Before they left town for the holidays, supporters of Mayor Pro Tem Jackie Goodman gathered at the palatial South Austin home of Claudette and Hugh Lowe for a Dec. 20 fundraiser in support of Goodman’s bid for three more years on City Council. To beat the two-term council limit, Goodman — like Beverly Griffith and Daryl Slusher, who were also on hand for the occasion — must obtain more than 18,000 valid signatures from supportive citizens.
“The three of us have been partners and colleagues,” Griffith said during a brief address to the crowd, who munched on fancy chocolate desserts or sipped from less-fancy bottles of Shiner Bock. She summed up their collaborative history as pro-“economy, environment, and equity.” Goodman warned against losing a progressive majority on Council, and the momentum and experience she, Slusher, and Griffith have acquired during their tenures. “We could lose it all if this petition doesn’t work,” she said. “We got term limits because we had progressives winning. It wasn’t business as usual. Now, at six years, it’s ‘you’re out of here. You’re worthless.’ Well, I think I’m a big girl now, and I can decide who I want to vote for.”
Local political luminaries from the grassroots to the statewide levels turned out in support, including: state Reps. Ann Kitchen and Elliott Naishtat, Lulu Flores and Eddie Rodriguez (dueling for the District 51 seat held by retiring Rep. Glen Maxey), Austin Neighborhoods Council President Jim Walker, Austin Energy watchdog Paul Robbins, and many other notables. Also prominent were Goodman’s husband Jack — who helped prepare the food along with other chefs from Austin Community College — and her executive assistant Jerry Rusthoven.
“We seem to be moving. Come hell or high water, I think we’re going to do it,” Goodman said. Yet, Griffith believes it will be a tight race to the Feb. deadline. Those who wish to sign petitions can do so during their lunch hour at 1206 W. Sixth.
This article appears in December 28 • 2001.