Austin’s own merry prankster, Linda J. Curtis, a grassroots political campaign organizer who works for Gallup Polls, has been nominated by the Reform Party to run for the District 48 seat.
Curtis, who helped spearhead the successful campaign contribution limit initiative in Austin two years ago with the group Austinites for a Little Less Corruption, says the Reform Party will be a voice for those who want to root out corruption in state government. And the party will be a voice for those who realize that the real issues of government of the people lie outside the mainstream parties. “What does the fight between the Democrats and Republicans have anything to do with the voters?” she asks.
Issues likely will be the reform of the pension system, the revolving door of legislators turning lobbyists, and a drive to gain statewide initiative and referendum in Texas. For now, she says she’ll be out collecting signatures to get her name on the ballot and going door-to-door to define issues. She’ll also be working with a new group — Reformers Appalled by Kirk’s Ethical Transgressions (RAKET) — that promises to be just about the only serious opposition to Mayor Kirk Watson in his re-election bid.
This article appears in February 4 • 2000.