BG Note | News - What We're Reading (November 13, 2017)
[Austin Metro]
Mayor of London and Others Added as Featured Speakers at SXSW (Silicon Hills) LINK TO STORY
South by Southwest officials announced this week that the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan will be a keynote speaker in 2018.Khan joins previously announced SXSW keynote speakers Darren Aronofsky, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Barry Jenkins, Ester Perel, and Whurley.
South by Southwest Conference and Festivals take place March 9-18th. In addition, SXSW announced even more featured speakers including CNN chief interantional correspondent Christiane Amanpour, Forerunner Ventures founder Kirsten Green, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute Walter Isaacson, Vox editor-at-large Ezra Klein, serial entrepreneur Loic Le Meur, former New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez, political strategist and commentator Symone Sanders, entrepreneur and venture capitalist Peter Thiel, music producer Young Guru, James Beard Award-winning TV personality Andrew Zimmern, and many more...
MLS team’s ambitions cast shadow over Austin’s other soccer hopefuls (Austin Monitor) LINK TO STORY
The possibility of the Major League Soccer club from Columbus, Ohio, relocating to Austin has brought attention to other lower-profile but still ambitious soccer-related projects in the area. And one of the central questions surrounding Columbus Crew ownership group Precourt Sports Ventures’ goal of building a large soccer stadium in Austin is whether, metaphorically speaking, all the air has been sucked out of the room.
That was one of the main points of discussion at Thursday’s City Council meeting during consideration of a resolution to have city staff look for city-owned land that could suit a stadium. Council Member Leslie Pool spent several minutes expressing concern over specific mentions of Precourt in an early version of the resolution – amended to add another non-MLS group and applying to soccer clubs in general – because of the possible appearance of favoritism...
Former San Marcos mayor Susan Narvaiz seeking congressional seat (Austin American-Statesman) LINK TO STORY
Former San Marcos mayor Susan Narvaiz announced Saturday that she is running for retiring U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith’s seat in Congress, joining a GOP field that includes state Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs. “Our country is at a crossroads and now more than ever, we need strong leaders who are not afraid to fight for conservative values,” Narvaiz said in an email to supporters.
“Through my experience as mayor of one of America’s fastest growing cities, I have balanced budgets and held the line on taxes. As a small business owner, I’ve helped people find good paying jobs. I will bring my common sense conservatism to Washington.”...
[STATE]
Candidate filing opens for 2018 elections in Texas (Texas Tribune) LINK TO STORY
The 2018 election season is officially underway in Texas.
Candidate filing began Saturday for next year's March 6 primaries, when voters will decide who should serve in a U.S. Senate seat, most of the statewide positions in Texas government, all 36 of the state's U.S. House seats, 15 of the 31 spots in the Texas Senate and all 150 positions in the Texas House. The filing period lasts through Dec. 11.
Though filing just opened, many candidates have already announced their campaigns for 2018. But with a month until the filing deadline, there is still some suspense on at least two fronts: Recent retirement announcements by three Texas congressmen have opened up seats for which the fields are still taking shape. And Democrats are still looking to fill out their statewide ticket with serious candidates, particularly the governor spot...
As Abbott files for re-election, Democrats in disarray (Austin American-Statesman) LINK TO STORY
Gov. Greg Abbott filed paperwork Saturday to place his name on the March primary ballot for governor as the monthlong filing period began. The filing, before a large crowd in West Austin, had been expected since Abbott announced four months ago he was running for re-election.
What was less known then, as now, is Abbott’s Democratic opponent. So far, three political novices who have never successfully run for office are vying for the Democratic nomination. With just a month before the filing period ends, state Democratic Party officials are still searching for a viable candidate...
[NATION]
If Mark Cuban Runs for President, Here’s What He’ll Do (Texas Monthly) LINK TO STORY
Will Mark Cuban run for president in 2020? “It’s a big decision,” acknowledged the billionaire, Mavericks owner, and Shark Tank judge at The Edge of Texas. “Given the way the political landscape is, what parent in their right mind would want to put an eight, eleven, and fourteen-year-old through that? That’s why I haven’t decided.” ... President Cuban Would Be Confident, But Not Too Confident -- Why would he make a good president?
“What I think I could bring to the table is that I’m pragmatic, I’m focused, I can deal with difficult situations. I’m confident, but not overly confident. I’m learning all the time, but I respect that the job is difficult,” Cuban says. “I think what this country needs desperately is respect for every individual in this country, and opportunity for every individual in this country.”