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Letters are posted as we receive them during the week, and before they are printed in the paper, so check back frequently to see new letters. If you'd like to send a letter to the editor, use this postmarks submission form, or email your letter directly to [email protected]. Thanks for your patience.
Clarification From Candidate Greco
RECEIVED Tue., Sept. 3, 2024
Dear Editor,
In Austin Sanders' recent article “City Council Countdown: Meet the Candidates” [News, Aug. 30], he predicts that Mayor [Kirk] Watson’s “colossal” fundraising advantage and “virtually guaranteed support from Austin’s Democratic clubs and labor groups” put him in good shape to win. I appreciate Sanders’ acknowledging I’ve been running the most aggressive campaign among the challengers and “attacking the incumbent in public every chance [Greco] can.” But I want to clarify a few things:
• Watson does not have “virtually guaranteed” support from unions and democratic clubs: in fact, he failed to gain the endorsement this past week from his own union, AFSCME, which only requires a 50% threshold. I know I went into that endorsement meeting to make the case I was the best union candidate. He basically got a vote of no confidence.
• Watson so far has raised less than half of what Sanders predicts in his article, so let’s stick to the facts. And his PAC last time raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2022 from major Trump and Abbott donors like oil and gas billionaire Bryan Sheffield, which Sanders omits. Sheffield has donated to Watson again in 2024.
• In the 2022 race, Celia Israel gained 40% of the vote in November compared to Watson’s 34.9%, despite being outraised 3 to 1. She narrowly lost a December runoff. I would have loved to raise what Celia did, but the gap between my fundraising and Watson’s is actually LESS than the gap between him and Celia’s at the same point. His fundraising is down.
I would've liked to have been contacted for the article, but only “city hall sources and political organizers” were contacted, which I assume means the mayor’s staff and campaign team. But facts are pesky things, and I’ll keep speaking the truth on the campaign trail and to the media.
In Austin Sanders' recent article “City Council Countdown: Meet the Candidates” [News, Aug. 30], he predicts that Mayor [Kirk] Watson’s “colossal” fundraising advantage and “virtually guaranteed support from Austin’s Democratic clubs and labor groups” put him in good shape to win. I appreciate Sanders’ acknowledging I’ve been running the most aggressive campaign among the challengers and “attacking the incumbent in public every chance [Greco] can.” But I want to clarify a few things:
• Watson does not have “virtually guaranteed” support from unions and democratic clubs: in fact, he failed to gain the endorsement this past week from his own union, AFSCME, which only requires a 50% threshold. I know I went into that endorsement meeting to make the case I was the best union candidate. He basically got a vote of no confidence.
• Watson so far has raised less than half of what Sanders predicts in his article, so let’s stick to the facts. And his PAC last time raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2022 from major Trump and Abbott donors like oil and gas billionaire Bryan Sheffield, which Sanders omits. Sheffield has donated to Watson again in 2024.
• In the 2022 race, Celia Israel gained 40% of the vote in November compared to Watson’s 34.9%, despite being outraised 3 to 1. She narrowly lost a December runoff. I would have loved to raise what Celia did, but the gap between my fundraising and Watson’s is actually LESS than the gap between him and Celia’s at the same point. His fundraising is down.
I would've liked to have been contacted for the article, but only “city hall sources and political organizers” were contacted, which I assume means the mayor’s staff and campaign team. But facts are pesky things, and I’ll keep speaking the truth on the campaign trail and to the media.
Douglas Jeffrey Greco
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That's Just, Like, Your Opinion, Man
RECEIVED Tue., Sept. 3, 2024
Dear Editor,
RE: "City Council Countdown: Meet the Candidates," [News, Aug. 30:]
This is terrible "journalism" and should be moved to your "Opinion" section, not placed in "NEWS."
The author's clear bias against certain areas of our city, neighborhoods, and people who disagree with the city's land development policy disqualifies Mr. Sanders from writing an unbiased, informative piece on Council and mayoral candidates.
RE: "City Council Countdown: Meet the Candidates," [News, Aug. 30:]
This is terrible "journalism" and should be moved to your "Opinion" section, not placed in "NEWS."
The author's clear bias against certain areas of our city, neighborhoods, and people who disagree with the city's land development policy disqualifies Mr. Sanders from writing an unbiased, informative piece on Council and mayoral candidates.
Holly Reed
