Author List | All Tags
Recent Tags
Popular Tags
Elections (741)
Election 2008 (537)
City Council (403)
81st Legislature (314)
Legislature (279)
Politics (206)
State Government (168)
Courts (145)
Election 2006 (139)
Democrats (136)
Environment (134)
Texas House of Representatives (126)
Transportation (121)
Marijuana (120)
Media (119)
Republicans (114)
Education (113)
Growth & Development (104)
Crime (101)
Election 2010 (93)
Election 2008 (537)
City Council (403)
81st Legislature (314)
Legislature (279)
Politics (206)
State Government (168)
Courts (145)
Election 2006 (139)
Democrats (136)
Environment (134)
Texas House of Representatives (126)
Transportation (121)
Marijuana (120)
Media (119)
Republicans (114)
Education (113)
Growth & Development (104)
Crime (101)
Election 2010 (93)
All Chronicle blogs, all the time
The scene turned inside art
Getting in bed with books
Come on in the kitchen
Sizing up screens big and small
Get the wax out
Your base on balls
Elements of style
Steer here, queers
Check back here for Chronicle alerts!
Randi Shade
Hanger Heading Here
Wells Dunbar
Thu Jan 28, 3:01pm
To the surprise of absolutely no one, today the City Council unanimously approved an incentive program with Hanger Orthopedic Group, offering them $50,000 a year for ten years for the company to relocate their corporate headquarters here.
Women Council Members Back Fam-Plan Funds
Wells Dunbar
Thu Dec 10, 3:16pm
, 2009
Reproduction rights advocates got a boost from City Council's better half, who came out today in support for comprehensive family planning funding – including abortion coverage – in the budget vote facing the Travis County Healthcare District Board tonight.
Don't Trust The Consultants!
Katherine Gregor
Thu Mar 5, 4:41pm
, 2009
Does anyone in Austin think a nationally respected comprehensive planning firm might be able to teach Austin a thing or two about inclusive public processes that work?
Gale Rumor Untrue
Michael King
Fri Dec 19, 6:42pm
, 2008
In the wake of the untimely death of perennial City Council candidate and gadfly Jennifer Gale, public sympathy with her homelessness – she died, of yet unconfirmed causes, while sleeping outside Wednesday night, Dec. 18 – has led to misleading speculation about the circumstances of her death.
Hello, Emily Austin Shade-Shell
Richard Whittaker
Fri Sep 26, 3:12pm
, 2008
A brief note of celebration: At 12.38pm today, Council Member Randi Shade gave birth to a baby daughter, Emily Austin Shade-Shell. The latest addition to the household weighs in at a healthy seven pounds 10 ounces.
Back in the Dais – The Hustle Gets Clipped
Wells Dunbar
Thu Aug 7, 8:45am
, 2008
Never one to rest on our laurels, the Hustle brings you a look back this week. Plus, a special guest lands us in some hairy situations.
First Day of Council
Wells Dunbar
Thu Jul 24, 2:49pm
, 2008
Any first day jitters from new City Council members Laura Morrison and Randi Shade have been well concealed through this jam-packed, yet not terribly momentous day at council. Throughout the day's items – a presentation on rail that largely reiterated what we've heard already, and Austin Energy's plans to to reduce and cap carbon dioxide, the two council members have remained steadfast and certain – albeit with different styles so far.
Morrison has asked questions on public improvements to Barton Springs, and during the rail presentation. She even notably abstained from a vote approving the minutes of the previous council meeting, as she wasn't on the dais then. Shade, however, has been taking it all in – outside of a discussion on a potential lime slurry quarry in Cedar Park, she hasn't really spoken so far – yet that may potentially change with the just started discussion on how to proceed with the 23rd Street Renaissance Market.
Morrison has asked questions on public improvements to Barton Springs, and during the rail presentation. She even notably abstained from a vote approving the minutes of the previous council meeting, as she wasn't on the dais then. Shade, however, has been taking it all in – outside of a discussion on a potential lime slurry quarry in Cedar Park, she hasn't really spoken so far – yet that may potentially change with the just started discussion on how to proceed with the 23rd Street Renaissance Market.
