Jason for Austin

Response to Austin Chronicle

Mr. Black & Mr. King, 

I didn’t start the Better Austin Today Political Action Committee, and I’d 

like to add a missing piece to the BAT-PAC naming/logo issue.

I can understand how that assumption could be made without full knowledge of 

the facts. So please consider the timeline of when the things I did do for 

the group happened, which was well before I ever became a candidate.

Occasionally, I name things for a living, so I sent a “names ideas” email to 

Hope Morrison after she told me the names they were thinking about, which I thought 

needed improvement.

For precision, I went back into my email database to see what involvement I 

did have with the naming and the logo. I sent my “names ideas” on Monday, 

July 30, 2007 at 6:02 PM.

Hope also knows I know designers, so later on she asked me to recommend 

someone since they needed a logo. I suggested a designer to her on 

Wednesday, October 24, at 9:56 AM.

As you know, I launched my run for city council on February 6, 2008. (I filed my paperwork the week before.)

Other than that, I’ve never attended a BATPAC meeting, and wasn’t included with the formation the group. I did attend their press conference in my capacity 

as RG4N spokesperson when they officially launched, as did many others whom 

did not start the group, but were proud that it had formed. I also attended 

their kick-off party at the Moose Lodge, which I am told Lee Leffingwell 

also briefly attended.

Endorsements are tricky things and should be taken with a grain of salt. 

I’ve been critical of some endorsements my opponent, Lee Leffingwell, has 

received, such as his endorsement from the public safety unions which 

curiously came well before the filing deadline for candidates had passed.

In fact, it would be useful to Austin Chronicle readers to scrutinize 

that endorsement at least to the level that the Austin American Statesman 

did on their editorial page on January 23, 2008. Especially since at least 

65 percent of the city’s $593 million general fund budget is devoted to 

public safety, and growing. Little details like that make taxpayers wonder why 

those unions picked Lee and Randi and Cid so early, so fast and with such 

unity.

So did I found the BAT-PAC group? No.

Did I suggest a name? Sure.

Was I running for office when I did it? Nope.

Am I proud to have their endorsement? Absolutely.

I ask you to reconsider your assumption that my endorsement was a shoo-in. I 

wish it had been, but it was not. I had to earn it, and ask you to 

reconsider your assertion that I helped found the group now that I have 

provided the timeline and details of what I did and did.

Sincerely, 

Jason Meeker