While we at DailyKos tend to fixate on Presidential and Congressional races and issues, it’s worth pausing from time to time to look at local races and think about how they can have much more of an impact on our daily lives. As Tip O’Neill once said, "all politics is local." While he was talking about the way in which concerns at home shape representatives’ actions in D.C., it’s true that in terms of making a difference, each of us pretty much has to start on a micro-level in our own neighborhoods.
It was with this idea of shaping the politics close to my home that I decided to volunteer for Randi Shade, a candidate for Austin City Council Place 3. I know her campaign manager, Marti, as we live in the same precinct and are both delegates for Obama to the Texas Democratic Party Convention. I liked the idea of being able to have a greater impact on a race due to its size and proximity to, well, me.
With that in mind, yesterday morning I arose bright and early to block-walk for Randi Shade. Photos, videos, and a few anecdotes below.
Randi Shade is a great candidate, and I’m happy to volunteer for her. I’ve been meaning to do it for awhile, and finally had the time this weekend. I headed down to the office, where things were buzzing with activity. Early voting starts Monday (FYI, Austinites!) and runs through May 3, with election day on Saturday, May 10th.
| Here’s Randi’s hard-working campaign manager, Marti, modeling an excellent Randi Shade t-shirt. I love Randi’s slogan – "Different. Just Like Austin." I’ll be wearing my shirt around over the next week before the election and encouraging folks to vote early for Randi. |
Here’s the recycling area. I point this out because environmental issues are one of the cornerstones of Randi’s campaign. All of Randi’s paper campaign materials are printed in recycled paper, and her campaign purchased carbon offsets to defray its impact. We all decry the abuse of paper that comes with campaigns, though it remains a necessary evil for now. Randi’s taken a progressive step by voluntarily making her campaign as sustainable and low-impact as possible, something her opponent has not done. I can’t wait to see what she’ll do for our Austin-area environmental problems. | |
| A fellow volunteer and I headed off to blockwalk for Randi in an area of Austin I’d never seen before. Here he is consulting our maps to figure out whose turf is whose. This dude has been one of Randi’s most committed volunteers throughout the campaign. It’s great that so many students are involved in the race. What happens on city council impacts all residents of Austin. It’s also super to see that college students have stayed involved and mobilized since the presidential primary ended. |
The blockwalking itself was great – we had very positive reception from the folks we all talked to. I was particularly struck by a few interactions I had with folks who had Republican voting histories (it was on the walk sheets). They were nice, friendly, reasonable people. Several of them had very complimentary things to say about Randi, and one even mentioned that she read a great piece about her in the local paper. It reminded me of the importance of talking to all of the voters to find out what issues matter most to them, and looking for ways to build common ground. We’ve all got to live here together, and we’ve got to figure out how to make our city government run effectively.
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Challenging an incumbent is difficult. However, Randi’s running a great campaign, and until this point she’s managed to out-fundraise her opponent. Best of all, the big endorsements have started coming in.
- The Austin-American Statesman endorsed Randi, citing her "experience running a business, impressive credentials and readiness to tackle the tough challenges facing Austin."
- While our local independent weekly, The Chronicle, chose not to endorse in the race, they did have highly critical things to say of Randi’s opponent Jennifer Kim, and were highly complimentary of Randi’s "long track record of working within public and private institutions to help the most vulnerable folks."
- Overall, Randi’s built a broad coalition of endorsements from a lot of key groups here in Austin. This is no surprise – in her life here in Austin, Randi’s met, impressed, and befriended a great variety of people. They’re convinced she’s what our city needs. I like the fact that her positions on the issues resonate with so many different people and groups here in the city.
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Randi also has the potential to be a historic elected official here in Austin – she will be our first openly gay city councilmember. While we’ve had closeted council-members, Randi is the first to campaign loud and proud of her long-term relationship with partner Kayla, and their cute son Ethan. There’s even a great family photo on her website. I love this. I think LGBTQ candidates being able to campaign proudly as such is a great step forward for our city and our society. Randi isn’t hiding it from anyone in our city, either – her life is right on the campaign literature. And why should she hide? Her family doesn't make her any more or less capable to help guide our city. Anyone who has a problem with it will just have to decide what they care about more – their city and its well-being, or their narrow-mindedness. (I hope they pick the city. Traffic is crazy here!)
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Finally, a few weeks ago I joined in the fun of shooting a TV commercial for Randi Shade. Here’s the commercial – you can see my head at the :09 mark.
