Friedman walks with supporters

Gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman hosted a spirit walk on campus Wednesday as part of his platform to be a different type of politician. Friedman plans to run in the 2006 Texas gubernatorial election as an independent candidate. Gov. Rick Perry will run for re-election for the Republican Party. Other candidates so far include U.S. Rep. Chris Bell, a Democrat, and Republican State Comptroller Carole Strayhorn.

Friedman slowly walked from the Martin Luther King Jr. statue on the East Mall to the Tower, surrounded by a crowd of about 50 supporters, staff and onlookers in 103-degree heat.

"This indicates to me that we're going to win the election ... that we got this many people under these kinds of conditions," he said, wiping perspiration from his brow.

Jobs, economic development, taxes and public education will probably be the most important issues in the 2006 race, according to Daron Shaw, a UT government associate professor.

Friedman "appeals to Texas populism - anti-government, pro-little guy," Shaw said.

Independent candidates in Texas have a hard time getting on the ballot, because 45,540 signatures must be collected, Shaw said. People who vote in the state primaries cannot sign, decreasing the number of people eligible.

Shawn said Friedman works the belief that political parties are corrupt, using as evidence the Wednesday indictment of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land.

Friedman said he's running as an independent because the two major parties have let voters down.

"The only time they get off their asses is to attack each other," he said. As an independent, "the party doesn't tell me what to do."

Friedman said he believes in stopping illegal human traffickers rather than focusing on immigrants. He also said that too many drug offenders are in prison, and he would like to reform the prison system. He also supports prayer in school and gay marriage.

"Love is bigger than government," Friedman said.

Last week Friedman's Web site posted a "KinkyToon" ad, called "I Looove Texas," in an attempt to appeal to younger voters according to the site.

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