"Hey, kids! Don't be like me!"

I have to ask: Do you think those geniuses at the Secretary of State's office knew about this beforehand, or do you think they found out about it at the same time as the press did?

University of Texas baseball coach Augie Garrido was named pitchman for the Texas voter education program, but he said after a kickoff news conference that he hasn't cast a vote since moving to the state 10 years ago.

"I am not a very political guy," Garrido said Tuesday after a speech in which he compared the democratic process to a game and called voting "the fundamentals."

Records show Garrido, whose Longhorns have won two national championships, registered to vote when he moved to Texas from California but never has voted.

Link via PinkDome. I guess there's something to be said for a non-voter to lead this effort. As I say, I'm just wondering if that was a deliberate choice.

One more thing:

Secretary of State Roger Williams defended the choice of Garrido to promote VOTEXAS, which began in January to recruit, remind and educate voters.

"People who might be new to voting or haven't been as participatory in the process need as much education as anyone," said Williams spokesman Scott Haywood.

Williams said he hopes Garrido's clout as "a great Texas icon" will increase the program's success.

Has Garrido been around long enough to be an icon? What does that make Cliff Gustafson if so? Anyone know if Wayne Graham votes?

Posted by Charles Kuffner on September 07, 2006 to Show Business for Ugly People | TrackBack