2008.01.26: January 26, 2008: Headlines: Figures: COS - Malaysia: Writing - Malaysia: Humor: Fort Bend Now: Kinky Friedman may make second run for Texas Governor
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Kinky Friedman may make second run for Texas Governor
In the 2006 election, Friedman polled 546,689, or 12.43 percent of the popular vote, for a fourth-place finish behind Gov. Rick Perry, Bell and Strayhorn. He said that he believes he can benefit from what he called the “Dolph Briscoe” effect. “The first time Dolph Briscoe ran, people thought he had a funny name and was a country hick, so they didn’t vote for him. The second time, they decided he was just the person Texas needed and he ended up as governor,” Friedman said. Friedman also believes that he can do a better job energizing the youth vote as a Democrat, as well as attracting independents to the Democratic party. “Ever since I ran for governor, I’ve had 17-year-olds coming up to me and saying they can’t wait until they’re old enough to vote for me,” Friedman said. “And it’s a lot easier to attract independent voters to an established party like the Democrats than to get Democrats to vote for an independent. Running as a Democrat, I believe that I can attract young people, older people, life-long Democrats, independents and even Republicans to come over to the Democratic party. Author, Musician, and candidate for Governor of Texas, Kinky Friedman served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malaysia in the 1960's.
Kinky Friedman may make second run for Texas Governor
Kinky Friedman Mulls 2nd Run For Governor - This Time As Democrat
by John Pape, Jan 26, 2008, 05 15 PM
You may not want to throw that “Kinky for Governor” poster away just yet; former independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman is weighing another run for governor, this time as a Democrat.
In an exclusive interview in Cinco Ranch with Fort Bend Now, Friedman said that he is seriously considering throwing his trademark black Stetson into the ring again for the 2010 governor’s race.
“The signs are very positive,” Friedman said. “We’ve got to get the wooden horse inside the city somehow.”
As for running as a Democrat, Friedman said that he has been a Democrat all his life, and if he would have run as a Democrat the last time, the odds are good he would be in the governor’s mansion right now.
“I would have done better than Chris Bell and could have run stronger against grandma (Carole Keeton Strayhorn),” Friedman said.
In the 2006 election, Friedman polled 546,689, or 12.43 percent of the popular vote, for a fourth-place finish behind Gov. Rick Perry, Bell and Strayhorn. He said that he believes he can benefit from what he called the “Dolph Briscoe” effect.
“The first time Dolph Briscoe ran, people thought he had a funny name and was a country hick, so they didn’t vote for him. The second time, they decided he was just the person Texas needed and he ended up as governor,” Friedman said.
Friedman also believes that he can do a better job energizing the youth vote as a Democrat, as well as attracting independents to the Democratic party.
“Ever since I ran for governor, I’ve had 17-year-olds coming up to me and saying they can’t wait until they’re old enough to vote for me,” Friedman said. “And it’s a lot easier to attract independent voters to an established party like the Democrats than to get Democrats to vote for an independent. Running as a Democrat, I believe that I can attract young people, older people, life-long Democrats, independents and even Republicans to come over to the Democratic party.
Friedman said that he started seriously thinking about running for governor a second time after being invited to perform one of his signature songs for the soundtrack of a new HBO film called “Twelve Miles of Bad Road.” The movie was produced by Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth Thomason, who suggested Friedman consider making another bid for the state’s top spot.
“They got me to thinking about it. Before that, I really hadn’t given it much thought,” Friedman said.
Friedman was at Absolute Tobacco in Cinco Ranch on Saturday (Jan. 26) to promote his line of Kinky Friedman Cigars. Friedman introduced the five cigar line that bears his name shortly after his last gubernatorial bid. The cigars include The Governor, the Kinkycristo, the Willie, the Utopian and the Texas Jewboy.
All proceeds from the sale of the Utopian cigar line go to support the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch. In addition to donating money from cigar sales, Friedman and Texas singer Steven Fromholz have been touring in a series of concerts to benefit the animal rescue operation.
“Utopia is doing very well because of the tour. I may do that again with Fromholz; we have a great chemistry,” Friedman said.
Friedman also continues to actively write, with two new books slated to hit bookstores in the near future.
“The first one is called ‘What Would Kinky Do?’ and was illustrated by John Callahan. That one will be out in the summer,” Friedman said. “The other one is a book of photos of celebrities and their pets. It’s tentatively titled ‘Everyone and His Dog.’”
As to whether or not his alter-ego, Kinky Friedman the New York-based private detective, will ever again appear in print, Friedman left the door open. Friedman patterned the character after himself in a series of 18 mystery novels.
“I don’t know right now. With the way the publishing industry is, I can’t say for sure,” Friedman said. “But if I ever get the right offer from the right publisher, I’d love to bring him back.”
Katy resident Eric Boroski was having a late lunch at a nearby restaurant when he spotted Friedman talking to a group of people in front of the tobacco shop. He said that he was surprised to see the singer-turned-novelist and politician in Katy and couldn’t pass up the chance to shake Friedman’s hand.
“I voted for him. He’s the first politician I’ve seen in a long time that talks from the heart,” Boroski said. “I’m sick to death of all these perfect-haired, politically correct pabulum politicians. I think we need someone like Kinky to shake things up.”
Boroski’s wife Sarah wasn’t so sure about voting for Friedman, but she said she enjoyed his sense of humor and honesty.
“I’ve read most of his novels and they’re very entertaining, very witty,” she said. “If we was governor, I don’t think he’d have time to write any more, and I think I’d rather read his books than see him as governor.”
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