Burnt Orange Report

The Central Austin Democrats win the prize for most irrelevant local organization, having thrown their endorsement away on a candidate who isn't even in the race and will be just as irrelevant as they are come March.

It's really all about Andy, isn't it? Is he going to support anyone in the special? Or is he just going to keep trying to make sure the focus is on him?

Man, you guys are vicious.

Andy Brown has been working his ass off since July in this district. He was there before anyone and he's got the money in the bank and the endorsements to prove it. Notice that most Brown supporters aren't criticizing Donna or Kathy in their posts -- their talking up Andy Brown. Now stop the hating and get to work for your candidate.

The bottom line is that Bentzin is going to be really tough to beat in January. Brown may be lucky actually that he won't have to spend $$$ in January.

Notice also that Donna Howard and Kathy Rider also aren't trying to undo a 150 year old law so they can get into the State House. Notice that both of them have lived in the district for years while Andy Brown moved into the district less than 60 days before he started running. Notice also that Donna and Kathy's supporters don't seem to be cowed by the power that is Bentzin as Brown and his supporters seem to be as they constantly talk about how unbeatable he is. And by the way, how can anybody think that a 31 year old wet-behind-the-ears kid who has never run for office before has a better chance than two women who have 5 or 6 election victories (in Donna Howard's case, all inside the district, in Kathy Rider's case mostly inside the district) against the guy?

Andy Brown needs to forget about it before he pisses more people off.

I bet that Bentzin is sitting back enjoying all the wining - it only makes him look better to moderates. I bet many people in that district are already fed up with it.

I hate finals.

Donna Howard will either win the special or place a strong second, positioning herself as the logical frontrunner in the March primary. Kathy Rider may do better than expected in the special, buit it won't be good enough. And Andy Brown? He's not qualified, legally or in any other way. By the time the primaries roll around, he will be history. And his self-centered, bizarre behavior up this point has probably killed any chance he may have had of participating in a serious way in Democratic politics in the future.

Andy looks foolish and his every move has underscored the fact that he is a carpetbagger. Even Bentzin has a longer history in the district.

Andy Brown is proving himself to be an inept, immature candidate. If the guy is so great, how can he be so stupid about not living in the district? He should shut up and support Kathy Rider. How can he keep a straight face w Democrats? His postition is "i hope you dont do well so I can run in and win the Primary" What a jerk.

Hey, Katie. Are you officially on Andy's bloated payroll or just shilling for him because you are friends? Get a clue. The boy's political career is kaput.

Right on boog a boo. Voters aren't about to entrust their children's public schools to a pimply faced wannabe who doesn't have any kids of his own or any stake in the community. Besides his own personal ambitions, of course.

Brown has lived in Austin all his life. Is that true of the others? I'm not sure, just asking.

True of Howard. She has lived in the district almost as long as Andy has been alive. Not sure about Rider, although she has definitely lived in the district a long time. Bentzin has been there only since 1998. Brown has been there since last May. You tell me who knows the district and has a proven commitment to it.

Maybe the Howard/Rider supporters are best to represent the children of Texas, since -- based on these comments -- most of them still talk and act like children.

And no, I'm not on Andy Brown's payroll. I just think most of these comments are pretty pathetic. Surely, you guys had something better to do with your Saturday afternoon than act like a bunch of eight year-olds. I hope that the pre-pubescent name-calling is all over, and we can focus on the Baxter/Bentzin record, and how to send a Representative to the April/May Special Sessions that will vote for good public policy and not for Leininger-approved voucher programs. We need to focus on winning HD 48 and getting one more vote for our public schools, not beating up on each other.

1. I am not on Brown's salary, nor have I ever been. Andy has been a big supporter of University Democrats, and as an officer I have been posting news about the race. Also, if you will note I did post that he wasn't going to be running about 5 days ago.

2. I love Democrats who are willing to constantly ridicule others...talk about party unity. We need to either unify and support one candidate or move on to the primary.

P.S. Brown has been walking the district since June...where were the other candidate's block walkers?

Katie, your naivete is touching. Not a recipe for winning political races, but touching. Wizard, calling people prepubescent names while denouncing their prepubescent name calling is... well, so Republican.

Andy is a good person and a good candidate. He'd make a diligent and hardworking State Representative.

I'm dissapointed that the rhetoric in this race has become so heated. All the Democrats are qualified and would represent the district well.

