Linda Curtis drops bombshell on Austin Mayor's Race at Independent
Texans Mayors forum with
Brad Meltzer, Marc Katz, and Max Nofziger Photo Gallery
Linda Curtis drops bombshell on Austin Mayor's Race at Independent
Texans Mayors forum with
Brad Meltzer, Marc Katz, and Max Nofziger Photo Gallery
At the Independent Texan Mayors forum, Meltzer and Katz both came on strong, to start the forum, they touted their
extensive business experience. Max pointed to his governmental experience
and indicated the urgency of his candidacy in the light of the precarious threats to the city's environment and economy.
The bust/boom question - Max said that Smart Growth had been devastating for local culture, citing
the CSC (Computer Sciences Corporation) crushing of Liberty Lunch. He spent $150,000 in 8 campaigns over the last 25 years. Katz said we
have wasted a ton of money on consultants and inefficiency in city government, he
represents "outside the box" thinking as an independent and an expert on Sixth and Rio
Grande. He wants 15% across the board homestead relief on taxes. Brad said Austin is notorious for
its red tape which is costing Austin jobs and business opportunities.
Public transportation - Katz says less is more, he wants to accelerate
Loop 130 construction, synchronize the lights, among others things. in
light of $77 million debt, there may be limits to spending. Meltzer is looking at lot of
plans. He said that Barton Springs is taking 2
1/2 years to build, way too long. And Brad's considering monorail which is successful in
Seattle. He wants to fix the potholes. Since Loop 130
is Tex Dot, Meltzer said he would have to work with them. Max said he helped defeat light rail and came up
with a plan of his own called Affordable Mass Transit which will cost 1/10th what light rail
will cost and provide us with clean busses, free fares, and a more efficient transit system.
He had some handouts on this.
Proactivity - how would you understand the peoples will?
Meltzer says the only council person that has his own tv show is Daryl Slusher, he would have
his own show and talk directly to the people. Max says he listens to the people and
that he learns a lot about the community from them. Since 1997, the government has operated in the back rooms and
it hasn't listened to the people. He would go back to open public hearings that resulted in the
realization of Airport and the Convention Center. Katz said he regreted not voting and that only 4% of
the electorate is turning out. We need to have more issues being voted on by the public, the city hasn't listened to it's taxpayers. He didn't want
to spend money on either the Austin Music
Network or on lobbyists.
Single member districts vs. at large representation. Max has supported single member districts and that geographic representati
on is important. Katz said that is a critical decision that should be decided by a referendum. Meltzer said he wants to represent all of the citizens of Austin and favors at
large districts. The candidates were in rare disagreement on this issue.
Campaign Finance Limits and Disclosure on the Internet
Katz said he was disappointed by his loss in Federal Court. He spent $30 grand fighting it
and he's the only candidate proactive on this. Brad said he knew about the limits and the caps, but decided to run anyway. He believes it should be discussed in the City Council and not litigated for his self
interests. Max also disagreed with Marc's approach in going to the Courthouse,
Max said "it sends a message that if someone doesn't like the voters decision they can
just go to the Courts." In 90-93 Max set his own $500 limit and a $50,000 overall limit and
he won using this road test.
Mueller Neighborhood Plan
Brad said he knows about a contractor proposing a plan, he would review the plan because it
is one of the most visible development projects for the next decade. He wants to review it
for about a year first. Max said he has visited with the neighbors and they are "pleased
with the progress" and that we are off to a good start on a 20-25 year process. Affordable
housing has to be a key element. Catellus reorganized to limit their infrastructure contribution and that was alarming to Max. Katz said he doesn't have enough information to discuss
it specifically, he wants to cut the tax on real estate and senior citizens. "We don't need
outsiders to tell us what to do . . . we have the answers within ourselves."
Katz has given and raised lots of money for one of his favorite organizations,
AIDs services of Austin.
Community Involvement 
Max set about improving the South Congress neighborhood by getting rid of the porno theater
and the prostitution (by working with the cops) which has turned it an area more
happening
than West Sixth Street. Katz laughed, "I get to discuss what Max has done?" He has been
involved with 20 nonprofits minimum, including Brackenridge, Meals on Wheels, he raises
money, works with the organizations and serves on Boards. "I am a leader that gets things
done." Brad said the took pharm products and made them more affordable and helped stimulate prescription products ... 90 and 91 Apt Owner of the year. Started "good neighbor program"
and has been Humanitarian of the Year and works on the Red Cross board.
Gender Identity and the Citizens Max "yes" Katz "yes" Brad "yes"
In other words, they all three support gender identity. They didn't really
want to go there, judging from the brevity of their answers.
The environment Brad says we need to postpone some of these bike trails, one of them will cost $4 million.
