Stories by Sean Saldaña
Watson reflects on his mayoral campaign: 'A new beginning'
As Mayor-elect Kirk Watson prepares to assume his third term, he’s chosen to stick to his campaign messaging: He wants to cut down on the red tape involved in the development process, work across the ideological spectrum and play the…
City Council • By Sean Saldaña • Jan 3, 2023
In D9, Qadri wants to ensure 'an abundance of affordable housing'
Just past 10 p.m. on Dec. 13, after a night frantically pacing around the Whip In shaking hands, posing for pictures and checking on election updates, Zohaib Qadri – more commonly known as Zo – felt comfortable declaring victory in…
City Council • By Sean Saldaña • Dec 29, 2022
Anthony Bradshaw wants 'to see an Austin, Texas, that is successful'
On Oct. 18, KVUE and the Austin American-Statesman livestreamed a debate that included all six of the candidates running for mayor. The 90-minute affair included questions about Austin’s pressing issues – affordability, homelessness, policing and transit – as well as…
Elections • By Sean Saldaña • Oct 25, 2022
Gary Spellman looks to disrupt Austin politics
With hair to his shoulders, an aggressive distaste for politics and officially $0 raised, Gary Spellman is hardly what one imagines when envisioning a typical candidate for elected office – something he embraces wholeheartedly. Recounting an interaction, he says, “I…
Elections • By Sean Saldaña • Sep 29, 2022
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Kirk Watson, a 'fixture' of Central Texas, wants to be mayor again
The way Kirk Watson tells it, his career in public office started with bad news. After working behind the scenes in Texas Democratic politics and in the state bureaucracy for a few years, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in…
Elections • By Sean Saldaña • Sep 7, 2022
Virden positions herself as the 'common-sense' candidate for mayor
Jennifer Virden is about as much of an Austinite as someone can be. Born and raised in Northwest Hills, she’s eager to tell potential constituents how she went to Doss Elementary, that she’s an Anderson Trojan, and that she holds…
Elections • By Sean Saldaña • Aug 24, 2022
Subscribe to our newsletter
District 9 Council candidates chat with the 'Monitor': Part II
Read Part I of the series here. Linda Guerrero brings to the table an institutional knowledge of parks and environmental issues, along with expertise on affordability and transportation more broadly. In addition to being an AISD teacher for nearly three decades,…
Elections • By Sean Saldaña • Aug 16, 2022
District 9 City Council candidates chat with the 'Monitor': Part I
Read Part II of the series here. With Council Member Kathie Tovo term-limited and six candidates who have raised more than $25,000 so far, District 9 is thought to be one of the more competitive races this local election season.…
Local Politics • By Sean Saldaña • Aug 15, 2022
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Celia Israel seeks to be a progressive voice for Austin
Celia Israel announced her run for mayor early, on January 11, almost a full 10 months before election day. She said her motivation to run was her desire to tackle the biggest issues facing Austin today: affordability and transportation. Israel…
Local Politics • By Sean Saldaña • Aug 12, 2022
Phil Brual, the UT Austin student running for mayor
On Nov. 8, Austin will elect a new mayor, and already a number of high-profile candidates have entered the race. And among those candidates is Phil Brual, a 21-year-old University of Texas student born and raised in Austin. In many…
Elections • By Sean Saldaña • Jul 19, 2022
As the pandemic drags on, 24/7 dining makes a return to Austin
Last month, Bennu Coffee was able to reach a milestone it had been after for months: resuming the 24/7 hours of operation it had gained a reputation for among Austinites. At the moment, only Bennu’s Highland location is open around…
Austin • By Sean Saldaña • Dec 16, 2021
City Council to meet for special session on housing supply
City Council is convening Nov. 30 to discuss what Mayor Steve Adler has called one of Austin’s “greatest present challenges” – housing supply. In a City Council Message Board post co-authored with Council Member Alison Alter last Wednesday, Adler outlined…
Housing • By Sean Saldaña • Nov 22, 2021
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
