Friedman, Strayhorn certified for ballot [TEXAS]

STAR-TELEGRAM AUSTIN BUREAU ^ | Jun. 22, 2006 | JOHN MORITZ

[Dubya]

AUSTIN — Entertainer Kinky Friedman and state Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, the two independent candidates for governor were certified for the November ballot Thursday by Secretary of State Roger Williams.

``Texas has a process for verifying the eligibility of independent candidates for a place on the ballot and today we have finished that process,” Williams said. ``Our method of verifying every signature is the most accurate, has been upheld by the courts and was done faster than in years past.”

Williams notified the two campaigns Thursday afternoon that they had met the requirements for ballot access.

Both candidates exceeded the 45,540 signatures required by state law. After a preliminary review of the 170,258 petitions submitted by Friedman, Williams’ office has certified that 137,154 met the requirements. Similarly, Williams certified that 108,512 of the 222,514 signatures submitted by Strayhorn, a former Republican, were valid signatures that met all statutory requirements.

Both will face incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Perry and Democrat Chris Bell. Libertarian James Werner will also be on the ballot.

[Dubya]

HEH HEH

[Rte66]

Oh, yeah - "Dubya" laugh. Granny vs The Kinkster! No place else but Texas.

[deport]

Kinky getting on the ballot may make Chris Bell's attempt a little harder. Not that I think a lot of democrats will shun Bell for Kinky but I think Kinky may get a better effort out of the college crowd that may otherwise put some effort towards Bell. Whatever her current name is more likely tap into the more traditional democrat voters of Bells.

[NoTaxTexas]

10 reasons why it is good news that Kinky's on the ballot: (1) Kinky has run for office in the past as a Republican, (2) Kinky voted for Bush/Cheney in 2004, (3) Kinky's interview with Ruminator magazine confirms that he supported Bush's Middle East foreign policy, (4) Kinky's public voting records confirm he was mistaken when he said he voted for Gore in 2000, (5) Kinky hasn't voted for a Democrat in any election at least from 1994 to 2004, (6) Kinky wants to take time during the school day for prayers in schools, (7) Kinky wants to post the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, (8) Kinky is not obsessed with political correctness, (9) Kinky knows how to deal with illegal aliens from Mexico, and (10) Kinky’s immigration policy of hiring Mexican generals to police our border is a great idea that John McCain has endorsed.