I was lucky enough to attend the Austin Electric Utility Commission's (EUC) monthly public meeting last night. The meeting had a GREAT turnout of hard-working Austin Energy employees (thank you AE employees, et al) and numerous citizen/business/non-profit representatives. More than 60 people present.
Overall, Austin Energy's Annual Report's (1) explanations were well executed by Austin Energy CFO Elaine Hart and the report seems to have recv'd a good grade. However, concerns about openness and transparency in the way AE shares information were mixed into the overall discussion. Mike Sloan, a local energy consultant and clean energy activist, (2) voiced some of the following questions (paraphrased):
1. Why does it appear that Austin Energy fuel costs don't match AE collections? There appears to be a $131M surplus in collections.
2. Why is AE investing less $ into energy efficiency today (2009) than in 1997?
3. Why are we not given "availability information" on AE's natural gas resources?
4. Why are there some significant discrepancies between what AE reported during the last 9 months of of public discussion on Electricity Generation Planning, and what's shown in AE's annual report regarding the "capacity factor" of Austin's coal plant?
5. There are 7 utilities with similar structures to ours in the state of Texas. Each of these other utilities issues 250 to 300 pg annual reports. AE's 2009 annual report is just 5 pgs. Why is so much data held secret by the utility?
Some interesting responses and follow ups came from EUC board members (paraphrased):
re-#2, "Bernie" Bernfield:
Isn't it possible that b/c energy efficiency technologies cost so much less, today, than they did in 1997 that Austin Energy is actually having more success with energy efficiency projects than it did 12 to 13 years ago? In future annual reports, it'd be nice to see a metric for how many buildings have had energy efficiency improvements made, and how those improvements compare to historical metrics.
re-#2, Steve Smaha:
Costs per energy efficiency project have lowered... Are we getting better or worse bang for the buck?
Commissioner Steve Smaha also voiced the idea that future annual reports need to deliver "two parallel accounting systems" -- one showing costs, the other showing carbon emissions data.
AE interim General Manager, Robert Goode, seemed genuinely interested and receptive to all comments. The meeting then moved onto to a cogent series of presentations on "transparency." The EUC is beginning a process to update AE's "Competitive Matters Resolution." More on those soon.
Last week, Houston City Council Member Jolanda Jones sent a letter signed with 70 names of current and retired firefighters in support of her efforts to investigate the "very serious allegations of sexual and racial harassment and retaliation within the Houston Fire Department."
Looking into these allegations is not an indictment of all of the Houston Fire Department. It is, justifiably so, an effort to identify discrimination based on gender and race and the policies presently in place that allow it to continue – and to work on solutions that will end discrimination and improve conditions for all fire fighters. Now is the time. It’s gone on long enough.
Jones had been endorsed by the Firefighters for her upcoming reelection campaign but on Monday that endorsement was rescinded in a letter from firefighters union president Jeff Cannon.
The consensus of our members is that your failed leadership and repeated mischaracterizations about Houston firefighters cannot go unchallenged. The list of our specific concerns is too long to detail here, but our decision ultimately was caused by your facilitation of misleading City Council testimony, your distribution of a false firefighter 'support' letter, and your serial mischaracterization of our union's representation of our members and our efforts to improve Houston Fire Department workplace and labor conditions.
In other Houston city election news, Mayoral candidate Gene Locke has picked up the support of State Sen. Mario Gallegos, State Rep. Carol Alvarado, Constable Victor Trevino and HISD Trustee Diana Davila. Kuff has more on the endorsement race in Houston.
While 2010 will be chock-full of exciting races at all levels of government. In 2009, though, there will be two marquee races across the country: the gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey. Republicans are favored in both races, but both races should come down to the wire, and Democrats can hold both seats - with your help.
