Shots fired, and returned, in mayoral campaign

The Mike Martinez mayoral campaign issued a news release claiming that fellow candidate Steve Adler had contributed nearly $10,000 to Republicans through his law firm, Baron & Adler, LLC.  Martinez campaign manager Bo Delp wrote, “The facts speak for themselves: Steve Adler has intentionally, repeatedly, and systematically supported the Republican Party by contributing thousands upon thousands of dollars to Republican candidates.” Adler campaign manager Jim Wick responded to the allegations, saying it was “another desperate political attack from the Mike Martinez campaign.” Wick wrote in an email, “Obviously, Steve’s a Democrat, and donations from his law firm don’t establish otherwise. He’s recently been endorsed by the University Democrats, the Central Austin Democrats, the Austin Progressive Coalition, the North by Northwest Democrats, and the Stonewall Democrats. He helped found Progress Texas and has spent much of his life working on behalf of Democrats.” Wick attached a record of Adler’s donations, which shows almost $200,000 in donations to Democratic candidates and organizations. Wick added that partisanship isn’t going to solve Austin’s problems.