Seperate R and D Proposition 1 mailers: Proof Austin's Republican voter bloc is a force to be reckoned with

Proposition 1's consultant must be on to something.

According to a recent Austin Monitor story, there are two versions of the mailer that supports Austin's $720 million transportation bond.

One Republican, with few frills, not as much green, and no photos or illustrations of mass transit options. Just cars on roads and bridges.

The other Democrat, with exactly what you'd expect.

The discrepancy was noted by an East Austin Republican Precinct Chairman whose mail got mixed up with a decidedly more liberal neighbor's.

According to the Monitor:

A consultant for the pro-bond campaign, David Butts, said the polling they’ve done sought to weed out how conservatives and liberals think about getting around. 

“Republicans represent a certain philosophy,” said Butts. “They’re more inclined to see roads and cars as being something that’s absolutely necessary and something we should be trying to accommodate.” 

Read more: http://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2016/10/vote-republican-primary-heres-whats-mayors-transportation-bond

While county-wide race candidates with an R by their name may rarely win in Travis County, they can still take around 40 percent of the vote with little cash and minimal advertising. This is a demographic even liberal consultants cannot deny when pushing a non-partisan issue such as public bonds. We expect to see more of this in the near future as Austin's economy and dynamism continues to draw the best and brightest.