Earlier today Dan Neil, the former UT and Denver Bronco football player with an otherwise thin resume challenging Rep. Donna Howard, was removed from his on-air job at ESPN's Austin affiliate 104.9 The Horn. Neil will remain away from his radio job until after Election Day.
In a press release, Neil, who was fined $15,000 by the NFL for a dirty chop block that broke another play's leg in 2001, accused Howard of "harming his ability to make a living." Neil, who was paid over $3 million per season near the end of his football career, is the owner of the Neil Management Health Company and lives in a home appraised at over $1.9 million.
Neil alleged, with little or no supporting evidence, that Howard had "essentially asked a corporation to subsidize her advertising budget as a caveat to allowing me to continue making a living as a sports commentator." In an Austin American-Statesman blog post by Corrie MacLaggan, Howard responded to Neil's press release.
“We came with some suggestions,” Howard said. “No demand was made. They were merely discussions. (Radio officials) got back to us to say, ‘Never mind, we’re going to keep him off the air.’”
Bob Proud, senior vice president and market manager for Border Media, which owns the station, said Neil has been off the air since May.
“Discussions were held to try to find a way to keep Dan on the air, but Border Media’s legal counsel decided it would be best that he stay off until after the election,” Proud said.
If you listen to the people that made the actual decision, it appears that Neil's story is either completely fabricated or greatly exaggerated for political gain. Either way, it is a clear sign that, after a rather silent beginning to his campaign, Neil is probably not ready to mount a serious challenge to Howard.
If Neil has been off the air since May, as his boss says, there is a good chance Neil has timed this story to pre-empt what could be underwhelming fundraising numbers later this week. We'll know Thursday. The Statesman also noted that, despite the millionaire Neil's claims, he does have alternative sources of income.
A commenter on the Statesman post may have summed it up best:
By AmelieWannabe
July 12, 2010 4:43 PM |
This reminds [me] of when Marc Katz ran for mayor of Austin and couldn’t appear in any Katz’s Deli commercials and when Fred Thompson didn’t appear on “Law and Order” during his presidential bid. Surely Mr. Neil had to be aware that it’s common for this to happen to political candidates who hold positions in television and/or radio.
This should not have been a surprise to Neil. His dismissal from radio during the campaign has precedent. It is not a "liberal Democrat" conspiracy, as Neil claimed in his press release, but actually just how things work.
Austin attorney Karin Crump, the Democratic nominee for Travis County Justice of the Peace Pct 2, received endorsements from the Austin Police Association PAC and the Austin Firefighters Association PAC this week.
In an e-mail to supporters, Crump wrote:
Over the past week, our campaign earned the support and endorsement of both the Austin Firefighters Association PAC and the Austin Police Association PAC. It is truly an honor to have these important public safety groups supporting our campaign and I look forward to working with them to improve both the JP2 court and the communities that we serve.
Crump is running for the only Travis County public office held by an elected Republican. The incumbent, Barbara Bembry, is not running for re-election. The Republican nominee is Glen Bass, who had announced a bid for House District 48 before ultimately filing for Justice of the Peace.
Previously, Crump, the only attorney in the race, was overwhelmingly named "Most Qualified" by the Austin Bar Association. The Crump campaign will hold their general election campaign kickoff at The Hub on June 16.
Our campaign is proud to announce the endorsement of the Austin American-Statesman. The Statesman joins over a dozen Democratic, public safety, and community organizations in supporting Margaret Gómez.
The Statesman says voters should ask themselves: Will my choice make things better or just different?
They describe Margaret Gómez as champion of social services who, after beginning her career as a commissioner's secretary, has become a recognized expert in county government.
The Statesman also praises Gómez as "a cross over hit" who has "developed strong ties with non-Latino political groups, including labor and environmentalists."
The Editorial Board writes that Raul Alvarez "lacks focus and displays little practical working knowledge of county government" and that "Alvarez is a favorite of the ultra-hip but a disappointment to people who expect results."
The people of Precinct 4 do expect results.
They expect a leader who will be a champion for them, not a voice for the City Hall insiders and outside interests.
Voters in Travis County Commissioner Precinct 4 have been barraged by campaign ads in recent days and weeks, and it should be no surprise that one local incumbent, Margaret Gomez has decided to go negative in the waning days of the election.
One attack ad run by the Margaret Gomez campaign against her opponent, former City Councilman Raul Alvarez, goes so far as to depict the Republican party's elephant-logo bearing the name of the well known Democratic challenger Raul Alvarez. It bears noting that challenger Raul Alvarez's record reflects a considerably more progressive pattern of votes than Gomez's.
Another ad run by the Margaret Gomez campaign involves the unauthorized use and implied endorsement of popular Congressman Lloyd Doggett.
Upon being contacted, Congressman Doggett's office has stated that they in fact did not endorse Margaret Gomez and further stated that the Gomez campaign has no permission to use either Congressman Doggett's name or his likeness.
The unauthorized use of Congressman Doggett's name and likeness is the latest in a series of controversies regarding the Margaret Gomez campaign's use of the names of high-profile residents and public figures without their consent, including her former chief of Staff Joe Vela. Joe Vela noted this in a letter to the Austin Chronicle, adding "the name Joe Vela appears on the supporters list of both candidates for Precinct 4 Travis County Commissioner. To clarify any confusion, I support Raul Alvarez for this office. We need an advocate who will show up for work and speak to the needs of precinct 4."
This shows the fevered pitch that the race for Precinct 4's Commissioner seat has reached, as well as the desperation of the incumbent Gomez to hang on to her seat.
