lists of DeWayne, Sheryl Cole and Darrell Pierce. If I remember correctly, he knew all three candidates well and thought all of them would be great council members.  

---

by: David Mauro @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 21:38:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Thanks for the Update (0.00 / 0)

And the correction concerning Sheriff Hamilton. I had no intention of misleading anyone. Most folks either endorse one candidate, just stay out of a race, and/or help the winner pay down their campaign debt.

I still wish DeWayne Lofton would reconsider his decision.

---

by: ssuits @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 21:52:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

re: (0.00 / 0)

Clearly you weren't trying to mislead anyone -- the stuff about Sheriff Hamilton is extremely confusing (who endorsed 3 candidates??).

Maybe its time for someone to start a Draft DeWayne committee?

---

by: David Mauro @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 22:04:51 PM CST

[ Parent ]

DeWayne (0.00 / 0)

is listed on Cole's supporter list, too.
http://keepsherylcole.com/Supp...

---

by: David Mauro @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 22:06:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Early Endorsements (0.00 / 0)

Another problem area with early endorsements. Potential candidates and/or their supporters jumping on the early bandwagons. Yet another tactic used by incumbents to deflect potential opponents. Go after a prior candidate's base early to dry up their support for another run against the incumbent.

DeWayne could file for Place 6 on or before March 9th. However, the number of big early endorsements by the unions and individual Central Austin activists greatly reduce the chances he will.

Still hoping strong African American candidates from either East, South, and North Austin or from all three parts of town will emerge before the filing deadline.  

---

by: ssuits @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 22:50:25 PM CST

[ Parent ]

1 confirmed, 1 other possible (0.00 / 0)

Sam Osemene (The Federalist) is said to be running and has filed, though I haven't seen or heard from him yet. There is one other person I know of who is contemplating a run, and is supposed to decide in the next week or so.  Not an African American, though, so doesn't stand a chance in the current context of the "gentleman's agreement."

---

by: Kedron Touvell @ Mon Feb 09, 2009 at 02:34:57 AM CST

[ Parent ]

'crazy' (2.00 / 1)

Pictures are similar except in one respect: the first guy looks like he's running for mayor, the second looks like he's running for student council president.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.  

---

by: Robert Ryland @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 16:45:09 PM CST

Don't lie ... (0.00 / 0)

You all thought it was funny too.

---

by: matthew_lt @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 18:43:53 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Nice analogy (0.00 / 0)

Except that, as far as substance is concerned, I think that Lee's ideas are those of a student council president, and Brewster's ideas are those of a mayor.

---

by: JeffBrooks @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 21:31:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

oh snap (0.00 / 0)

point for the quick return.

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

---

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Sun Feb 08, 2009 at 22:20:28 PM CST

[ Parent ]

uh huh. (0.00 / 0)

...and always whirling...whirling...WHIRLING toward freedom!

---

by: Robert Ryland @ Mon Feb 09, 2009 at 09:58:23 AM CST

[ Parent ]