Watson collects the most endorsements among mayoral candidates

Campaigns for City Council and mayor are heating up just as the weather is cooling a bit, by Austin standards at least. Mayor Kirk Watson is touting his many endorsements, with a full page devoted to the 14 unions that have indicated their support, starting with the Austin Firefighters Association and the Austin-Travis County EMS Association. The other unions, such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Ironworkers Local 482, are not particularly affiliated with the city, but their members do vote. Watson campaign manager Joe Cascino told the Austin Monitor the mayor had just gotten word that he was endorsed by the Circle C Democrats along with a long list of public figures that appear on his campaign website’s homepage.

The one endorsement Watson wanted but did not get was from the Central Labor Council, which requires a two-thirds vote from its membership. The labor council did not endorse anyone in the mayor’s race, but Doug Greco, who is also seeking the job, happily pointed out on X that Watson did not get the labor council endorsement.

Greco has the endorsement of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund as well as a number of individuals. His supporters include Eugene Sepulveda and Steven Tomlinson. Greco’s website notes that Sepulveda “previously served as campaign treasurer and an unofficial Senior Advisor to Mayor Steve Adler.” He also served for two terms as vice chair of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.

Former Council Member Kathie Tovo, the best known of the four other candidates in the race, noted that she had been endorsed by the Sierra Club Austin Regional Group, as well as the Central Austin Democrats and Better Austin Today PAC. However, that group, known as BATPAC, also endorsed two other candidates in the race for mayor – Carmen Llanes Pulido and Jeffery Bowen, who joined the race in late August.

Llanes Pulido has the support of a variety of individuals, as evidenced by yard signs touting her candidacy. Supporters include Julie Oliver, co-founder of Ground Game Texas, which worked to decriminalize cannabis in Texas. Although Llanes Pulido’s website does not list those supporters, she did send the Monitor a four-page listing of people supporting her candidacy. Among the less familiar names, the Monitor found environmentalist Bill Bunch – as an individual, not representing the Save Our Springs Alliance, where he is executive director – and Kazique Prince, chair for the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce. Another supporter is Brion Oaks, who was the first equity officer for the city of Austin. Llanes Pulido said she also has support from Young Democrats United, a group not affiliated with Travis County Democrats.

Council members in Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 have all endorsed Watson. That leaves just two members of Council not endorsing him – Mackenzie Kelly, a Republican running for reelection in a district that has so far never reelected anyone, and Alison Alter in District 10, who is retiring and frequently disagrees with Watson. He also has endorsements from a long list of elected officials, including four of five members of the Travis County Commissioners Court. Former Mayor Steve Adler is not on Watson’s list of supporters, but former mayors Lee Leffingwell, Will Wynn, Lee Cooke and Ron Mullen are on the list along with numerous other current and former public officials.

Longtime political consultant Peck Young told the Monitor he does not think endorsements are nearly as important as they were when elections for City Council were held in the spring. Many people are going to the polls focused on the races for president and Senate and may not have information on local candidate endorsements, he said.

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