Naked City

By Doug Potter

Step right up! Everyone's doing it! Test your ability to fill Kirk Watson's soon-to-be-empty shoes with the Austin Chronicle's Mayor-o-Meter! This miraculous machine was designed in the laboratories of the Austin Chronicle Institute by famous European scientists in touch with the latest expert advice, media savvy, and restroom chatter at Las Manitas and Little City. See how your fellow citizens stack up!

Jackie Goodman -- Mighty Mite

Stronger than she looks! Offends no one, has south-of-the-river credibility, knows How Austin Really Works better than most anyone, and is sitting on a pile of political capital taller than the Mueller tower. A lot of so-called strong men are going to lose money betting against Goodman.

Beverly Griffith -- Muscle-Bound?

Whacking a big stick now, but can she lead the old-line enviros and neighboristas in an anti-Watsonian jihad? Or will she be undone by the conflicting egos and agendas that broke up the Green Machine and turned her into a gadfly? Like any polarizer, Griffith's fate hinges not just on her friends but on her enemies. Robin Rather -- Star Slugger

New blood! Lean and green! Tech connected! Daughter of Dan! Married to a musician! And in the front of the line when the master consultants and operators decide who'll get their favors. Could bring people to the polls who, if it were just a battle between incumbent council members, would head to the lake.

Daryl Slusher -- Ridin' the Pine

Back in 1994 Slusher jumped out of the Chron office and into the mayor's race at the last minute, got outspent 6 to 1, and came within 1,500 votes of bumping off the incumbent, Bruce Todd. The scrappy leftie says he won't run against Goodman -- who'd beat him, as could Rather if the winds blew right -- but if it means stopping Griffith, he may leave the bench.

Lynn Sherman -- The Strong, Silent Type?

Lynn who? LCRA manager touted as a candidate whom the old pro-bidness civic elite -- and, maybe, the silent majority of Austinites -- could pick over the progressive rabble. Problem is, the silent majority doesn't vote. The business elite that really matters is going to line up behind Rather or Goodman, depending on how they make their money.

Mark Tschurr -- The Weak, Loud Type?

Entrepreneur, political provocateur, and Save Our Springs Alliance board chair has a record of gumming up the Green Machine. In 1993 he tried to run on Goodman's left for council and ran up a legendary campaign debt. Now he's throwing stinkbombs at Slusher, Rather, and others. Says he'd more likely run for council than for mayor (i.e., not against Griffith), which should spare him some embarrassment.

Mike Levy -- 900-Pound Gorilla

Austin's local Ross Perot, the cashed-out founder and publisher of Texas Monthly is way too eccentric to be the mainstream choice but could turn any race into a platform for his particular list of obsessions. And if the race turns into a rant against the way things are, then Griffith picks up the strength she'll need to knock the bell off the Mayor-o-Meter.