| We asked you to vote, and you told us you were ready for Burnt Orange Report to release our endorsements in the Austin municipal races. They are released as follows.
Mayor: Carole Strayhorn
 As Austin looks to move forward into the 21st Century, we must realize that the solutions to Austin's problems aren't found in the present, but in the past.
We're a 21st Century City that still needs 20th Century solutions.
That's why we're endorsing Carole Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn for Mayor of Austin.
Going back three decades and four names to find a leader for the best city in Texas may seem like a fool's errand, but we have confidence in Carole Strayhorn. Over the years, Strayhorn has had both so many names and so many positions on issues that matter to most voters that we're confident she'll be able to find at least one of each that will put Austin on the right track.
Sure, naysayers will tell us that a vote for Carole Strayhorn is just silly, or that we're a bunch of "throwbackers" trying way too hard to fit into that old Nirvana tee-shirt that is a size too small in order to look and feel young and free again. Nevertheless, we have the faith and fortitude to do what is right in this cricual time for Austin.
It is time for Austin to reject the fancy, latte-sipping, hybrid-driving ideas that have brought us congested freeways, unwashed hippies, and higher taxes. It's time for Austin to put our Prius in park, gas up our Oldsmobile, and cruise down MoPac doing a cool 55 miles per hour.
Carole Strayhorn is our Oldsmobile. Let's buckle up and ride her toward a better, more prosperous Austin.
Place 1: Rick Cofer
 Burnt Orange Report has always appreciated the underdog, why else would we keep endorsing Democrats over Republicans in Texas? And if there was ever an underdog in the Place one race, it's former candidate Rick Cofer.
We're generally displeased with the options presented by the two filed candidates. Perla Cavazos appears to be running for Mayor of Brownsville (seriously, have you seen those 4x8s with her giant picture on them? Soooo South Texas). Chris Riley appears to be running for Mayor of Portland and we don't have time to wait for him to bike back to Austin to meet with our editorial board.
In addition, we're tired of the Planning Commission having a stranglehold on the candidates for Place 1. It's time for a less sexy commission to have a voice, and the Solid Waste Advisory Council, which Rick Cofer serves on, more than fits the bill of less sexy.
We need someone to be running for Mayor of Austin. That candidate is Jay Coxlie Rick Cofer.
Place 2: Jose ..., that guy running against Mike
Single member districts can't wait long enough. We're endorsing Quintero to bring radical change to the structure of our government. All councilmembers should represent as narrow a view as possible and Laura Morrison needs a second to her motions on council.
Place 5: Bill Spelman
After much consideration, and an extensive search for anyone that had anything, anything bad to say about Bill Spelman, we're continuing our radical streak of endorsements by endorsing the only person on the ballot. He stands far above the competition. No literally, have you seen that guy? They might have to redesign city hall just so he can walk into his office.
NOTE: BOR was paid $500 for this endorsement.
Place 6: Sam Osemene
 In a city as diverse politically as Austin, it's a real shame that the entire council is made up of Democrats (certain Mayoral candidates notwithstanding). At the same time, we're not crazy enough as to endorse any real Republicans.
That's where Sam Osemene comes in. Austin was a hotbed of activity for the Ron Paul movement, and his Libertarian ideas may represent more voters then you might think. Of course, we're talking about white college and 30 something libertarians. Do you seriously want to be the person tasked with finding African American Libertarian voters that actually turn out in city elections? That base is one person as far as we can tell- Sam Osemene. And that's why he needs our blog's endorsement to validate his candidacy by typing the following coded sentence.
"GOLDEN RON PAUL STANDARD TO LEGALIZE SAM OSEMENE MARIJUANA" |
