Kathie Tovo Running in Place 3

There been lots of talk about Planning Commissioner and past Austin Neighborhood Council vice-president/Bouldin Crek NA prez Kathie Tovo mounting a bid against Randi Shade. Chatter no more: Tovo tells Newsdesk she'll file against Shade this week because the Place 3 incumbent "doesn’t show respect for citizens."

We spoke to Tovo very briefly before she went into tonight's Planning Commission meeting. The abridged reason for her run, she said, was "to change the direction at City Hall. The decisions of city government haven’t always been in the best interest of citizens, and frankly Randi Shade is part of that problem." She goes on to say Shade has "lost touch" and "isn't listening" to the citizenry.

With her comments about respect, Tovo alludes to Shade's recent e-mail embarrassments; another issue Tovo said she plans to raise in a campaign is the "cost of water, and the cost of electricity, and preserving what's best about Austin" - a seeming allusion to Shade's controversial votes in favor of Water Treatment Plant No. 4.

Tovo says a formal filing and announcement will be coming shortly. Between this and Max Nofziger, Place 3 keeps getting more interesting.