In that most peculiarly American of sports, NASCAR, the athletes are covered head-to-toe in their endorsing brands. What would it look like locally if our politicians were, too?
In the mayor’s race, Lee Leffingwell would be the most heavily patched. Counting one dual endorsement from the Austin Lesbian/Gay Political Caucus, the outgoing Place 1 council member has collected all the group endorsements save one. It’s perhaps not surprising he’s taken all Democratic group endorsements, as Leffingwell’s staff is the most closely aligned with local Ds. There was even a minor kerfuffle over the McCracken camp not filling out all the endorsing Dems’ surveys, which didn’t bode well for his chances.
To counter this, Brewster McCracken has taken to collecting endorsements from local celebrities, exemplified by the fundraising screening of Dazed and Confused this week, arranged by director Richard Linklater and the Alamo Drafthouse’s Tim League. And there are several major endorsements yet to come, notably those of the Austin Neighborhoods Council (occurring at press time) and the Statesman, which appears to be McCracken’s to lose. (The editorial board resumed its fact-free anti-Leffingwell jeremiads this week, baselessly insinuating that Marc Ott’s days were numbered if Leffingwell wins.) And to some surprise, Carole Keeton Strayhorn snagged an endorsement from both the Building Owners and Managers Association, still smarting over Leffingwell-sponsored water-conservation regulations and perhaps alert to Strayhorn’s cut-the-budget rhetoric, and the Small Business Group, which also endorsed Place 6 long shot Sam Osemene.
In Place 1, the other closely contested race, Perla Cavazos and Chris Riley continue to split endorsements almost evenly (although Cavazos’ nod from the Central Labor Council, representing 23 separate unions, allows her to swell her numerical count over Riley). Neither the Dem clubs nor public safety providers moved in blocs to either candidate. It’s possible the pending endorsements could tip the tight race.
There are fewer surprises in the remaining races. Unchallenged Place 5 contender Bill Spelman racks ’em up, except when groups aren’t endorsing in uncontested races (e.g., the Capital Area Asian American Democrats). Place 2 incumbent Mike Martinez has steamrolled late-registering challenger Jose Quintero. Quintero was, however, endorsed by the Mexican American Democrats, an Eastside-centric club that apparently harbors a grudge against Martinez. Living up to its name, MAD also endorsed Osemene over Sheryl Cole in Place 6. The Austin Tejano Democrats elected not to endorse in Place 6, signaling pockets of dissatisfaction with the council member’s meek performance and opposition to single-member districts.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering, look for the Chronicle‘s endorsements in late April. Early voting starts April 27.
For more race reporting, visit austinchronicle.com/hustle.
This article appears in March 27 • 2009.