City Council Swearing-In Going Down
Wells Dunbar
Wed Jun 25, 12:00pm
, 2008
The Final Countdown
Wells Dunbar
Sat May 10, 12:03am
, 2008
Election Day is upon us, and the candidates are making their final pitches to voters, YouTube style.
Here's Robin Cravey:
And Randi Shade (the day before the election, actually):
Check back with Newsdesk this evening, as we'll be blogging up the E-Night results from the candidates' parties.
Explosive Charge Against Ignite Consulting
Katherine Gregor
Thu May 8, 8:58pm
, 2008
Jennifer Kim’s campaign consultant, Elliott McFadden, appears to be in deep prevaricator’s doo-doo. According to the Public Utility Commission, he could be liable for fines of up to $1,000 a day – perhaps stretching back for years.
Stop the Place 3 Race, I Wanna Get Off!
Wells Dunbar
Thu May 8, 3:30pm
, 2008
I've been chiding myself for not writing anything up on the Jennifer Kim campaign's public safety conference/Randi Shade robocall counter-conference yesterday, despite my attendance. But it's the least I can do to muster any enthusiasm to riff on an increasingly ugly, petty race, characterized by ugly, petty issues.
Robocalls!
Wells Dunbar
Tue May 6, 10:58am
, 2008
Ugh. I'm so over the vitriol in Place 3, I'm outsourcing this one to the Austinist.
Complaint in Place Tres Race
Wells Dunbar
Fri May 2, 10:53am
, 2008
If you haven't heard, there's been an ethics complaint lodged in the increasingly acrimonious Place 3 Jennifer Kim/Randi Shade duel. On Thursday, Kim's camp lodged a formal ethics complaint against Shade for failing to report "bundled" money from firms.
Leffingwell, Shade: Stanford Behind Culleton Ads
Wells Dunbar
Tue Apr 29, 10:40am
, 2008
Hoo boy! – there's a pair of explosive press releases from the Randi Shade and Lee Leffingwell camps this morning, on the Rick Culleton-financed – and apparently, Jason Stanford-penned – attack ads against Leffingwell and Jennifer Kim. The long and short of it: the releases claim Stanford left as Meeker's campaign director to immediately work for Culleton – Meeker's former treasurer – in preparing the attacks against the incumbents. As the release says,
… The fact that Stanford and Culleton both apparently resigned their positions with Jason Meeker's campaign in late March or early April and almost immediately began orchestrating a well-funded "independent" print and television advertising campaign "doesn't pass the smell test."
Shade: Culleton Support Unsolicited
Wells Dunbar
Fri Apr 25, 7:37pm
, 2008
This statement from Randi Shade on the Rick Culleton-financed TV ads slamming Jennifer Kim and Lee Leffingwell, and supporting Jason Meeker and herself:
"I've been made aware today that Mr. Rick Culleton, the owner of Discount Electronics, has begun airing television commercials which are critical of Jennifer Kim and which advocate for my candidacy. I want to make clear that I have never met with or talked to Mr. Culleton about my campaign, and have no previous association with him. Mr. Culleton did make an unsolicited online contribution to my campaign on Wednesday night, and while I appreciate his support and advocacy, I am in no way involved in his effort and have not received any notification from him regarding any of his independent expenditures."Not entirely surprisng, as Shade's campaign consultant, Mark Nathan, is also – can ya guess? – Lee Lefffingwell's.
Meeker Hits the Small Screen?
Wells Dunbar
Fri Apr 25, 12:04pm
, 2008
Speaking of Randi Shade and TV ads, Newsdesk received this note from an informed reader earlier today:
Just saw a commercial on MSNBC (10:15 AM — a video version of the full page ad that is running in the Chron this week from [Discount Electronics CEO and former Jason Meeker campaign treasurer] Rick Culleton. Photos of Lee and Jen. Photos of Jason and Randi. Highlights the pay raise. Will have to pay more attention next cycle. We will know the size of the buy in next week's 8 day out report, but the candidates do have the right to ask how much the buy is … but for now:
Finally – a Commercial Without Cid Galindo!
