So far, pro-rail groups have outspent opponents by a margin of nearly 10 to 1. I'm not concerned about it. And usually, the spending is 12 to 1. So I'm encouraged. The primary funder of the anti-rail group is Bill Walters, owner of Walters Southwest, a commercial real estate development firm.
Light rail makes absolutely no sense.
While rail advocates have more money, their best assets may be organization and experience. Get Austin Moving is being managed by Barbara Rush, a veteran of several local campaigns, including Kirk Watson's last mayoral campaign. The group also has Butts, media man Dean Rindy, and pollster Jeff Smith. By comparison, anti-rail forces are understaffed. ROAD executive director Kathy Pillmore has managed only one local campaign, that of Rick Wheeler, who made an unsuccessful bid for City Council in 1995.