For those interested in what Tim Mahoney has to say about Keller's withdrawal from the race for ACC, here you go.
"I have told Mr. Keller that I appreciate his difficult decision to withdraw from the Runoff. The Runoff would have cost ACC hundreds of thousands of dollars, and Mr. Keller's challenging choice was for the benefit of ACC and the community at large. I look forward, not only to working with Mr. Keller in the future, but to begin my term with the two other new Board members beginning June 2. Mr. Keller has indicated that he wishes ACC the best in the future and will continue his long-time interest in educational matters," Mahoney said after hearing that the runoff election had been cancelled last Thursday.
"The goal of improving educational outcomes across Central Texas is something I have been working on for the last number of years, including helping to organize citizen-based planning conferences. (See www.neighboraustin.com.) I have the demonstrated skills to continue ACC's efforts to outreach to the community, business and citizen groups, and work on the growth that is a part of ACC's master plan," Mahoney said. "I see my job, as one of the 9 people who are members of the ACC Board of Trustees, to help ACC shape its future in the direction that we all want to go.
Tim Mahoney will be sworn in as new Board member with others on June 2, 2008.
Craddick Republican, Harrison Keller, has decided to withdraw from the runoff for ACC Board of Trustee. Keller who has been financed by David Dewhurst, TRMPAC donors, and other Republican leadership has exited the race after Democrat Tim Mahoney received an outstanding 48.5% of the vote on May 10th.
In an odd twist, the Republican's have inadvertently done more for community colleges trying to get Keller elected than they did throughout the entire 80th legislature. Keller's statement outlines, he has decided to withdraw from the runoff election and to donate the balance of his campaign funds to the Austin Community College Foundation."
Ironic given the fact the Republican Party gutted funding to Community College's last session.
Regardless, congrats to Tim Mahoney and we hope you will take the next few weeks to relax.
With much of the focus of the May elections in Austin on the hotly contested City Council races, there has been relatively little coverage of the race for Place 1 of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees. Board members serve as volunteers for the quite lengthly 6 year terms so we are stuck with who we elect for some time.
There are currently 3 people running for the seat: Tim Mahoney, Mike Reid, and Harrison Keller. Tim is a well know community leader and Democratic activist, and Mike is an ACC student.
The third candidate is more troubling. In press materials and his website, Harrison Keller describes himself as an independent, an education specialist, and the Director of Research for the Texas House of Representatives. What he leaves out of this description is that he was hired by and works directly for Tom Craddick. "Harrison is an excellent fit for research director," Craddick said when hiring Keller. "[He] will continue to be incredibly useful to me and to our staff when making policy decisions."
He describes himself as an independent, but his voting history shows he's voted in the last 3 Republican primaries.
According to UT Watch, he was also the "mastermind" behind tuition deregulation at state universities saying, "Students should pay whatever the market will bare." Just his week, the UT Board of Regents increased tuition by an average of 5% thanks to deregulation. So we can thank Mr. Keller for skyrocketing tuition that is making education at our state schools increasing out of reach for the middle class.
His involvement in a movement that is attempting to strip government services to nothing and replace them private, for-profit solutions is disturbing and begs more questions of why Keller would work with these individuals.
ACC is the education system that supposed to be accessible to the entire community. Is this the sort of person we want making decisions about how our Community College is run and how much students should pay the next 6 years?
Tonight four clubs got together and had a joint forum to endorse in the Austin City Council, AISD and ACC races. Those clubs were South Austin Democrats, Texas Environmental Democrats, Capitol Area Asian American Democrats, and Capital Area Progressive Democrats, and the result are below.
Tim Mahoney was endorsed by CAPD, CAAAD, SAD, and TED for ACC
Jerry Garcia was endorsed by CAPD and CAAAD for Austin Independent School District Board
Lee Leffingwell was endorsed by CAPD, CAAAD, SAD, TED for re-election in City Council Place 1
Jennifer Kim was endorsed by CAPD and CAAAD for Austin City Council Place 3
Randi Shade was endorsed by SAD for Austin City Council Place 3
Laura Morrison was endorsed by CAPD, CAAAD, and SAD for Austin City Council Place 4
This list represents all endorsements made tonight at the Democratic Club meetings and links to the website are provided if available.