(The line about the airport stems from a time when incumbent Jennifer Kim allegedly tried to use her council-member status to avoid waiting on the security line at Austin’s airport.)
So. If you like the idea of kath25 on the teevee, and you live within the Austin City Limits, you might want to think about dropping Randi Shade some coin to get that ad on the air! The max donation in a city race here is $300, so she’s working really hard to raise money from as many people as possible. Even $10 can make a big difference! (Besides, I haven't been on TV since the county convention, and I'm starting to feel under-exposed!)
So that’s what’s new from the ground here in Austin, TX. What’s going on in your neck of the woods?
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Here are today's Top Comments!
From carolita:
Hilarious pic war breaks out this thread when Lepanto's pooties invade and are challenged by AHiddenSaint's puppies.
From SarahLee:
Sura109 has his/her priorities straight.
From Land of Enchantment:
citizenx has a good line on Obama's patriotism in Hunter's diary.
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Thanks to BeninSC for providing tonight's Top Mojo!
Top Mojo - excluding search-identifiable tip jars and first diary comments (top 22 tonight of each plus ties):
1 I have worked at the Obama HQ and by Molly M - 134
2 I generally respect you, bonddad... by PsiFighter37 - 96
3 I too want a fighter by eugene - 94
4 he must have done good by JOEL1954 - 88
5 Best line of the interview by tjb22 - 87
6 Nope, Obama kicked some serious butt by Sedi - 87
7 He is on our local Fox affiliate by mjd in florida - 76
8 Not "Foolish" At All - It's INSANE by mattman - 75
9 watched it with conservative family by bryker - 72
10 I like the fact that Chris Wallce noted that by Ambboogie - 70
11 Thus far, Obama has been holding his own. by mselite - 70
12 Outstanding job by Obama... by Jack Dublin - 69
13 Then you want to lose. by kath25 - 68
14 Too negative by blueintheface - 66
15 ABC and Stephanopolis and Gibson by joedemocrat - 64
16 While these things are all horrible, torture is by blue jersey mom - 64
17 As a United Church of Christ minister . . . by Rick in Oz - 63
18 I think the best part about his campaign by Muzikal203 - 62
19 What a finish! by converse - 61
20 and yet I think by housesella - 60
21 If she wanted to do the right thing by dawnt - 59
22 I gotta agree here by Dallasdoc - 59
23 He wants to be president of the United States by nevadadem - 57
24 What a shame by snowbird42 - 57
25 Birds of a feather flock together by beltane - 57
26 Not you again by smash artist - 57
27 Yet another sign of superior leadership and by HoundDog - 56
28 Since Right Wing Blogs consistently by Ambboogie - 56
29 Obama is willing to meet the enemy by MD patriot - 55
30 It's about growing the party. by kath25 - 55
Top Mojo - everything included:
1 Besides by eugene - 521
2 tips, flames, issues, mojo, and whatever else... by poligirl - 440
3 Tips for the lack of assholes by Muzikal203 - 421
4 Tips for justice? by One Pissed Off Liberal - 357
5 tips for procrastination by jackbauer8393 - 287
6 If Senator Clinton wanted to do the right thing by dengre - 250
7 just show up by FireCrow - 238
8 Tips cool, Rec's better by foxsucks81 - 231
9 Let's give tips to Reverend Wright! by MrMichaelMT - 200
10 Tip Jar by RKA - 199
11 Sunday Morning Tip Jar by Larry Madill - 198
12 I have worked at the Obama HQ and by Molly M - 134
13 and just who are we borrowing this money from by clammyc - 125
14 Why isn't Obama doign ads on this? by AlyoshaKaramazov - 119
15 tips/recs for al rodgers taking over next week... by icebergslim - 111
16 there are several reasons for this diary by teacherken - 110
17 I generally respect you, bonddad... by PsiFighter37 - 96
18 I too want a fighter by eugene - 94
19 Tips by noneed4thneed - 94
20 he must have done good by JOEL1954 - 88
21 Nope, Obama kicked some serious butt by Sedi - 87
22 Best line of the interview by tjb22 - 87
23 Tips and tears. by zic - 83
24 Tips for ending this by Sun dog - 76
25 He is on our local Fox affiliate by mjd in florida - 76
26 Not "Foolish" At All - It's INSANE by mattman - 75
27 This was chopped down by Devilstower - 73
28 watched it with conservative family by bryker - 72
29 I hope he does well. by nupstateny - 72
30 You wanna play? ... err, Tip Jar! by PhillyGal - 71
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Remember to send any great comments you read in to topcomments(at)gmail.com!