Musician and author Kinky Friedman will drop his Democratic bid for Texas governor and seek the agriculture commissioner post instead.
"This has never been about me; this has always been about what is best for the people of Texas and the Democratic Party," Friedman said Monday.
Friedman finalized his decision after meeting with Democratic gubernatorial candidates Bill White and Farouk Shami separately over the weekend. Friedman campaign consultant Colin Strother described the meetings with both men as "very, very good", but Friedman is declining to endorse either Democratic candidate at this point. Friedman's visit with White at the mayor's Houston home was the first time the two had met; Friedman and Shami have been personal friends for many years and share a key ally — John McCall, who financed much of Friedman's 2006 gubernatorial run.
"After my visit with Bill my mind was made up. There is a clear alternative for the people of Texas, and today I'm changing courses with a happy heart," Friedman said.
Strother says while Friedman did consider the land commissioner post, he felt the agriculture commissioner job was "the best fit." Friedman spent the past week getting advice from his friend, former Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower.
http://www.texastribune.org/stories/2009/dec/14/kinky-friedman-drop-gubernatorial-bid/