Liveblogging Runoff Night
9:23pm: I'm gonna shut this thing down for now. The dog total at the Montford party has dwindled to two. There haven't been any dogs here at the Lehmberg party, but Lehmberg did mention that one of the first things she's going to do now that she's won is hang out with her puppy.
9:21pm: Crowd at the Lehmberg party is still strong. We're in line for a Lehmberg interview but it may have to be after our live hit on the Nightbeat.
9:16pm: Lehmberg's campaign manager said Mindy called, but the two candidates haven't actually spoken to each other yet. Lehmberg has been tied up with back-to-back press interviews.
9:12pm: Mindy Montford has called Rosemary Lehmberg to concede the race and wished Lehmberg well. Our photog Justin reports this from Montford HQ, via text message:
"Crowd thinning. Chips almost gone. Campaign signs falling down. Strange amount of stuffed jalapenos left."
9:03pm:"One of the things this campaign has really done for me, is it has really built my trust in people like you, who get out and work for what you care about," Lehmberg said. "The people in Austin want their district attorney to have Austin values."
8:46pm: Montford has not officially conceded yet, but Lehmberg has turned off the music and is about to speak to the crowd now.
"It's been an adventure," Lehmberg said.
8:37pm: 41% of precincts are in. Lehmberg has actually increased her lead to 65% over Montford's 35%.
8:2pm: About 150 to 200 people are at the Montford party, and partygoers decided not to wait for results to pop open the champagne. There's free champagne all around at the Montford HQ. The candidate is reportedly in the back room talking to some campaign folks. One more dog just showed, so the dog total is back at four. Here's a shot from the Montford party, and what looks like the side/back of Montford's head:
8:17pm: At the Montford party, there's a nice selection of snacks - fajitas, rice, beans, chips and salsa, and a keg. Our crew reports no one has hit the keg yet. Only three dogs left at the party now.
8:15pm: OK now we have a little music kicking on the back deck. It's "Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones. Here's a look at the scene at Joe's.
8:09pm: Things are hoppin' here at the Lehmberg party, but it's a lot of sit around and wait until more results come in. Her campaign manager, David Butts, is
here, but no sign of Kelly Fero.
7:48pm: Our crew on the scene reports a total of four dogs are at Mindy Montford's election night party. Not sure if that includes Montford's own beagle and mix, which were featured in a campaign commercial.
7:47pm: Former DA candidate Gary Cobb arrives.
7:43pm: Earle, on Lehmberg's likely ascension to his post: "She's smart. She can read and write, add and subtract. All that."
7:41pm: Outgoing DA Ronnie Earle walks in as I am in a dark part of the bar.
Me: Hi Ronnie!
Him: Hi Jennifer! (This is the fifth time someone has confused me for Austin City Councilmember Jennifer Kim.)
Him: Oh wait, you aren't Jennifer!
Me: I'm Elise.
Him: Of course!
7:30pm: Lots of pantsuits at this Lehmberg party.
7:25pm: Lehmberg just arrived to cheers. She looks like she's crying (happy tears). I would have pictures had I not loaned my camera out to another reporter to take pictures of the Montford party for me.
"We may have done it," I heard Lehmberg say to someone she was hugging.
7:23pm: Our photographer at the Mindy Montford party reports there's a healthy but subdued crowd at her campaign party... lots of people inside, not a lot of people outside. Just like the Lehmberg party, the candidate is not there yet.
7:18pm: Early vote totals show Lehmberg dominated 64% to Montford's 36%. That's early vote only.
7:17pm: It took nearly an hour to drive from Far West Blvd to the Lehmberg party here at Joe's, but I'm here... the candidate, however, is not.
The Jennifer Kim thing is getting comical. Seriously, you two look NOTHING alike.