Travis DA Race: Working the Phones
The Mindy Montford campaign has phoned at least two Austin-area state lawmakers, to assure them that Montford isn't incahoots with Republican political consultant, Reb Wayne. Montford is in a Democratic runoff for Travis County DA with fellow prosecutor Rosemary Lehmberg.
"I can confirm I got a call assuring me that Reb Wayne was not at her press conference," said State Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin.
Strama is certainly familiar with the consultant in question. Wayne helped run two House races against Representative Strama.
State Rep. Donna Howard's chief-of-staff says her office also received a voicemail message from a Montford aide.
"She said she was calling about a post in the Capitol Annex blog, mentioning that Montford had a Republican consultant at her press conference and that it wasn't true," said Howard chief-of-staff Eleanor Hewitt. "She didn't ask us to call her back, just left her number if we have questions."
State Representatives Valinda Bolton, Elliott Naishtat and Dawnna Dukes said through staffers that they had NOT received such a call.
What is this all about, you ask? Some back-and-forth flared up at Capitol Annex after author Vince Leibowitz wrote that Wayne was at Montford's Tuesday press event. So far, no evidence has popped up that Wayne was actually there.
Meanwhile... during my call to State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez to see if he too received a call from the Montford campaign, he said he endorsed Rosemary Lehmberg just this morning.
"Perhaps the Montford campaign caught wind of it and so they didn't bother to call me," Rodriguez said. "I don't know."
Travis DA Runoff: Rick Reed for Montford
Another day, another endorsement in the runoff race for Travis County District Attorney. It looks like former DA candidate Rick Reed will announce his support for Mindy Montford later this afternoon. Reed worked for Travis County DA's office before abruptly quitting his job during the four-way primary race.
Last week, another former candidate, Gary Cobb, announced his support for Rosemary Lehmberg. That started a small flap concerning what was promised in exchange for Cobb's endorsement. Cobb says he was promised nothing from Lehmberg, as it would be illegal.
Travis DA Race: Why Did Cobb Pick Lehmberg?
A little back-and-forth today after the primary's third place finisher, Gary Cobb, threw his support behind Rosemary Lehmberg in the Travis County DA race.
Mindy Montford says she's "troubled" by Cobb's endorsement in the April 8th DA runoff. She questions why he's really supporting Lehmberg, because she says Cobb wanted a top position in the DA's office in return for his support.
"I was asked once, twice, three times whether I was going to make [Cobb] First Assistant, and by law, I can't make that promise. There is a law that says you cannot accept someone's support or offer in exchange for the promise of something else, and I just don't think it's right to do that," Montford said.
Cobb has a different take.
"That's an absolute lie," said Gary Cobb. "None of my decision was based on that, my decision was based on who was going to best address the issues I raised in the campaign. I met with her, and she indicated to me that she wanted me to be at the top of her administration. I repeatedly told her I'm not offering my endorsement in exchange for anything. I didnt go in asking for anything, I didn't even want to meet with her."
