Campaign Contretemps

Fake campaign signs deriding Randi Shade have been popping up around town. (Photo by Ricahrd Whittaker)

With May 14 just around the corner, City Council candidates are imploring Austinites for contributions before the 30-days-out campaign finance reports are due. In the Place 3 race, incumbent Randi Shade's campaign took the opportunity to manufacture a little outrage about an unnamed opponent, decrying a challenger's fundraising email "describing my campaign supporters as 'the familiar forces who oppose and seek to undermine' what's great about Austin, and deriding you, my friends and supporters, as being 'less than engaged at City Hall.'" The culprit is an email from a supporter of challenger Kathie Tovo, not sent on the campaign's account, that is a well-crafted solicitation for donations and a reminder of the Austin Neighborhood Council's endorsement of Tovo. "Oddly, [Shade] didn't contest the 'familiar forces' line and instead just said, 'We have got to show these folks just how engaged we actually are!,'" Tovo campaign consultant Mark Yznaga responded. Meanwhile, Shade's re-election efforts are being disparaged by mock Shade campaign signs, which have cropped up, sans disclaimers of any sort, around town.

Lastly, he may be Toby Ryan to radio listeners, but the candidate's given name is Keith Ryan Hill, so he'll be showing up as K. Toby Ryan Hill on the Place 4 ballot, alongside Laura Morrison and Eric Rangel.

Forum or Against 'Em

The schedule continues, with Austin Interfaith's "accountability session" a traditional campaign highlight.

Saturday, April 9

Mexican-American Democrats, El Concilio: 10:30am-2pm, Lyons Gardens Senior Housing, 2720 Lyons

Sunday, April 10

Austin Interfaith Accountability Session: 7-9pm, St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church, 126 W. Oltorf

Monday, April 11

Austin Women's Political Caucus: 6-8:30pm, Texas AFL-CIO, 1106 Lavaca

Stonewall Democrats of Austin: 6:30-9pm, County Commissioners Court, 314 W. 11th

Crestview Neighborhood Association: 7-8:30pm, St. Louis Catholic Church, Wozniak Hall, 7601 Burnet Rd.

Tuesday, April 12

South Austin Civic Club: 11:30am-1pm, Texas Land & Cattle, 5510 S. I-35