Greetings from Randi Shade

by: Randi Shade

Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 09:07 PM CDT

I want to start by thanking Matt Glazer for inviting me to post a journal.  

I first contacted Matt, thanks to an introduction by a mutual friend, back in January, and he invited me then to engage with the BOR community.  

I appreciated the invitation, and decided that the best way to begin would be for me to listen (or read) in earnest.  So over the last 60 days, as I've been campaigning - and trying desperately to get anyone to pay attention to a May City Council race - I've been reading BOR as much as I can.

Especially during this incredible moment in history, it has been a great time to be reading BOR for news and information and analysis about Democratic politics - from the presidential race all the way down to precinct chair contests.  I think it's safe to say that no one else was covering the Bucknall-Marion throwdown.

But just as much as the posts, I've enjoyed reading and learning from readers' comments over the past few months.  The BOR community is a lively bunch to say the least, but the respectful tone of MOST of the honest debate that I've seen happen here is very refreshing and, I think, very useful - especially when it ultimately succeeds in mobilizing voters to elect progressive candidates here in Austin and across Texas.

Which leads me to, well, me....

Randi Shade Gets A Little Help from Her Toll Road Friends

by: Matt Glazer

Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 09:50 AM CST

It looks like Randi Shade's fundraisers are a who's who of pro-development types. Two days ago Shade had a fundraiser put on by what amounts to the toll road lobbyists in Austin, and includes Gary Farmer and Don Martin (main spokespeople for the Take on Traffic group that lobbied for the Phase 2 tollroads), Pete Winstead (worked on toll road projects for CTRMA and on another note he - his firm - hired Todd Baxter after he left the Legislature), Paul Bury, Brian Cassidy, Jody Hagemann, Tim Hendricks, Helen Jobes, Lowell Lebermann, Kirk Rudy, Mike Weaver (transportation engineer who has been one of the ring-leaders for toll roads throughout the state), and Jerry Winetroub.

Looking at Randi's finance reports, the pro-development connection is stronger. Austin folks may already be aware of the Endeavor Group.  This is the group that developed the Domain and as well as pushed to build a Wal-Mart over the Aquifer. It appears that every member of the Endeavor Group has given to Randi and supports her campaign for City Council.

In contrast, Jennifer Kim has a broad base of support from across the community that includes key progressive leaders such as Robin Rather, Brigid Shea, Ann Kitchen, Amy Simmons of Amy's Ice cream, Nelson Linder, Juan and Marta Cotera, Willie Mae and Saundra Kirk, Craig Smith, Jon Beal, Karen Hadden, Nilda de la Llata of El Sol Y La Luna.  In addition, she has the support of community groups like the Austin Neighborhoods Council, Austin Sierra Club, and the Central Labor Council.

Who should we trust, the Toll Road lobby or established Austin progressive leaders?