Sarah Eckhardt

With battle lines already drawn and column inches filled, the endorsements of Demo­crat­ic clubs, labor groups, and other organizations may seem to be more about bragging rights than actual campaign momentum. Nonethe­less, every year the mailers start to arrive with a roll call of partisan merit badges, perhaps only damning if left blank.

In majority Democratic Travis County, it is also a good way to gauge front-runners. Organizational membership often signals a higher degree of engagement. Rain, sleet, or snow, club voters tend to turn up on voting day in greater numbers than their less-involved counterpoints. Add organizational muscle, and the club nod can propel a win.

The list at right is culled from campaign websites, Facebook, Twitter, club sites, and communication with the candidates, but is in no way complete. A multi-club candidate forum will be held today (Thursday, Jan. 30), hosted by the Travis County Democratic Party, Austin Young Dems, Capital Area Progres­sive Democrats, Black Austin Democrats, and the South Austin Democrats. Then on Satur­day, the Central Austin Democrats, University Democrats, and the Progressive Alliance will be holding a joint forum. This list will be updated online as more endorsements are confirmed. Please send any additions to politics@austinchronicle.com.

TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE

Sarah Eckhardt: Capital Tejano Democrats, Yeller Dawg Democrats, Laborers Interna­tional Union of North America Local 753, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees 205, Faith Action for Women in Need, Austin Sierra Club

Andy Brown: North by Northwest Democrats, Circle C Area Democrats, Northeast Travis County Democrats, Stonewall Democrats of Austin, AFSCME Local 1624, Austin Firefighters Assoc., Austin/Travis County EMS Employees Assoc., Travis County Sheriffs’ Law Enforcement Assoc., Travis County Sheriff’s Officers Assoc., Austin Pol­ice Assoc., Central Texas Build­ing Trades Assoc., Austin Central Labor Council, Education Austin

TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PCT. 2

Andy Brown Credit: Photo by John Anderson

Richard Jung: Capital Area Asian American Dem­o­crats, Education Austin, Network of Asian American Organizations

Brigid Shea: AFSCME Local 1624, Clean Water Action, Central Texas Building Trades Assoc., Austin Sierra Club, Austin Firefighters Assoc., North by Northwest Democrats (split)

Garry Brown: Stonewall Democrats of Austin, Northeast Travis County Democrats, North by Northwest Democrats (split)

TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PCT. 4

Margaret Gómez: Austin Central Labor Council, Travis County Sheriffs Law Enforcement Assoc., Travis County Sheriff’s Officers Assoc., Austin Police Assoc.

Darla Wegner: Elroy Neighborhood Association, Friends of Formula One

Note: Last week, our sources advised that County Treasurer candidates Ramey Ko and Dolores Ortega-Carter split the North by Northwest endorsement. NxNW President Paul Labuda clarifies that, “Neither candidate garnered 60 or more votes in our 100-vote endorsement, and we do not dual-endorse in two-way races.”

This article appears in January 31 • 2014.

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