With his black cowboy hat and a cigar in his mouth, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman said he wants to give power back to the people.
“The politicians have hijacked the power from the people, and I want to give it back,” he said. “There are lots of people in Texas that are more qualified than me to be governor, but none of them are in this race.”
More than 100 people attended the University Democrats meeting, which featured the UT alumnus Wednesday night at the Jackson Geological Sciences Building. Friedman emphasized the need to get rid of the “career politicians who are gaming the system,” including Republicans Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison.
“Rick and Kay have been in the hands of big money for so long and [have been] in politics for so long that they really know how to game the system, as any career politician does,” he said. “Gaming the system is never a good thing. If [it were], Bernie Madoff would be a good governor. We want transparency, honesty and someone who can fix a few things in Texas.”
Friedman, who ran for governor as an independent in 2006, said if elected governor, he would focus on issues including education, the environment and abolishing the death penalty. He said he would appoint people for their skills and abilities and let them do their jobs.
“Why the hell are we at the bottom of everything we should be on top of and at the top of everything we should be at the bottom of?” he asked. “The governor’s got to get the right people in place and has to set a tone. He needs a vision which I don’t think Perry or Kay have.”
If elected, he said he will immediately provide a $3,000 raise to all teachers, which Friedman described as “probably the noblest profession of them all.” According to the state Web site, 32 other states have higher average teacher salaries than Texas.
Andy Aus, a Japanese and East Asian Studies junior and a Friedman supporter, said Friedman is the ideal epitome of Texas politics.
“The thing that pulled me to Kinky the most is he’s sincere about the policies within Texas, more so than other politicians,” Aus said.
But College Republicans President Mikael Garcia said Friedman did not talk very seriously about his campaign during the 2006 election. He received more than 12 percent of the vote in 2006.
“We as Republicans don’t really see how Kinky Friedman identifies with the Democratic Party,” Garcia said. “I don’t think it’s beneficial for the Democratic Party for him to run because they’re going to have an uphill battle anyway for the governor’s race. Maybe he knows the Democrats aren’t going to win, so he’s trying to pull a PR stunt.”
Candidates running for county commissioner and district judge were also in attendance.
“I think Kinky is serious about his run for office,” said Tim Sulak, Democratic district judge candidate. “I think he’s serious about his belief that Texas needs a change of direction. But I would’ve liked to have heard more specific plans about how, in the governor’s mansion, he would bring about the changes he says he envisions.”
Friedman said Texas needs someone who is not afraid to mess with Texas and to keep messing with Texas.
“A guy I ran into at HEB in Kerrville a couple weeks ago told me, ‘Kinky, you’re forcing me to be a Democrat,’” Friedman said. “And I said, ‘Nonsense. I’m not forcing you to be a Democrat. I’m allowing you to be a Texan.’”
The gubernatorial primary election will be in March 2010 and the general election will be in November 2010.
Kinky pledges honesty, transparency
Friedman up against incumbent, senator in second race for governor
Published: Thursday, November 5, 2009
Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2009
 "Photo: Tamir Kalifa/The Daily Texan")
Tamir Kalifa/The Daily Texan
Richard “Kinky” Friedman, author, songwriter, humorist and Texas politician is making his second gubernatorial attempt following his unsuccessful run in 2006. A University of Texas graduate, Kinky has established himself through his “cowboy” attitude and passion for social justice.
BTW….To Kate Bailey Hutchinson: Remember all the times you complained you didn’t get THE seat you wanted in the First Class Cabin on Continental Airlines? Well, some of the employees remember that and think you were just shameful!