District 6 Council Member Jimmy Flannigan was traveling in China last week, so it was not very surprising that he filed his most recent campaign finance report on Friday, four days after it was due in the city clerk’s office. The report showed no political contributions during the first six months of 2019 – but […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inWhispers
Big bucks for district attorney candidates
Local attorney José Garza is challenging incumbent Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore in a race that may or may not turn out to be about how many indigent people who haven’t been convicted of a crime are waiting in jail for their day in court. Garza, former co-executive director of the Workers Defense Project, […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Group pushes Garza to run for county attorney
Council Member Greg Casar and community activists Martha Cotera and Brian McGiverin are leading an effort to encourage Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza to run for Travis County attorney – and to raise campaign funds for her before she officially announces her candidacy. David Escamilla, the current county attorney, has announced he will not seek […]
Posted inWhispers
San Antonio facing sick leave challenge
Apparently following the lead of Austin businesses that objected to the city’s required sick leave ordinance, a group of San Antonio businesses have filed suit challenging their city’s attempt to require employers to provide sick leave. Austin’s ordinance was never implemented because of a lawsuit, and the same may be true of San Antonio’s ordinance. […]
Posted inWhispers
Central Texas senators have plenty of cash
Senators Kirk Watson, Charles Schwertner, Judith Zaffirini, Dawn Buckingham and Donna Campbell each represent a portion of Travis County, with Watson representing the lion’s share. Bearing in mind that members of the Legislature are not allowed to collect donations while the Legislature is in session and for a couple of weeks after that, here are […]
Posted inElections
Hot race shaping up for Republicans in HD 47
Former Austin City Council Member Don Zimmerman outraised four other Republican candidates vying for the chance to meet Democratic state Rep. Vikki Goodwin in the House District 47 race next year. Zimmerman reported raising nearly $37,700 in his July 15 filing with the Texas Ethics Commission, but what set his report above the others was […]
Posted inElections
Reports: Running for office is expensive
Mayor Steve Adler’s campaign still owes him more than $449,000 from loans he has made to his campaign starting when he first ran in 2014. When that race was over, the Adler campaign reported owing the candidate more than $418,000. Now, nine months after the November 2018 race against Laura Morrison, Adler owes himself a […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Report finds Texas bipartisanship wins
Despite the “blue wave” election in 2018, Republicans maintained control of both houses of the Texas Legislature during the 2019 legislative session that just concluded. As expected, the majority of bills were authored and approved by Republicans. During the session, however, bills with bipartisan authorship were more than twice as likely to pass as bills […]
Posted inAustin
Camping rules continue to stoke arguments
City Council’s decision to revise ordinances related to where homeless people may camp, sit or lie down continues to cause controversy in the city, with some claiming the changes are making things worse for everyone, particularly law enforcement. Mayor Steve Adler has been a major target of ire on the Austin Police Association Facebook page. […]
Posted inCity Hall
Guernsey announces retirement
After 34 years with the city of Austin, Greg Guernsey, director of the Planning and Zoning Department, announced his retirement Tuesday. Guernsey’s last official day is July 31, but he’s planning to take vacation time, so his last day in office will be next Thursday, July 18. Guernsey started working for the city in June […]
Posted inAustin
Merck withdraws from economic incentive plans
Pharmaceutical giant Merck has notified City Manager Spencer Cronk that it is terminating its incentive agreement with the city effective June 23. As a result, Merck will not have to comply with the terms of the agreement, which included an investment of nearly $29 million and the creation of at least 600 jobs with an […]
Posted inWhispers
Reprieve for Manuel’s, Arbor movie theater
Fans of independent films and Northwest Austin residents who just can’t get enough of Manuel’s Mexican food were devastated by news that a developer would be dramatically revamping the shopping center at U.S. Highway 183 and Great Hills Trail – home to both Manuel’s and the iconic Arbor movie theater. When Chicago-based Heitman Properties announced […]