Birthday Boys Today

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 04:54 PM CDT

But I'm not the only one of note in politics today that has a birthday. Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell also has his birthday today and is turning 70. I've put a collection of his accomplishments so far in office below the fold. I only learned about his birthday yesterday- so how about a joint birthday party in 2010 or 2011 Mayor?

And one other political birthday is Glenn Bass, the gay Republican candidate running against Democratic Rep. Donna Howard. While I'll extend some birthday wishes, I'll stop short of congratulating him on any electoral success.

For those that have asked, I'm bad about organizing big birthday plans. I'm having dinner with some of the BOR staff tonight. Instead, I'm actually taking some time off in the coming weeks with trips to Kalamazoo, Michigan and spend some time with the One Kalamazoo campaign and then a trip to Nevada next month during Election Day. Don't worry, I'll still have time to early vote for a few days in the riveting 2009 Texas Constitutional Amendment elections.  

Launched "Go Local" policy to award more City contracts to Austin-based companies
http://www.austinchronicle.com...
http://www.statesman.com/news/...

Negotiated for deferment of FY2010 pay raises with Austin Police and EMS unions, avoiding massive cuts in the FY2010 budget
http://www.statesman.com/news/...
http://burntorangereport.com/s...

Led approval of FY2010 budget, which preserved front-line public safety and social services funding, and avoided City employee layoffs or furloughs
http://www.kvue.com/news/top/s...
http://www.dailytexanonline.co...

Convened Town Hall meeting on Water Treatment Plant #4 proposal, which drew more nearly 500 attendees to Palmer Center
http://www.austinchronicle.com...
http://www.dailytexanonline.co...

Sponsored successful legislation to ban texting while driving and create a 3-foot buffer for bicyclists, with Mayor Pro Tem Martinez
http://www.statesman.com/news/...
http://www.dailytexanonline.co...

Directed the Water Conservation Task Force to recommend new water conservation strategies by January 2010
Directed the Solid Waste Advisory Commission to recommend new residential recycling strategies by January 2010
Successfully testified at the Texas Housing Commission in favor of state tax credits for local affordable housing projects

Sponsored successful legislation to allow more speakers to participate in Citizen Communications
http://www.austinchronicle.com...

Worked with City staff to launch CityWorks Academy, a new 10-week-long citizen education program
http://impactnews.com/central-...
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/l...

Worked with City staff to issue a new Request for Proposals for City website redesign project
http://www.dailytexanonline.co...

Partnered with Texas Campaign for the Environment to publicly oppose expansion of Waste Management landfill in northeast Austin
http://www.austinchronicle.com...

Announced plans to call for nationwide ban on environmentally-damaging coal-tar pavement sealants at next U.S. Conference of Mayor's meeting
http://oakhillgazette.net/defa...

Appointed new Chair of the CAMPO Transit Working Group by Senator Kirk Watson
Hosted City Hall receptions for the Austin Young Chamber of Commerce and the International Game Developers Association

Partnered with the Austin Samaritan Center to launch the RecognizeGood.com website
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/l...

Served as Honorary Chair of fundraising events benefiting the Austin Public Library Foundation and (upcoming) the Hill Country Conservancy
http://www.austinchronicle.com...

Spoke at public rallies in favor of health care reform, and the Sonia Sotomayor nomination
http://www.dailytexanonline.co...
http://burntorangereport.com/s...

Received a standing ovation following a welcome speech to the Austin meeting of Democratic National Committee
http://www.austinchronicle.com...
http://www.statesman.com/news/...