Sure, Randi Shade said she was up for a run-off after her poor election night performance Saturday. But most watchers assumed Shade would take a few days to make a definitive decision, and now she’s done just that: Yesterday, Shade announced “I intend to run and win in the run-off election on June 18.”
Talking to the Chronicle yesterday, Shade drew comparisons to the 2005 Place 3 run-off that swept her predecessor into office: “If you look at 2005, Margot Clarke against Jennifer Kim – Jennifer was behind, and then in the run-off ended up picking up four or five thousand extra votes. That’s basically what we’re talking about here – basically tied for the lowest voter turnout in history. You have to look at all those things. I think there are stark differences between me and Kathie [Tovo], but I don’t think I did very much in our initial campaign to differentiate us. I think they did; they showed contrasts, but I didn’t.”
That theme of low voter turnout is one Shade also hammers in her announcement, which we’ve reproduced below:
“Over the past three days, I have been inundated with phone calls and emails from friends, supporters and strangers, urging me to stay in the race for Place 3, and worried that they will no longer be represented at City Hall. I intend to run and win in the run-off election on June 18.”
“Despite the view of some political pundits, I am confident that we can compete effectively and win the run-off election. The turnout on May 14th was just 7% — the lowest turnout in decades. The final margin between myself and my opponent on Election Day was just over 4,000 votes — less than 1/2 of 1% of Austin’s population. That margin is too small, and the differences between myself and my opponent are too big, for me and my supporters to quit this race.”
“On a broad range of issues critical to Austin’s future, my opponent and I have fundamentally different views. The run-off election will be about those issues and differences, and with just two candidates in this race, voters will have a very clear choice to make.”
“Some of my opponent’s supporters have said that I should quit this race to avoid the cost of the election. But I believe that my opponent’s positions on the issues would put millions of public dollars at risk. I cannot in good conscience quit this race when the stakes, and the potential costs, are so high.”
“Our entire campaign team is energized and looking forward to a vigorous contest. I am hopeful that Austin voters will participate in this run-off election in numbers that are worthy of our great city and its greater future.”
Sounds like another fun five weeks ahead. The excitement kicks off tomorrow in our weekly edition with wall-to-wall election night coverage, precinct box breakdowns, and more.
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This article appears in May 13 • 2011.