Presumptive mayoral candidate Patsy Woods Martin has spent more than $50,000 in exploring a run for mayor of Austin next November, according to a campaign finance report filed Wednesday. While candidates are prohibited from raising money prior to six months before their election, they are allowed to explore a candidacy and spend their own money. […]
Elections
Posted inElections, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Shea raises more than twice as much as nearest opponent for Pct. 2
When it comes to raising campaign funds, Brigid Shea leads the candidates in the Precinct 2 Travis County Commissioner race, with almost double the amount of contributions given to her two opponents combined. They are running for the seat vacated by Sarah Eckhardt in order to run for County Judge. According to a Campaign […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Public Safety
Commissioners to investigate loss of in-person jail visitation
Several members of the Travis County Commissioners Court say they were caught off guard Tuesday when they were told that in-person family visits at the Travis County Jail have been replaced by a video system. And a majority of commissioners say they are planning to find out why. Representatives of the Texas Civil Rights […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
RECA forum discusses the effects of districts on Austin city politics
Politically attuned Austinites continue to wrestle with the uncertain future that the 10-1 City Council district system will bring, and that was the topic of discussion at a forum hosted by the Real Estate Council of Austin on Tuesday. The forum, moderated by the Austin Monitor’s Publisher Mike Kanin, focused on Austin’s looming shift […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Travis Commissioners approve fee increases for county parks
Travis County Commissioners voted Tuesday to raise fees for visitors to Travis County parks, but it is not clear exactly when that hike will happen. Commissioners approved the increase to close a potential budget gap. This is the first adjustment to any county parks’ fees since 2009 and officials say many of the affected […]
Posted inDevelopment, Elections, Local Government, Local Politics
Eckhardt criticizes McCombs for seeking tax breaks, suing appraisal district
Travis County Judge candidate Sarah Eckhardt continued her verbal campaign against billionaire businessman Red McCombs Thursday, taking him to task for asking taxpayers to contribute millions of dollars to build the Circuit of the Americas race track but going to court to get his property tax bill on the facility lowered. Eckhardt, a former […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Uncategorized
Council members sign letter supporting reproductive rights law
Three Austin City Council members have sent a letter to members of Congress and the Texas Legislature, urging the passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act and the repeal of House Bill 2. Council Members Bill Spelman, Laura Morrison and Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole signed the letter, which was dated Jan. 7. The […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Uncategorized
County, promoter at impasse over background checks at gun show
Travis County Commissioners and the promoter of the Saxet Gun Shows reached an impasse Tuesday over a contract provision that would require the promoter to perform background checks on all gun sales. Negotiations for a year’s lease to hold eight gun shows at the Travis County Expo Center have broken off. Background checks for […]
Posted inElections, Transportation
Group files to campaign for Guadalupe-North Lamar rail corridor
A group calling itself Our Rail filed papers Monday with City Clerk Janette Goodall that will allow its members to campaign for ballot measures that would establish the Lamar-Guadalupe corridor as part of the initial design of the city’s Urban Rail project. According to the documents, the group intends to fight for a charter amendment […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Tovo puts affordability issues at top of her 2013 list of successes
For Council Member Kathie Tovo, a lot of the successes in the past year have to do with affordability. “I think we are hearing from the community that they are very overwhelmed by taxes and by other increases, and that we need to hold the line on property tax increases,” said Tovo. “I think […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
Morrison calls Austin Energy governance debate top 2013 issue
Though, in her estimation, it “wasn’t so much an event as it was a long, drawn out conversation,” Council Member Laura Morrison puts the Austin Energy governance discussions toward the top of her list of major 2013 events. She says the discussion between the Council and the community about the utility’s oversight was important, […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Ott says 2013 brought both personal, professional accomplishments
City Manager Marc Ott says that, for him, 2013 had a lot of highlights. Some were personal, like being the recipient of the Mark E. Keane Award for Career Excellence, which he received early in the year. That award came with a stipend, which he will donate to the city for something related to […]