Date: Tue, 3 May 94 17:33:15 CDT
From: Robert Dailey <rdailey@acad.stedwards.edu>


Excerpts from:

"Battling sides on Proposition 22 agree vote will be too close to call"
by Chuck Lindell

Austin American-Statesman
Tuesday, May 3, 1994


Both sides of Austin's domestic partners debate consider Saturday's
election too close to call, putting increased pressure on the
campaigns to scrap for any political advantage.

The pro-domestic partners Mainstream Austin Coalition has waged
a highly visible campaign to defeat Proposition 22 with television
commercials, frequent news conferences and a healthy list of
endorsements.

On the other side, commercials from Concerned Texnas are on 
radio but not yet on television.  Since submitting its
petitions to place Proposition 22 on the ballot, it has held
no news conferences.  There is no list of endorsements.

Instead, Concerned Texans and aligned Christian organizations are
counting on direct mailings and telephone calls to supporters.
Conservative churches have weighed in with volunteers, messages
from the pulpit and signs such as the one at Skyview Baptist
Church: "God voted for Prop. 22."

Passage of Proposition 22 would repeal insurance benefits for the
unmarried partners of city employees.

Opposing sides have accused each other of deceitful campaigning 
and dirty tricks, but they agree on one thing: The vote on
Proposition 22 will be close.

... Undecided voters will have to wade through four council
races and 21 other propositions before encountering Proposition 22.

The election will hinge on issues, said Council Member Ronney
Reynolds, who with Charles Urdy lost the council's 5-2 vote in
September to initiate the benefits.

"If the pro-22 people are able to get across that this is an
economic issue, then I think they will win," he said.  "If the
anti-22 people get the issue across that it is discrimination,
I think they will win."

As of April 28, Mainstream Austin had raised $60,020 in donations
and loans -- almost three times the amount raised by Concerned
Texans -- and spent most of it, including $9000 on television
commercials.

Concerned Texans had raised $23,751 and spent $21,273 -- including
$3071 on yard signs and $1600 on bulk mailing.  

There are no plans to buy television time without a greater 
infusion of money, Brandes said.  The American Family Association
of Texas has helped produce a television commercial and has made
it available to Concerned Texans, executive director Jeff Fisher
said.  But Brandes said he has not seen the commercial.

One of the greatest boons to Concerned Texans hasn't cost a dime.
On-air endorsements by some of Austin's talk radio hosts,
particularly Sammy Allred and Bob Cole's top-rated morning show
on KVET, have occurred almost daily.

Cole, however, said he believes the morning show's vocal support
for Proposition 22 could be a double-edged sword.

"The harder we pound, the more it causes the opposition to ignite
and thump their drums," he said.  "It fans the flames for the
other side."

... Both organizations report stolen, defaced or destroyed signs.
Mainstream Austin said most of its original batch of 3000 "No on 22"
signs are missing, necessitating a second order for 3000.  Many of
Concerned Texans' 3500 yard signs also have been damaged, Brandes
said.