Let's focus our energies on making sure a Democrat is the next legislator from House District 48.

Rick, I appreicate your sentiments. But you should explain them to Andy. He is the "good person" that has repeatedly put his own personal ambitions above "making sure a Democrat is the next legislator." He has insisted on confusing voters in an election scenario that is already confusing enough. First he was in, then he was out, then he was recruiting Kelly White, then he was filing lawsuits on his own behalf and running full page ads in the Austin Chronicle the same day the judge was ruling that he isn't eligible for the race. He should endorse one of the candidates that IS eligible and work to "make sure a Democrat is the next legislator."

as much as you all want to say that Andy Brown isnt a team player, he was ready to step aside and let Kelly White run in the special but a certain candidate wouldnt go for it. So much for working to "make sure a Democrat is the next leghislator." Really, these are all good people, theres no need to stoop down and attack.

Andy Brown was willing to step aside for the campaign treasurer of another candidate? Wow, I guess that makes him a uniter, not a divider. I guess he should be commended instead of criticized for trying to sew dissent and confusion. Maybe he should just be proclaimed the winner without an election just because he did some blockwalking to get to know the community he had just moved to and then was self-centered enough to think he should represent.

It seems to me interesting that a campaign that *has been* blockwalking for months, has plenty of volunteers and believe me, has plenty of support in the community regardless of a handful of BOR commenters has so many not just negative comments but seriously just plain nasty comments.

On another note, I know Andy is a progressive and someone who would most definitely represent the best interests of the Democratic Party very well-no yes votes on HJR6, no Al Edwards style Democrat in Andy I am sure.

But generally, from what I have noticed on Democratic blogs (including BOR) is that the candidate who generally gets attacked in a way like this is someone who is more of a blue dog or conservative Democrat. Yet, Andy's pretty progressive, so it's surprising, unusual.

I do personally like both Kathy and Donna and both appear to be very competent and qualified, and I have no doubts that they would also represent the best interests of the Democratic Party as well.

But perhaps certain supporters are trying to make up for their not being out blockwalking for months, not out at Democratic meetings and not out active in the community for months and months like Andy by just railing him down?

Some people don't like contested primaries, but I think that's shit. Highlight the differences in candidates, make your pitch, make your appeal, this is our democracy. But to resorting to such vicious attacks on a guy who is a great Democrat is a little pathetic.

Also amusing is the amount of similar nasty posts..as if coordination isn't crystal clear.

Good post, Nick.

All of you must realize, that although Andy did not live in the District for a year, he did attend McCallum High School and part of that area does fall under H.D. 48. So to say that he is a carpetbagger is a very misleading statement, because although Andy may not have lived in the district "proper", he was undoubtedly within the District's sphere of influence so to speak. In other words, the area of Austin that he was raised in shared the same economic, social, political interests of District 48. So let's not be pedantic about because, lets face it, as you can tell from the Congressional representation of Austin, the districts do not represent the interests of the communities w/in them.

Oh Steven, who are you kidding? Have you seen a map? Can you even read a map? HD 48 is a western Travis County district: The North Shore, Westlake Eanes, NW Hills, Rob Roy, Lakewood, Jester Estates, Steiner Ranch, etc. Yes, it does come into central Austin and Northeast Austin - barely.

McCallum High School - that's central Austin, by anyone's measure.

And Andy Brown says he disagrees with the Court's ruling and interpretation of the Texas Constitution? Andy Brown is either mistakenly reading the Oklahoma Constitution or he cannot read. The residency requirement is as clear as a bell, a sixth grader can understand it. The last thing the Legislature needs is another Lawyer twisting our constitution. Republicans seem to do thatr without our help, thank you.

Donna Howard has the base of support in Westlake to make the difference, and we need that to win.

Brown's continued candidacy in the primary and non-candidacy in the special election only leads to confusion and will likely hand the seat to Bentzin. Remember folks, early voting starts January 2nd.

Andy Brown has handed local Democrats an early Christmas (not Holiday) present: a lump of coal in our political stocking.

Thanks Andy, this is one many of us won't forget the next time you try to run for something.

I'm with tammy. raw political ambition isn't pretty and in andy's case, is especially ugly. shades of todd baxter. "me, me, me, pay attention to me!"... even if it confuses voters and hurts demo chances.

"Brown's continued candidacy in the primary and non-candidacy in the special election only leads to confusion and will likely hand the seat to Bentzin."

Way to start making excuses already.