The Central Labor Council of Austin has endorsed city propositions A and B on the November ballot, which are both related to funding transportation improvements of various types, including Project Connect. The labor group met Saturday to consider a wide range of candidates for City Council, Travis County Commissioners Court and Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees. Longtime labor activist Jack Kirfman told the Austin Monitor that the group endorsed all of the incumbent Council members running for reelection. That includes Greg Casar in District 4, Jimmy Flannigan in District 6, Leslie Pool in District 7, and Alison Alter in District 10. The group also endorsed David Chincanchan for the District 2 seat. Council Member Delia Garza, who has held that seat since first being elected in 2014, instead ran successfully for the Democratic nomination for Travis County attorney. Because Republicans did not put up a candidate for that seat, her election to the position is virtually assured. The labor group also endorsed Andy Brown, the Democratic nominee for Travis County judge, and Ann Howard, the Democratic nominee for commissioner in Precinct 3. They endorsed the following candidates for AISD board: John McKiernan-Gonzalez in District 2, Kevin Foster in District 3, Lynn Boswell in District 5 and Noelita Lugo in District 8.
Editor’s Note: Andy Brown is on the board of the Capital of Texas Media Foundation, which is the parent nonprofit of the Austin Monitor.