Although the vast majority of votes in the special election for Senate District 14 came in and were counted last week, county clerks in Bastrop and Travis counties could not complete their final tally until Monday because of votes arriving from military and overseas voters. When the two counties did their final tally to determine […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inWhispers
Group says Cap Metro video is illegal
The community organization Voices of Austin has made its first foray into city politics by questioning the legality of a video produced to showcase the benefits of Project Connect. The group issued a press release noting “it is illegal to use public funds to advertise to persuade voters on a ballot choice.” The board of […]
Posted inWhispers
Hegar projects nearly $4.6 billion revenue shortfall
Texas can expect to finish Fiscal Year 2021 with a shortfall of $4.58 billion, according to Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. (FY 2021 started on July 1.) Hegar announced the figure Monday, attributing the decrease to the Covid-19 pandemic and volatility in oil prices. The new figure compares to a previous positive ending balance of $2.89 […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
PAC readies to oppose rail bond
The political action committee Our Mobility Our Future, whose backers plan to oppose a proposition on the November ballot to fund the Project Connect transit system, reported this week that they had collected more than $98,000 during the reporting period that started in January. The PAC also reports $75,000 in pledged contributions. City Council has […]
Posted inWhispers
Sethi trails Alter in fundraising, report shows
Pooja Sethi, who is challenging Council Member Alison Alter for her District 10 seat in November, reported raising more than $43,000 in contributions and spending less than $9,000 from Jan. 1 through June 30. Alter reported raising $83,588 for her reelection campaign. Sethi has loaned her campaign $5,000 and still had more than $55,000 in […]
Posted inWhispers
Eckhardt-Rodriguez runoff remains a question
When all the votes were counted in the Senate District 14 race early Wednesday morning, former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt had 49.66 percent of the vote, or 59,267 votes, compared to 33.84 percent, or 40,384 votes, for state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez. It looked very much like a runoff. But it’s possible there may not […]
Posted inElections
Updated: Runoff likely in Senate District 14 race
With six candidates vying to take the place of Senate District 14’s Kirk Watson, it seemed reasonable to assume there would be a runoff, most likely between two popular Democrats: former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt and state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez. On Wednesday morning Eckhardt, the daughter of the late U.S. Rep. Bob Eckhardt, had […]
Posted inBudget
Manager proposes tax hike, 2 percent employee raise
Presenting a budget with a 2 percent employee pay raise and no layoffs and a 3.5 percent property tax increase, City Manager Spencer Cronk told Council Monday that his budget proposal meets the twin crises of the pandemic that has “upended our way of life and triggered an unprecedentedly swift economic contraction.” At the same […]
Posted inWhispers
Let the budget wrangling begin
Austin has had lean years and fat years and always manages to make it through. But this is the first pandemic year since 1918, and many of the things we thought we knew about the city’s fiscal future and budget are not what they seemed six months ago. City Manager Spencer Cronk is scheduled to […]
Posted inElections
Is money going to decide Travis County races?
With early voting ending today for Tuesday’s Travis County runoff elections, the Democratic candidates for district attorney and county attorney were busy making phone calls trying to coax pandemic-weary voters to the polls. They were also filing campaign finance reports and perusing their opponents’ filings. In the race for Travis County district attorney, challenger José […]
Posted inCity Council
Council seeks to add teeth to virus regulations
Mayor Steve Adler is proposing two ordinances: one would authorize the city health authority – in this case Dr. Mark Escott – to adopt rules protecting people from Covid 19 and create a class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 for anyone convicted of violating those rules. The second ordinance would allow […]
Posted inWhispers
Five Council members push Garza-Garza ticket
Five members of Austin City Council, led by Greg Casar, have posted a letter online urging voters to cast ballots for Delia Garza and José Garza, running for the Democratic nomination for Travis County attorney and district attorney, respectively. In addition to Casar, Council members Pio Renteria, Jimmy Flannigan, Natasha Harper-Madison and Paige Ellis hope […]