Kinky rolls 169,574 signatures to Capitol

Isadora Vail
Express-News Austin Bureau

AUSTIN — Bringing his signature flair to the state Capitol, entertainer and gubernatorial hopeful Kinky Friedman turned in 169,574 names to the secretary of state Thursday, well over the 45,500 he needs to run as an independent for governor.

Friedman and other independent gubernatorial hopefuls had until Thursday afternoon to turn in their signatures. He turned in 11 boxes and a DVD equipped with a customized database that proves signature validation.

All were delivered in the "Guv Bug," a bright pink buggy topped with a black cowboy hat that draws a crowd wherever Friedman goes. He was greeted by fans who pushed and shoved to get a closer look, a hug or even a kiss from the musician-turned-politician.

"The new Texas revolution is clearly coming, folks, and it is going to be fueled by young people," he said. "If you are old enough to die in Iraq, then you are old enough to help us fix Texas."

Texas Comptroller and independent hopeful Carole Keeton Strayhorn turned in 223,000 signatures on Tuesday to which Friedman replied, "Of course she had more signatures than we did. She got all of her ex-husbands to sign."

Robert Black, spokesmen for Gov. Rick Perry, said he wasn't surprised that Friedman collected that many signatures. Mark Sanders, Strayhorn's son and spokesman, chose not to comment on Friedman's signatures.

The verification of signatures will take about five to six weeks, despite the verification that the Strayhorn and Kinky campaigns have already done in hopes of speeding up the process.

Scott Haywood, spokesman for the secretary of state, said the verification is still the responsibility of his office. He said if they just took the candidates' data unchecked, it would be "like asking the fox to guard the henhouse."

In order for a signature to be considered valid, the person must be a registered voter who did not vote in the primary election and didn't already sign another independent's petition.

"May the God of your choice bless you and onward through the fog," Friedman told the crowd, his arms outstretched, signature cigar in hand.

This has turned out to be a really interesting race for Governor. Two independent candidates have actually managed to get onto the ballot. Something that has not happened since Sam Houston did it over 100 years ago. If nothing else it is truly a sign of how much voters are tired of the status quo in Texas (and perhaps nationally). Go Kinky!