Wells Dunbar
Fri Apr 25, 10:30am
, 2008
From one Randi Shade. As far as campaign pitches go, "I'll wait in line with you at the airport" isn't exactly "change we can believe in," or "morning in America".
Jennifer Kim's rumored to be responding by vowing to sit with you in the waiting room at the doctor's office.
Council Election Question of the Day
Wells Dunbar
Wed Apr 23, 2:15pm
, 2008
How many anti-Randi Shade blog posts will Burnt Orange Report promote without the disclaimer that BOR big cheese Matt Glazer is working for Jennifer Kim's campaign?
Once Again It's On!
Wells Dunbar
Thu Apr 17, 10:45am
, 2008
Episode 2 of the Chronicle's new video blog City Hall Hustle is makin' it rain! Click through to view it!
Shade Rolls Out of Council Race?
Wells Dunbar
Tue Apr 1, 11:48am
, 2008
This unexpected release from the Randi Shade campaign:
Randi Shade Suspends City Council Race To Pursue Career In Roller Derby
Place 3 Challenger Shade Says Roller Derby Should Be Community’s Top Priority; Calls Incumbent Jennifer Kim “One Of The Best Council Members In Austin’s History”
Austin, Texas, April 1, 2008 - Austin City Council Place 3 challenger Randi Shade announced today that she has suspended her campaign to pursue a career in women’s roller derby, while praising incumbent Jennifer Kim for her good judgment and long list of accomplishments.
Shade made the surprise announcement this morning in front of Playland Skate Center, home of the Texas Rollergirls, saying she will try out for the “Hell Marys” roller derby team later today.
“I’ve thought long and hard about this, and with the strong support of my friends and family, I’ve made the decision to suspend my City Council campaign and devote my life and career to roller derby,” said Shade. “I believe my broad experience as a public servant, a successful businesswoman, and a non-profit executive make me a great candidate to lead the Hell Marys.”
A Bloodcurdling Day in the Neighborhood: ANC Council Candidates Forum
Wells Dunbar
Fri Mar 28, 1:01pm
, 2008
Tags: Neighborhoods , Cid Galindo , Robin Cravey , Laura Morrison , Lee Leffingwell , Jason Meeker , Randi Shade , Jennifer Kim , City Council , Politics
Seeing as we're facing a gantlet of upcoming forums, Wednesday night's Austin Neighborhoods Council City Council candidate forum may already be old news. But as perhaps the most well-attended and intense vetting of the candidates to date, it was a seriously substantive discussion – if not a window into the concerns of the voting homeownerati this election.
Place 4 hopeful Cid Galindo was first unto the breach, given (like all his fellow speakers) two minutes for an intro, then 13 minutes to face a barrage of detailed ANC questions, with a hard time limit of a minute on each answer enforced. Moderator Marceline Lasater didn't brook any vagueness or pandering either, redirecting the candidates several times to restrict themselves to the questions at hand. Galindo displayed a good working knowledge of the issues (mainly zoning and neighborhood-plan related – what a surprise!), but didn't necessarily deliver the "correct" answers to the ANC crowd: for instance, his willingness to readdress Town Lake setbacks for developers in order to complete the Hike and Bike Trail loop. "To simply be intransigent and say we won't bend on that 200-foot limit" wasn't good policy. Galindo instead called for "reasonable compromises" – like a 150 foot setback (at the very most).
Place 4 hopeful Cid Galindo was first unto the breach, given (like all his fellow speakers) two minutes for an intro, then 13 minutes to face a barrage of detailed ANC questions, with a hard time limit of a minute on each answer enforced. Moderator Marceline Lasater didn't brook any vagueness or pandering either, redirecting the candidates several times to restrict themselves to the questions at hand. Galindo displayed a good working knowledge of the issues (mainly zoning and neighborhood-plan related – what a surprise!), but didn't necessarily deliver the "correct" answers to the ANC crowd: for instance, his willingness to readdress Town Lake setbacks for developers in order to complete the Hike and Bike Trail loop. "To simply be intransigent and say we won't bend on that 200-foot limit" wasn't good policy. Galindo instead called for "reasonable compromises" – like a 150 foot setback (at the very most).
