Jason for Austin

My Campaign Announcement. (Click here for more.)

Here’s what I said on the day I announced my candidacy:

Good morning!

My name is Jason Meeker. You might know me from my work with Responsible Growth for Northcross, the neighborhood group fighting the Wal-Mart Superstore.

Last Friday, I filed the necessary paperwork to begin a campaign. And today I am announcing my campaign for Austin City Council, Place 1.

I ask the voters to join my campaign against the Austin insiders who choose developing our city over preserving our neighborhoods.

I am not running because of what Wal-Mart wants to do to my neighborhood. I’m running because these kinds of things keep happening to neighborhoods all over Austin.

I’m running because if something like this happens to your neighborhood or to your small business, you’ll need a friend in City Hall who can help you. I am running because when it comes to City Hall, we all deserve a guy on the inside to help us out.

(I am running against an opponent I cannot beat—when it comes to beards, Allen Demling.) But my real opponent, incumbent Austin City Councilman Lee Leffingwell, has a big war chest and support from all the Austin insiders. But I’ve got an active base of support—and incredible advantage for a first-time candidate—and the energy to run a full-throated campaign.

They say it can’t be done. But how about those New York Giants, this past Sunday? With a great team, Eli Manning beat Tom Brady. Meeker can beat Leffingwell.

Because for neighborhoods and downtown to achieve real balance, we need new leadership on the Austin City Council.

Let’s work together. Share with me your frustrations with City Hall insiders. I know I’m not the only one.

But I’ll need your help to do it. I need you on my side to take on the City Hall insiders. So join this campaign today for change. Contributing your time, your money, and most importantly, your vote.

This is your campaign. It’s your neighborhood, your future, and your city. And if elected, I’ll be your man on the inside.