Austin actually has several good legislators. They're smart. They have hearts. They are outnumbered, but they work for progressive change. Elliott Naishtat and Sherri Greenberg come to mind. The one who seems to have best learned to make his power effective is Glen Maxey, ironic since some legislators have tried to isolate him, particularly after he called for then-Speaker Gib Lewis' resignation. Maxey, however, has helped bring changes at the tank farm. He succeeded in convincing the state Highway Department to allow local control on the building of MoKan so its effect on East Austin can be studied more seriously. He knows the issues. He's always well prepared and he has stayed true to the themes on which he ran for office.