There are two words we forget to say too often. Thank you.
In that regard, I want to thank the Burnt Orange Report community for your enthusiastic endorsement. I want to thank so many of you for donating your time and hard earned dollars. Your support is appreciated and the momentum you have created is humbling.
This campaign has been a tough, long endeavor, but your support has made the difference. And with only a handful of days remaining, you continue to energize and impress me.
When we started this race, we knew it would be hard. To win we would have to create a strategy, stay organized, and actively reach as many voters as possible. And our campaign has been committed to doing the hard work, and because of supporters like you, we are within striking distance of winning this race.
Your endorsement alongside the Austin Chronicle, every democratic club that has made an endorsement, the Austin Labor Council, the Austin Firefighters Association, law enforcement, and many others, have given us momentum going into March 2nd.
We have been endorsed by District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, Senator Kirk Watson, State Representatives Eddie Rodriguez and Mark Strama. Also, Mayor Lee Leffingwell and city council member Mike Martinez along with County Commissioner Karen Huber support our campaign and vision for County Court at Law 3. We have been endorsed by over 1,000 people in Travis County because we have made it a point to talk about helping people and not just simply punishment.
You have made this campaign a success up to this point. You have knocked on doors, called voters, voted at club meetings, written letters, signed postcards, and (hopefully) will vote early or on Election Day.
With the election only a week away, I want to make sure to say thank you one more time for all your hard work and support.
So, thank you.
John Lipscombe
Candidate for County Court at Law #3
While our campaign had previously garnered the endorsements of:
The Austin Firefighter's Association
The Austin Hispanic Firefighter's Association
The Austin African American Firefighter's Association
as well as Former Mayor Will Wynn
Mayor Pro-Tem Mike Martinez
among many many others - the last 48 hours have been extremely exciting for us.
last night we received the endorsements of:
Former Mayor Pro Tem Betty Dunkerly
Council Member Randi Shade
as well as both the
The Sierra Club
and
(Cap-Metro) Amalgamated Transit Union 1091
And most exciting of all we swept tonight's Travis County Democratic Party Mega-Forum by receiving the endorsements of the
Tejano Democrats
Capital City Young Democrats
Texas Environmental Democrats
Northeast County Democrats
Capital Area Asian American Democrats
"I am extremely honored and extremely grateful to receive the endorsement of these institutions, and I feel this shows the community's desire for new leadership and new direction." - Raul Alvarez
Raul Alvarez, former two-term City Council member and candidate for County Commissioner Precinct 4 has raised an impressive $30,000 by December 31st of last year, out-raising his opponent, incumbent Gomez by nearly $10,000.
At this early stage of the race, Alvarez has already raised more than any previous Challenger that Gomez has faced.
Raul Alvarez has run a largely grass-roots campaign, with over 200 donors and more than 80% of his donors having contributed $100 or less.
The number of small donors demonstrates his strong support in the community and a desire for new leadership and new direction on the Commissioner's Court.
(AUSTIN) - Raul Alvarez has received the endorsement of the Austin Firefighters Association.
He is also proud to receive the support of the African American Firefighters Association and the Hispanic Firefighters Association.
"Its an honor to be endorsed by the Austin Firefighters Association. I have been a strong advocate for the firefighters in the past when I was on the city council," Alvarez said. "I will remain a strong voice for the firefighters as long as I 'm in public office."
(Raul Alvarez is running for Travis County Commissioner in Precinct 4. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Fellow Democrats,
I'm Raul Alvarez, I am proud to have called Austin home for almost 20 years and I am excited to be running for Travis County Commissioner for Pct. 4
I'm running because our community is at a crossroad. We face serious challenges when it comes to:
Strengthening our local economy
Supporting educational achievement
Protecting our natural resources &
Promoting affordability, among others.
As your commissioner, I will provide strong leadership so that we can tackle these issues. I will be a strong advocate for Precinct 4. I will work to find new solutions to the economic, educational, environmental challenges we face. I will be a leader on issues that affect working families. Our community and Precinct 4 need relief now. We cannot afford to wait 4 more years for change to come. We can move forward now as a community by electing a new Precinct 4 Commissioner, and I am the right person for the job.
Austin attorney Amy Clark Meachum filed for the 201st District Court earlier today at the Travis County Democratic Party headquarters. Meachum will face Jan Patterson in the Democratic primary. We have recently documented the controversy that has surrounded Patterson, who had at one time been expected to be unopposed.
Meachum has locked down much of the Travis County Democratic activist and establishment support. Austin political consultants David Butts and Alfred Stanley, who had not backed Meachum until she switched races, were both present as she filed at the TCDP office. So were long time party activists like Donna Beth McCormick, Ginny Agnew, Pat Crow, Cecilia Crossley and Shirley Johnson, among others.
Meachum's campaign has released the following list of elected official endorsements earlier today:
Hon. Kirk Watson, Hon. Eddie Rodriguez, Hon. Mark Strama, Hon. Mike Martinez, Hon. David Escamilla, Hon. Bruce Elfant, Hon. Ken Oden, Hon. Margaret Moore, Hon. Bill Aleshire, Hon. Garnet Coleman, Hon. Jim Dunnam, Hon. Pete Gallego, Hon. Lon Burnam, Hon. Jessica Farrar, Hon. Abel Herrero, Hon. Mike Villarreal, Hon. James E. "Pete" Laney, Amb. Lyndon Olson
Meachum with supporters outside of TCDP office after filing for District Judge.
