Famous Sandwich Shop Owner Running for State Office

Katz Files Paperwork for Office

He's a native New Yorker famous for his downtown Austin sandwich shop who is hoping to spread his name all over Texas. Marc Katz filed his paperwork Wednesday at the Texas Democratic Party headquarters to run in the March primary for lieutenant governor, currently occupied by Republican David Dewhurst.

Deli Man Talks about Campaign

"Davey, what's his name?" joked Katz, who moved to Texas more than 35 years ago. The half-hour speech in front of supporters and members of the press, attacked Dewhurst for "doing nothing" during his tenure as Governor Rick Perry's right hand man since 2006.

Katz seemed to be particularly interested in the issues of education across the state, citing statistics that Texas has the highest rate of high school dropouts in the nation, and environmental concerns, telling the media that the Lone Star State ranks one of the worst in the nation for drinking water.

"What's going on?" Katz asked, with a stern look on his face. "I don't like it. Davey, we need a change," he said.

Katz also went after health care costs. He said rates are going up and so are the number of people in the state who don't have health coverage. Katz scolded Dewhurst for what he alluded to as stagnant leadership. "This is not the time for inaction," Katz said. "Do something, because we're getting the same results."

Speaking of health care reform, Katz said his family will be making a healthy contribution to his campaign to the sum of millions. But he wouldn't specify how much, and exactly who will be making the donation to his campaign. He would only elaborate that relatives who live in New York, California and Florida would be forking over a sizable chunk of change, and that he would be able to explain in more detail Friday.

With a comedic style reminiscent of Kinky Friedman, who is known for running political races but similarly makes his money in business other than politics, Katz spoke with seriousness while throwing out punch lines and sarcasm. He asked the crowd what the lieutenant governor does, answering his own question by saying the man who fills it heads up the senate, among other duties. It's an important job, he said. "We're suffering from political neglect," said Katz.

Armed with note cards not even torn off the booklet they are bound in, the deli man - who doesn't necessarily need a microphone to blurt out his campaign promises - said he is not running for office to mix the state's business with his family's business. "I'm keeping the restaurant business and my political aspirations separate," he said.

Katz will face former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle in the March 2 primary.  He ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor of Austin in 2003.