We interrupt this website to bring you this special report:
This website, http://www.austinmayor.com has suddenly been thrust in to the political spotlight with an article appearing in the Feb 20, 2003 Austin American Statesman. The article, called "Stir over mayoral candidate site" states objections by the Will Wynn campaign to this site. The Wynn campaign is claiming that this website has ties to the Max Nofziger Campaign and that we can't be trusted as a source of unbiased information.
Walhus has already responded on the Sammy and Bob, KVET show Feb 20 morning edition which you may have heard. Walhus called this website "a level playing field to evaluate the candidates" on the talk show and called Sammy a "backwards, red neck, jerk/hick" after Sammy called Walhus a "schmuck" (all in fun of course, Bob was friendly and sympathetic). And here's Walhus' statement on this stir:
Response from Paul Terry Walhus. "I left the Nofziger campaign because I became disenchanted with the narrow, controlled focus of a candidate website. And I changed my mind about supporting Max or any other candidate. I wanted to take a fresh look. It became my desire to present the whole story of the campaign, to create an all encompassing mayoral race website and not to just work on one tightly defined candidates website. That wasn't my style. I no longer have ties to the Nofziger campaign. They don't have any say in what I do."
"At this stage, I can honestly say I don't know which candidate will be the best Mayor for Austin. But I will try and help the citizens of Austin find out who is the best candidate by presenting as close to the full story as I can on this website. Let's level the playing field. And, more importantly, let the people express their views through the austinmayor.com website. No person or group will be denied a voice here. I encourage you to look through this entire website yourself and then let me know if there is evidence of bias anywhere."
"At the end of the day, it will be the voters of Austin and the interested observers in the Austin political scene around the world who will express their voice through this website in it's chat rooms, forums, email lists, straw polls and other interactive features. We will be an unbiased force for truth in this campaign, that is my pledge!"
"Have you ever heard of a citizen changing his mind about a candidate in American politics? Is it possible that by coming in close contact with a campaign and trying to examine the issues, that I could have become aware of facts that led me to change my mind about supporting a candidate and take a fresh look at the entire Mayor's race?"
"Why is it so inconceivable to the Wynn campaign that I might want to do an unbiased website on this campaign? The response from people visiting the site has been overwhelmingly positive. austinmayor.com received 374 emails in the last week, 99% positive. This site is getting over 500 unique visitors a day and growing. We are dedicated to presenting a full, unbiased, objective view of the Austin Mayor's race. " - Paul Terry Walhus