Kinky Friedman, prolific author, satirical country singer, philanthropist and candidate for governor of Texas — all in one — visited Lawrence Saturday night.

Friedman, who finished fourth as an independent in the 2006 governor race and is running again as a Democrat in 2010, has also recorded more than 30 satirical country albums and published more than 25 books, fiction and non-fiction, including National and New York Times bestsellers.

He spent three hours Saturday night in Centro Cigars, 1520 Wakarusa Drive, with a cigar and a Modelo Especial beer in hand, offering his words and autographs as part of a more recent interest — a Kinky Friedman line of cigars. Centro Cigar’s co-owner Rich Spangler said Friedman visited his store once before in 2006 to promote the company. This time Spangler said roughly 150 of Friedman’s fans came out for his second Lawrence appearance.

“From little kids wearing ‘Kinky’ shirts to a guy that came in on a walker earlier, we got a wide variety,” Spangler said. “We had someone come in earlier with one of his old vinyl albums.”

Freidman, wearing the black cowboy hat and western shirt that, with his mustache and cigar, have become his trademark, came to Lawrence as part of a national tour. The tour is promoting his music, his cigar business and his books — “Kinky’s Celebrity Pet Files” and “Heroes of a Texas Childhood” — published this year. Friedman is traveling with Little Jewford, an original member of the Kinky Friedman and the Jewboys band who plays keyboard, and Washington Ratso, a rhythm guitar player from Lebanon. The three will continue the trip Sunday when they play in Philadelphia.

“Ratso and I represent the last hope for peace in the Middle East,” Friedman said, jokingly contrasting Ratso’s ancestry with his own Jewish roots.

The trio will perform its songs, which Friedman labeled “country music with a social conscience,” next in New York and the District of Columbia. In the District of Columbia, Friedman said he would also attend the National Press Club book fair.

“He’s done a lot in his life,” Spangler said. “And the nice thing is he’s still doing it.”

Alex Atlas, San Antonio sophomore, said she most appreciated the summer camp for children that Friedman helped run with his brother at his ranch in San Antonio. She said she doesn’t smoke cigars but that she wanted to visit Friedman in Lawrence because she had attended his camp, both as a child and a counselor, for 14 years.

“He’s great. He’s a great guy,” Atlas said. “And he’s the original Texas Jewboy,” she added with a smile.

Brett Samet, also a San Antonio sophomore, is Friedman’s cousin and came to Centro Cigars with his father to visit him. Samet said he had been a longtime fan of Friedman’s books and music but most admired Friedman for his dog rescue shelter, the Utopia Rescue Ranch, which has saved more than 1,000 dogs from euthanasia.

“He’s incredible with the Utopia Rescue Ranch,” Samet said. “He’s got his whole persona, very fun act too, but he’s a very genuine person.”

Friedman, who used the event Saturday to help market one of his new cigars, called “Utopia,” said all the profits from the cigar would go toward his dog shelter. He said though he had many interests, his service for stray dogs was his biggest passion.

“Utopia Rescue Ranch is very close to my heart,” Friedman said. “We say money may buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.”

Friedman said if he were elected governor, his main goal would be to help underrepresented people in Texas. He said in a world of politicians who paid attention to special interests, he represented the old kind of Democrat, what he called a “Texas Democrat” or a true populist.

“We need a governor that’s not afraid to offend people, who will stand up for right causes and kick some ass,” Friedman said. “The Republicans could really have a little collision course over there.”

As a Lawrence businessman supporting Friedman, Spangler said he would miss having Friedman return a third time if he was elected.

“Of course, if we had to sacrifice him not coming back because he’s busy being the governor of Texas, I’ll trade it for that,” Spangler said, grinning.

Follow Ray Segebrecht at twitter.com/rsegebrecht.

— — Edited by Abbey Strusz