Please feel free to use this sample letter to send to your Austin friends and networks. You can use all or none of it. Remember, the more personal you can make your letter, the more responsive your friends will be. Tell them how YOU know Randi and why YOU are supporting her.

Dear Friend,

I am writing a letter to all of my friends today because I wanted to tell you about my friend Randi Shade. I know Randi from ____________. She is currently running for re-election to the Austin City Council, Place 3.

Randi was first elected to the Austin City Council in May of 2008, defeating an incumbent with 64% of the vote. She has lived in Austin for more than 20 years. Prior to serving on the Austin City Council, Randi has been a successful Internet entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, and an active community volunteer.  She is a former UT Student Body President and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.  Randi was responsible for launching AmeriCorps in Texas, and under her leadership Texas was awarded more money than any other state.  Randi and her partner, Kayla Shell, an attorney and Dell executive, live in the Clarksville neighborhood and are the proud parents of 4 year-old son, Ethan, and 2 year-old daughter, Emme.

Randi is a bridgebuilder. She has the skills and a proven track record of bringing people together to get things done. Her priorities are promoting responsible growth, fighting poverty in our community and delivering reliable, affordable city services.

In her first term of office, Randi has served as Chair of the City Council's Public Health and Human Services Committee, and has served on the Audit and Finance Committee, Emerging Technology and Telecommunications Committee, and the Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise and Small Business Committee.  Randi has also served as the City Council's representative on the board of directors for the Pecan Street Project and as a member of the Community Action Network Resource Council.

I am supporting Randi because ____________.

If you want to learn more about Randi, I hope you will visit her website at www.RandiShade.com. You can also email her with questions at Questions@RandiShade.com. Tell her I sent you!

Finally, if you're like me and think Randi is the best candidate for the job, I hope you will consider endorsing her or donating to her campaign. If nothing else though, I hope you will vote for Randi on Election Day, Saturday, May 14, 2011.  It may seem like a long way off, but it is really just around the corner.  The stronger Randi's re-election campaign is from the beginning, the better.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Your friend,

______________