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You can tell a lot about a person by the people that supports them. For example, getting James Leininger money, usually means they are a conservative or pro-voucher. Grabbing a couple of bucks from Tom Craddick or one of his many shell PAC's... that's usually a bad sign. City politics is no difference.
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?
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