Alternately “listening to the people of Austin,” “listening to the people of this city,” and “at the listening stage,” Carole Keeton Strayhorn‘s quickly called press availability outside the Old Pecan Street Cafe yesterday made one thing resoundingly clear: She’s not announcing for mayor.
She’s Listening.
Did we mention she’s listening?
In between the L-word, which dropped around 20 times during the 10 or so minutes Strayhorn spoke, she spoke resoundingly generally about her campaign filings, which she characterized as “dotting our I’s, crossing our T’s,” and meeting “all city requirements” should she decide to run. “I absolutely am humbled, certainly, with the folks urging me to run for mayor of this city,” said Strayhorn. Asked by Newsdesk who those folks were, Strayhorn replied she was “listening to the people of Austin.”
“I’m inspired, refreshed, and reassured” by the citizenry, Strayhorn said. Right around that time, the Austin Duck Adventures vehicle slowly drove up Sixth Street, the riders sounding their quacking duck kazoos at the assembled press and would-be candidate.
This article appears in November 14 • 2008.