Cofer Exits City Council Race

Democratic activist and city Solid Waste Advisory Council member Rick Cofer announced in an e-mail to supporters tonight that he is dropping out of the race for Austin City Council Place 1, leaving Chris Riley and Perla Cavazos to duke it out for the seat Lee Leffingwell is vacating to run for mayor. Cofer's announcement follows after the jump:

Dear Friends,

Tonight, I will be announcing my decision to formally exit the race for Austin City Council. This decision has not been easy and was reached after much deliberation, discussion, and self-reflection. I have always believed passionately in the power of public office to touch people's lives … that is what motivated me to run in the first place. I also know that with your support, my friends and family at my side, our vision for the city, and the amazing, dedicated, and talented team that we assembled, we would have run a strong campaign to win this race.

But after spending time on the campaign trail, I am convinced that we have two great candidates that share my passion for making Austin as great as it can be. With Chris Riley and Perla Cavazos in this race, I know that Austin will have the right leadership with the right priorities. I also know that I can continue to serve this city through my work on the Solid Waste Advisory Council, neighborhood association, and other community organizations. And all of this has helped me realize that this is not the right time or right race for me.

I will continue to speak out on the issues and challenges facing our city. I will continue to advocate for more open and transparent government that treats citizen participation as a necessity instead of a nuisance, for cleaner, greener policies that recognize the urgency of saving our natural treasures, for justice and equity for all our citizens, the most vulnerable, the most needy, and for an Austin that dares to be different. For any disappointment, any inconvenience I may have caused, I am truly regretful, and I apologize from the bottom of my heart. It means the world to me that so many people gave me their trust and support; I hope that I can continue to demonstrate that your confidence was not misplaced, and that the values we share are always worth fighting for.

Yours,
Rick Cofer