Ian and Amy did a fantastic job of promoting the event, and brought in a wide variety of their neighbors. Many of the folks were genuinely undecided, and wanted to hear how Randi might react to their questions. Honestly, I was really impressed with the depth and breadth of knowledge that Randi showed about all of their issues, from the city's failure to properly enforce ordinances to specific residential parking models.
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Voters talk about the issues and read up on
where Randi stands. | Randi arrives and is greeted by supporters. |
What I noticed about Randi was her real concern and attentiveness to these fellow Austinites as they related their own experiences trying to manage traffic, development, emergency response, and other pressing issues. She didn't merely agree with the voters in an attempt to pander to them. Rather, she spoke at length about the nuances of each issue and noted the need for new ideas on how to solve these problems, new ideas which she then shared with the group.
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| Randi's logo is pretty rad. (Just like Austin!) | Randi and her partner Kayla talk to a
neighborhood resident about her concerns. |
One person asked how Randi might specifically address poverty in Austin, one of the cornerstones of her campaign. This was a tough question - lots of politicians give lip-service to helping the poor, but how many actually do anything about it? Randi talked about how we need to stop duplicating efforts between the city and non-profits, and look to be more efficient both administratively and in terms of who is best situated to provide services. Her career working in public, private, and non-profit industry, and her board memberships and participation in a wide variety of community groups leaves her well-positioned to work on this problem, building on the relationships she's developed over the past two decades.
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Randi making good on her campaign promise to
listen... | ...and offer sensible and innovative solutions
to our problems. |
It wasn't all wonkery, however - today is also Randi Shade's birthday! She was presented with a card and a few donations from excited citizens, and also a fantastic tres leches cake from a local bakery. (I forget the name - can someone who was there tell me? It was really, really good, and I want more of that cake!)
All in all, a great time. It's so fun seeing citizens getting informed and asking questions about the issues that are right for them. I early-voted for Randi this week, but today made me wish I could go vote for her all over again! (I won't, don't worry.)
If you'd like to join me in supporting Randi, click here to find out where to vote! |
Today is a big day for the 