Likewise, we need to postpone Enfield and new neighborhood recreation centers. That way, we can avoid city layoffs. Max says there are too many ways to spend money, especially on the hiring consultants. The voters don't want consultants. Their will have to be layoffs.
Katz says "less is more again" and that some layoffs may be necessary. Katz
said, Max is right about consultants, the taxpayer is the consultant, we are the consultants. AMN needs to be cut, people are doing jobs the wrong way with the wrong equipment, we need cops and firemen on the street, we need to take care of
Brack. "If my personal budget were run like the City Budget, American
Express would write me a letter saying don't leave home with it!" said
Katz.
Broadband Issue
Austinmayor.com asked about broadband fiber optics. This was a
question posed to Will Wynn at the Mayoral Lovefest recently. Can you,
as Mayor, provide every home and business in Austin with fiber optic internet
connections within the next five years like they're doing in Amsterdam and New
Orleans?
Brad said he will look at and study the issue. He later asked to have his response delayed till the second candidate forum after this one. Katz said that if people under 55 that aren't voting can be reached by the Internet and he supports it if it would support it. Max said he would like to see more people stream in to peoples homes, the way to proceed would be to move it though the Telecommunication Committee and have them study it.
Candidates are referred to austinmayor.com's case study at http://austinmayor.com/fiber
. This is also a case study in how well the candidates can research an
issue and come up with a solution.
Future Forums ALGPC is Tuesday evening and Democratic party is Tuesday evening.
Closing Remarks
Max - You can make a huge difference by spreading the word by the election, he is independent of parties, personalities and big contributors. He wins by spending very little money and is not beholden to any special interest group.
Katz - we need to turn out more and better voters, less and less people are deciding for more people. Get out of the problem and in to the solution.
Brad - He's going out on tv and even has billboards. He knows what the voters want. No new taxes except for fire, police and ems. Housing not affordable and businesses moving away because of red tape. We need to run it like a business without special interests. We need it for the taxpayers.
Katz had the last word - "I need to tell ya' South Congress is very cool."
In the video, you'll get an exclusive "walk with Linda Curtis interview" in which she drops her famous bombshell on the Mayor's race in the parking lot.
And in other news . . .
The Mayoral Lovefest otherwise known as a SXSW Panel with Richard Florida and Will Wynn
The picture is from the Mayoral Lovefest with Will Wynn showing one of the
Richard Florida devotees. The guy, from Asheville, NC weekly magazine was asking a
question of Will Wynn (who was unable to attend the Indy Texans Mayorfest).
If you like this little summary page on the Independent Texans Mayoral Forum and the mention of the SXSW Panel, you'll love the AustinMayor.com video on CD of the event, anyone who participates in the austinmayor.com forums and chat room will get it for free. Otherwise, it's $20 a copy. Call 512-699-4000 to order one. It includes the complete Independent Texan Mayoral Debate, plus the Kirk Watson, Gus Garcia, Will Wynn Mayoral Holy Man Jam and lovefest with Richard Florida at SXSW and exclusive inside footage of Linda Watson ("a walk with Linda"), and inside the Nofziger campaign, in the first days of the campaign. This is a rare, limited edition CD that you will want to have. Also available on DVD.
More in Independent Texans and Linda Curtis
Candidate
Questionnaire and Forum Schedule
"Young
People Don't Care About Austin"
A challenge to Austin's young voters from
the Independent Texans
(note from webmaster - we intend to expand our coverage to all the political parties, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green, and more to find out these groups views on the election. But our lead off party is a nonparty, the Indies!)
That's
what local politicians often say, ignoring the most independent minded reform
voters (40% of 18- 30 year olds) who could really make the difference!
Independent
Texans is not a party. They
vote for the person not the party - - and they want all kinds of reforms,
starting with a major overhaul of the political process!
Join in their experiment in mobilizing young people to vote locally.
Go to their forum with candidates for Austin Mayor and City Council.
When:
Saturday, March 22, 3-5 pm
Where:
UT-Austin, Chemical and Petroleum Building, 26th & Speedway
Call IT at 303-2704 or go to their website at www.independenttexans.org
P.S.
You need to get registered by April 3rd to vote in this election on May
3rd.
