The Editors

Traditionally, the clearest dividing line between moderate to conservative pro-business candidates and environmental activist candidates was the debate over development, which most often manifested itself in the question of whether adequate roads should be built or we should take the failed approach of ‘don’t build it and they won’t come.’
That was before the outrage over toll roads muddied things up. Now, the question is whether mainstream Austinites will be seduced by lifelong left-wing activists like Margot Clarke simply because she opposes toll roads, and for that matter, most roads of any kind. An unholy alliance has been created between those that oppose toll roads simply because they despise salamander-killing roads of any kind, and those who view toll roads as double taxation. Ironically, libertarians and conservatives have traditionally supported user taxes as being the most fair.
Nonetheless, there were legitimate issues concerning the original plan: about converting existing roads into toll roads, for example; or questions about the efficiency with which tolls can be collected; or about the unfairness of some commuters living near an adequate free highway, while other commuters must choose between a tolled highway and a frontage road with numerous lights – even while both sets of commuters pay the same gas tax. However, the point remains that the single most unacceptable option is to allow congestion to worsen by not building adequate roads, which is what will happen in the absence of toll roads. This is because the political will is not there to reallocate to roads the quarter of the state gas tax that goes to general revenues and, if still necessary, raise the gas tax at the state level, or allow for a local-option gas tax.
All this is a roundabout way of saying that the toll road issue is too complex for demagoguery and the simple-minded approach of opposing all toll roads without a viable alternative. Moreover, it would be a travesty if some conservatives voted for a leftist like Margot Clarke simply because she opposes toll roads. Both Clarke and Mandy Dealey have had as their lifelong occupations liberal political activism for groups like Planned Parenthood and the Sierra Club. Both support the smoking ban and will be guaranteed votes on the Council for higher taxes and more regulation. In contrast, Gregg Knaupe opposes the smoking ban, spoke out against the outrageous Midtown Live night club bailout, and will be a common sense voice for fiscal restraint on the Council.