In Virginia, Democratic State Senator Creigh Deeds won an impressive, come-from-behind victory for the nomination this past Tuesday, demonstrating a strong ground game. The Republican nominee will be far-right-winger Bob McDonnell. The best description for McDonnell's brand of Republicanism is that he is a Pat Robertson disciple. You can learn more about McDonnell at TheRealBobMcDonnell.com. Deeds and McDonnell have tangled before, in the 2005 Virginia Attorney General race, where McDonnell barely edged Deeds by 323 votes (yes, just 323 votes - that's not a typo with zeroes missing) out of over 1.94 million votes counted. This race will be exceptionally close, so every single dollar contributed and every single hour spent volunteering will make a real difference. A bit of good news is that the first poll taken after Tuesday's primary, by Rasmussen Reports, shows Deeds with a 47-41 lead over McDonnell, but this could just be due to a primary bump. Rasmussen's last poll showed McDonnell leading Deeds 45-30. Your support will help Deeds sustain his new lead.
In New Jersey, Democratic incumbent Governor Jon Corzine will square off against Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie. Christie is very much at home in the Republican Culture of Corruption. Republican Christie has faced scandals involving no-bid contracts, abuse of the state pension system, pay-to-play, and even allegedly cutting a deal to get his younger brother's sentence reduced after being implicated for fraudulent trading practices on Wall Street. Despite Christie's mountain of scandal, New Jersey's lagging economy has hurt Governor Corzine's poll numbers. Recent polling gives Christie a 7 to 13 point lead over Corzine. Research 2000, May 25-27: Christie 46, Corzine 39; Rasmussen Reports, June 4: Christie 51, Corzine 38; and, Quinnipiac, June 10: Christie 50, Corzine 40. In other words, Christie has an edge, but the fundamentals of the race moving forward favor Governor Corzine. As the economy gradually picks up over the coming months and voters learn more about Christie's corrupt background, New Jersey's blue state status will shine through and Governor Corzine should tighten the race back up. Your support will help Governor Corzine tighten the race up even faster.
Below are the links to how you can connect with the gubernatorial campaigns (and - please - contribute anything you can to these campaigns, and spread the word!). Republicans are expecting (and expected) to win both of these races. However, after being upset in the NY-20 special U.S. House election and losing a U.S. Senator to a Party switch, the GOP is reeling. Losing either (or both!) VA-Gov or/and NJ-Gov would be a major body blow and simply crush Republicans heading into the 2010 calendar year. If Democrats across the country are able to support these Democratic campaigns, we can flush the conventional wisdom down the toilet and deliver two more embarrassments to the Rush-Newt-Cheney Republican Party and two more losses to the Michael Steele RNC.
The Statesman's endorsement of McCracken praises him as a leader who has learned from his mistakes and is ready to lead Austin into the future by investing in clean energy, biotech and digital businesses.
McCracken has a broad view of what Austin needs and how City Hall should manage in a budget crunch. He can build alliances and should be a visible, active mayor. We have not always agreed with McCracken, and he has made his share of mistakes on the council, but he seems to learn from them.
The endorsement, although expected, gives a definite boost to McCracken's campaign, although it could be off set by what seems to be a likely upcoming endorsement by the Austin Chronicle of Lee Leffingwell.
Place 1: Chris Riley
Nearly everyone, including the Statesman, seems to think that both Chris Riley and Perla Cavazos are able candidates who would do a great job for Austin on the City Council.
While little separates Cavazos and Riley in their campaigns, Riley has more experience and we believe is ready for the City Council. Cavazos has a good career ahead of her and with a bit more seasoning will be an even better candidate.
No matter the result in Place 1, the consensus is that Austin will have elected a well-qualified and prepared council member.
The Statesman also endorsed incumbents Mike Martinez and Shery Cole along with Bill Spelman, a former council member who is running unopposed.
Lee Leffingwell, candidate for Mayor of Austin, has loaned his campaign $58,837, the Austin American-Statesman reports. After a previous loan of $41,163 on January 16, that brings Leffingwell's total loans to $100,000.
His campaign says Leffingwell always planned to loan at least this much to the campaign. Personal campaign loans are not unusual in Austin Mayoral campaigns, either. In fact, current Mayor Will Wynn loaned himself $90,000.
As the Statsman points out, given the $350 per person limits and the state of the economy, raising money for city races is not easy. While the strict contribution limits had good intentions, they clearly are hurting voter turnout in Austin Municipal elections.