Dear Friend,
Below is the latest bulletin of Independent Texans (IT). Membership is free and entitles you to vote on our endorsements via mail or e-mail. You can find out all about us by going to http://www.independenttexans.org then click on literature (on the left hand menu) and go to our brochure. In order to vote on our endorsement in the upcoming Austin City Council and Mayoral race, you must live in the city of Austin and join IT by March 8th (and be registered to vote in Austin no later than April 3rd). Regardless of where you live in Texas, please let us know if you only wish to join IT to receive this bi-monthly e-newsletter. Of course, if you do not wish to receive these or other e-mails, please let us know that too by responding to this e-mail. Thanks. IT
INDEPENDENT TEXANS BULLETIN
Two important events are coming up. Austin members are invited to a CANDIDATE FORUM for Austin City Council and Mayoral candidates on Saturday, March 22, 3-5 at UT-Austin. On Sunday, April 6th, IT is sponsoring a conference on independent politics in Texas and the upcoming presidential campaign. Government teacher, Victor Morales, the independent minded populist Democrat who made history running for US Senate campaigning the state in his pickup truck, will speak at this event. (Details below).
Ordinary people are looking for a way to impact on what government is doing on our behalf. Welcome to all new members and thanks for everyone's help this last month. We hope to see you Austin members real soon on March 22 and all of you on April 6th.
Linda Curtis Independent Texans P O Box 14294 Austin, TX 78761 512-303-2704 http://www.independenttexans.org
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******* EVENTS *******
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----AUSTIN MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM---- WHEN: Saturday, March 22, 3:00-5:00 PM WHERE: UT, Chemical & Petroleum Bldg., Rm. 2.208 WHO: Austin members should attend
The candidates just received a questionnaire from IT with six questions starting with, "What is the most important problem facing the city of Austin at this time and what special interests would you have to work with or around to tackle this problem?"
IT members will receive the full questionnaire and the candidate's answers in writing on March 12th. You will then have until March 22 to cast your vote via e-mail, regular mail, telephone, or you can come to the meeting with the candidates, ask questions and cast your vote there. You can also visit http://www.austinmayor.com for a valuable interactive site on the mayor's race.
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******* JOIN THE IT TEST *******
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Austin IT'ers are conducting a "test" for young voters in this city council and mayoral campaign. According to the Gallup poll, 35% of all Americans, and 40% of young people between 18 and 30, identify as independents. Political "experts" say that young people aren't interested in local politics. Can we prove them wrong and mobilize 3-5,000 young, first time voters to vote in this city election on May 3rd? Ask us how you can help.
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******* SAVE THIS DATE *******
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Independent Texans State Conference WHEN: Sunday, April 6, 12-4 p.m. WHERE: UT-Austin, UGL-FAC 21 KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Victor Morales All members from throughout Texas should attend
This event will include leaders and activists representing independent minded reform voters of Texas, from all walks of life and concerns and regardless of party affiliation. We will focus on, not our differences, but our common concern that the voice for political reform be heard in this upcoming presidential election.
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******* SPECIAL REQUEST *******
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Request from Campaigns for People on a Full Campaign Disclosure Bill
Sen. Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso) introduced a bill (SB 649) that (1) requires all candidates to report the employer and occupation of those who contribute $500 or more in a reporting period and (2) eliminates the "No Computer" loophole. Currently candidates can claim they don't use a computer!
Call your state senator and demand full support, as is, of SB 649. You can find all your representatives on-line at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us then click on "redistricting" at the menu to the left. You can type in your address and find all your representatives, including your state senator.
THINGS WILL MOVE QUICKLY SOON, SO BE AT THE READY WITH YOUR PHONES, PENS, TYPEWRITERS, COMPUTERS, AND PLACARDS!
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******* WHAT ABOUT THE WAR? *******
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IT activists had an interesting discussion recently about the war in Iraq. We concluded that if American voters had the right to national referendum and initiative and open and fair debates, we could have a national dialogue about the war -- including Democrats, Republicans and independents -- and let the American people vote on it.
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**** Want to be an independent leader? ****
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IT will elect a permanent board (1 year terms) during the week leading up to our upcoming forum on March 22. Therefore, all members throughout the state will receive a ballot on March 12 asking for your vote on a permanent 1 year board. If you are interested in serving on the board, give us a call or respond to this e-mail. We are particularly eager to have board members outside the city of Austin.
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**** Want a 35% button or video tape? ****
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The CUIP, America's independent think tank, has produced a "35%" button. IT is offering them for $1.00 piece (includes postage).
We also have about 5 hours of the national independent CUIP sponsored conference held on Jan. 19th in NYC, split into two tapes. Each tape is $10 (includes postage). The first tape is of the panel with media representatives talking about, "Is the media biased against independent politics?". The second panel is on, "Is there room for radicalism in American politics?". By the way, just last week one of the members of this panel, former NY state senator, Pedro Espada, was elected by 2 to 1 margin, in his recent city council race representing the South Bronx. Congratulations Pedro!
Send us your order by responding to this e-mail or come to our next event and pick one up.
Note: This bulletin from Independent Texans is bimonthly. If you do not wish to receive this bulletin, please contact Independent Texans by replying to this message or by calling us at 512-303-2704.