News Top 10s

Top 10 Ex-Members of the Future Council Club

Of course, there are lots of people who will never serve in City Hall, but of people whose prospects have actually been floated in our presence, several names stand out on the not-a-chance list.

1. Max Nofziger: OK, "never again serve in City Hall." Lightning doesn't strike twice, or four times, or whatever it is, though the Weird vote will probably push Max beyond his 1997 mayoral-race performance.

2. Mark Tschurr: Remember him? So is he going to run or not? Wasn't he going to run last time? And the time before that? Who is he, anyway? Can we stop being afraid of him now?

3. Sammy Allred: When he flirted with running against Garcia in 2001, people actually got scared. But no -- the Silicon Hills will never elect an unreconstructed Bubba. Bob Cole, on the other hand ...

4. Susana Almanza: The PODER leader should be a lifetime member of the FCC, but it's hard to think of another figure with as much influence who is actually "too left" for Austin City Hall. Plus, her tenure on the Planning Commission did not quite rise to expectations.

5. Pat Hayes: How the mighty fall. A mere 18 months ago, Hayes was one of Austin's most respected civic leaders. Now "Seton" has replaced "Stratus" as the dirtiest word in city politics.

6. Linda Curtis: Can't kick the Petition Queen around anymore. She moved to Bastrop.

7. Linda Dailey: And can't kick this Linda around anymore, either. Danny Thomas' aide and heir apparent moved to Houston.

8. Paul Saldaña: This may be a temporary retirement, but once you've said no to Gus Garcia -- who reportedly urged his top aide to run for council in May -- it's hard to imagine to whom you'd say yes.

9. Rafael Quintanilla: Even though he came so close in 2000, he can't go anywhere until -- and unless -- he helps ACC get its act together. If he manages that, he could get elected God.

10. Toby Futrell: Wishful thinking from 2000 on the part of some active citizens. She got a better job.