A Californian who attempted a 2016 presidential run. A reported real estate investor in Arizona. These are some of the people who have given to political action committees behind two local ballot initiatives – propositions J and K. Political action committees are not subject to the same campaign finance requirements as candidates. There are fewer restrictions […]
Elections
Posted inElections
Mayoral candidates stress leadership on familiar Austin concerns
While common topics such as Austin’s transportation issues and the fate of the city’s CodeNEXT rewrite have been talking points at all recent forums for the four contested City Council seats, at Monday’s forum for the two most prominent candidates for mayor the question of leadership and setting a vision for the city was threaded […]
Posted inElections
What does early voting’s first day mean?
Election officials across Texas reported record turnouts for a nonpresidential election on Monday, and the first day of early voting for the midterm elections in Travis County was no exception. In Travis County, 6 percent of registered voters cast ballots – including 34,737 who cast ballots in person and 12,668 voters who mailed in their […]
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Austin Monitor Radio: District 3, Part II
This week, City Council candidates Amit Motwani and Susana Almanza join incumbent Pio Renteria for a … spirited … discussion with Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano. Tune in for a discussion about why each candidate is vying for the District 3 City Council seat and how they differ on the issues. […]
Posted inElections
Here are the candidates running to be Austin’s next mayor
If you’re tired of hearing about the face-off between Sen. Ted Cruz and Congressman Beto O’Rourke, maybe it’s time to turn your attention to local elections, like the mayor’s race. Mayor Steve Adler is fighting to retain his seat against six challengers, most of whom are political newcomers with some wild ideas – including building […]
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Transit, CodeNEXT, homelessness grab attention for District 9 candidates
The candidates vying for City Council’s District 9 seat next month have their pick of issues and pain points that need fixing. From transportation to homelessness to the recently scrapped CodeNEXT process to update the city’s Land Development Code, there are plenty of talking points and big things that need fixing in the district that […]
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Differences stark among D8 candidates vying to succeed Troxclair
In the City Council district with the lone conservative Republican representative on the 11-member body, voters in District 8 face a choice in November: elect a Council member who will remain a brake of sorts on policies that largely reflect a progressive agenda or pick someone who will be more in harmony with the other […]
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IndyAustin raises funds to fight Precourt, Adler
IndyAustin’s specific-purpose political action committee reported raising nearly $30,000 in their campaign finance report filed on Tuesday. IndyAustin recently started gathering signatures for a petition to trigger an election on the city’s deal with Precourt Sports Ventures, which plans to bring a professional soccer team to city-owned property at McKalla place. The largest contributors to […]
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One month from election, candidates report fundraising figures
Reports from each candidate for mayor and City Council were due at the Office of the City Clerk on Tuesday. Mayor Steve Adler reported raising nearly $140,000 for the latest time period. His total raised for the current race is more than $714,000, according to a press release from the campaign. Laura Morrison, his major […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Prop J initiative exposes rift among Austin environmentalists
Environmentalists in Austin worry about methane emissions from Texas oilfields, plastic pollution clogging up creeks and rivers or nuclear waste being shipped through the state. But one thing they rarely worry about is each other – at least until recently, when an initiative called Proposition J landed on the ballot. Prop J would require that […]
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Affordability, CodeNEXT and displacement steer candidates in District 3 forum
The city’s failed CodeNEXT process – a nearly two-year rewrite of the Land Development Code that was scrapped in August – continues to be one of the most provocative issues in local politics. One needed only to listen in to last week’s forum hosted by KUT, the Austin Monitor, Glasshouse Policy, Austin Tech Alliance and […]
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Housing, CodeNEXT restart and Houston’s positions shape D1 candidate forum
Ora Houston’s decision to exit City Council at the end of the year has ushered in a crowded field of contenders for her District 1 seat, but her presence and influence are still well felt in the positions and talking points taken among the seven candidates headed into the November election. One of the first […]