Many have predicted that this year's elecion will have a turnout of about 13 percent. That is significantly lower than the 26 percent turnout we had in the 1994 Mayoral election (Bruce Todd and Daryl Slusher), the 23 percent turnout in 1991 (Bruce Todd and Robert Barnstone), and the 17 percent in 1997 (Kirk Watson and Ronney Reynolds).
Of course, all three of those elections were before the contribution limits made it difficult to wage an aggressive campaign in a city of Austin's size, especially without a candidate dipping into their own pocket.
In the coming years, it would be nice to see a conversation begin about raising the contribution limits to try to raise turnout in city elections and ensure that candidates do not have to loan their campaigns money to run aggressive races.
In a rematch of a race for a seat on the Democratic National Committee at last summer's State Democratic Convention, Roslyn "Roz" Shorter will challenge incumbent Houston City Council Member Sue Lovell for the City's At Large Position 2.
You may remember Shorter as the local woman chosen by the Barack Obama camp to get the Houston audience hyped when then Seantor Obama made a campaign stop in the Bayou City. Shorter now says she's already to take on sitting Houston City Council Member Sue Lovell. Shorter says At-Large Position 2 is perfect for what she wants to do and she's willing to do serious battle with Lovell to take the spot. Shorter says she will make an official announcement in the weeks to come.
I have talked to a few folks more familiar with Houston city politics than I and they say this is a continuation of what was described as a "feud" between Lovell and Council Member Jolanda Jones.
Lovell was one of Jolanda's biggest supporters in her first run for council but since Jones was elected, things have changed. Jones was reportedly one of the people who urged Shorter to run against Lovell for DNC last summer.
Lovell narrowly won re-election in 2005 in a run off and while it remains to be seen whether Shorter can mount a serious challenge, this should be an interesting race to watch.
Since then we have learned that three of the lobbyists hired by the City hosted a fundraiser for Brewster McCracken's mayoral campaign last month.
Marta Greytok, who was paid $80,000 by the City, and Andrea and Dean McWilliams, who were paid $90,000 by the City, were on a list of 12 hosts that includes other Republican lobbyists.
Here's the text of the fundraiser invitation, with the names in question in bold:
Please Join Us for a Fundraising Reception Honoring
Austin Candidate for Mayor
Brewster McCracken
Monday, January 26, 2009
5pm to 7 pm
The Austin Club 110 E. 9th Street Austin, Texas 78701
Honorary Sponsors at time of printing:
Brandon Aghamalian, Craig Chick, Galt Graydon, Marta Greytok, Deborah Ingersoll, Marsha Jones, Carol McGarah, Andrea McWilliams, Dean McWilliams, Shannon Ratliff II, Mark Vane, Kimberly A. Yelkin
Whether it is merely in appearance, this does not look good and gives off a "pay to play" impression.
Should City of Austin lobbyists be taking sides in the Mayor's race?
Disclosure: I am a supporter of Lee Leffingwell for Mayor.
Both Chris Riley and Perla Cavazos will have a difficult time labeling their opponent "Republican-lite" in this year's Austin City Council Place 1 race.
Both candidates' political contributions in state races are 100% Democratic, according to TEC online records.
Of course, I wouldn't imagine this is news to any of the people closely involved in this race. But for the rest of us, I thought I would take a look and see what kind of candidates Riley and Cavazos had contributed to in the past.
Chris Riley contributed to the following Democratic campaigns and groups:
Travis County Democratic Party, Neighbor to Neighhbor PAC, Valinda Bolton, Donna Howard, Texas League of Conservation Voters, Rose Spector, Chris Bell, Juan Garcia, Eddie Rodriguez, Annie's List, Kirk Watson, Bree Buchanan, Stephen Yelenosky, Elliot Naishtat, Mark Strama, Jim Sharp, Jim Sylvester, Glen Maxey.
Perla Cavazos contributed to the following Democratic campaigns and groups:
Gisela Triana, Annie's List, Travis County Democratic Party, Capitol Area Democratic Women PAC, Orlinda Naranjo, Chris Bell, Valinda Bolton, Donna Howard, NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, Diane Henson, Mina Brees, Eddie Lucio, Mark Strama, Diana Maldonado.
Due to the Democratic nominance in the city, in Austin's current city council at-large system, it is nearly an impossible for a Republican to get elected.
Had either candidate had contributions to Republican candidates, it likely would have become a topic at Democratic club meetings and perhaps even been used in campaign mailers.
Remember last year's race when Laura Morrison brought up Cid Galindo's Republican voting and contribution history? It definitely was part of what helped her achieve a comfortable runoff victory. But that shouldn't be an issue this year in Place 1.
Should City Council races have Democratic Primary-like partisan litmus tests? Whether we like it or not, in Austin they certainly do.
After using a similar design in campaigns for several statewide offices including Governor, her campaign for Mayor has adopted a logo that drops her famous "One Tough Grandma" slogan and her last name altogether.
Although she sued to try to get "Grandma" included with her name on the ballot in 2006, her mayoral campaign website makes, as far as I can find, not a single mention of "One Tough Grandma."
Dropping the last name(s) may be designed to distance Strayhorn from her past as a Republican statewide elected official. In a Democratic city that gave her less than fifteen percent of the vote when she ran for Governor, she must walk a thin line between touting her experience and avoiding her Republican past. Whether it will work, well, while I wouldn't bet on it, that still remains to be seen.
I attended Carole Keeton Strayhorn's Austin Mayoral Campaign Kickoff. The press conference was held at 10:30am today (Mon., Jan. 12th, 2009, at abusiness in North Austin "BancVue".
She attracted a ton of media.
The room the picked was full. At least 100 people.
One of her early lines from her speech was "this was not a journey I thought I'd ever take"...she got some laughs from that.
There was not a lot of diversity, mostly middle aged suits. But there was a fair share of male and female. I'd expert Carole to win a fair amount of women voters.
Here are additional notes/thoughts from the press conf.:
- Her campaign literature given to me says that she's a "trailblazer"..full of firsts, 1st woman pres of Austin School Board, 1st female Mayor of Austin...
- She's only using her 1st name "Carole" on her literature/bumper stickers. I assume to help minimize the confusion from her 5 last names.
- She used the color blue for her campaign literature. Interesting. I asked her at the end of her press conference if she considers herself a "Progressive", but didn't really answer my questions and gave a canned response about "being for the people of Austin, a leader".
- She launched at a 4 1/2 year old North Austin business called BancVue. BancVue brands as "providing services to small community banks so that they can take on the the mega banks". So it's clear to me Carole will go after the small businesses and try to brand as "small/local business person" respectively.
- She made a comment that "BankVue did not receive any subsidies".. And had some laughs/claps in response. I recall her son, Brad, attending and supporting the "Stop Domain Subsidies" (Proposition 2 in last election) press conferences, so I'd expect Carole to try to claim she's the "small/local business candidate".
- She had an assortment of supporters. I assume, based on her supporters, this is where she'll be getting her money from:
- Real Estate
- Small Business/big business/all business
- Hi-Tech
- Lawyers (folks from UT Law were on her supporter's list, and her son Brad is an attorney)
- Possibly from Education. I'm told she helped found ACC, and one of her supporters listed ACC in her intro
- Capital/finance groups/folks associated to these orgs
The issues/what she'll run on, based her preso, might be:
- Budget, Fiscal Responsibility
- Accountability
- Transportation/Infrastructure
- Law Enforcement
- She's a "leader", leadership
- Energized
- Helping to "get the vote out" (Carole said she had a 35% voter turnout during her term, compared to 11% election turnout 3 years ago).
During the huddled press conference, she commented about Austin being "$137M over budget". This was not clear, but it appears Carole is calling this a $137M shortfall because of unmet "expected" sales revenue received compared to their budget?? I need clarification on this. I'd like to ask her what services she expects to cut from that $137M.
My guess is Carole will also try to leverage her experience with her original work on the Austin Tommorrow Comprehensive Plan, which was a major effort in the 70's, and will likely be a campaign issue this season.
Please comment on anything else y'all feel is critical for this race.
As we do for every council race, we expect to air all of the Mayoral interviews and Austin City Council candidates on 91.7FM KOOP Radio between now and the May election. Airing on our show "A Neighborly conversation, 12:00noon on Wednesdays. Stay tuned.
