When members of the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission began carving the city into 10 new Council Districts last year, one of their biggest challenges they faced was to carve out an African-American “district of opportunity.” After much consideration and debate, District 1 in northeast Austin became that district. Despite decades of enforced housing segregation, by […]
Austin City Council November 2014 Elections
The November 2014 Austin City Council elections marked a shift from an all-at-large City Council to one elected based mostly on geographic districts. The city’s Mayor remains elected at-large.
Posted inLocal Politics
Austin Monitor Radio, Show 1
The inaugural edition of the KOOP show! Veteran political consultants Mark Littlefield and David Butts join the Monitor‘s Mike Kanin and Elizabeth Pagano to talk 2014 Council elections. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/154218203″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Cole enters mayoral race emphasizing solving problems together
Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole launched her campaign Saturday to become Austin’s first African-American woman Mayor before a crowd of enthusiastic supporters in the front yard of a North University home. In announcing her candidacy, Cole joins fellow City Council Member Mike Martinez, attorney Steve Adler, maintenance technician Randall Stephens and business owner Todd […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Task Force recommends major changes to some city commissions
The Boards and Commissions Transition Task Force issued its final report last week, recommending the elimination of up to 19 city commissions, mostly through combining the duties of two or more current panels. The Austin City Council gave the group a hefty task. The blue-ribbon commission was made up of 15 ranking board and […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Adler kicks off campaign for Mayor of Austin with City Hall rally
More than 200 people gathered in the hot sun at City Hall Sunday afternoon to cheer attorney, nonprofit leader and novice mayoral candidate Steve Adler as he officially announced that he would be a candidate for Austin Mayor. In addressing supporters, Adler emphasized that Austin is at a tipping point in dealing with traffic […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Martinez tours all 10 Council Districts in announcing for mayor
In a show of support – physical and political – for Austin’s new City Council Districts system, Council Member Mike Martinez kicked off his campaign for mayor Saturday by visiting and hosting events in all 10 districts in just one day. The first stop, at Barton Springs Pool, was well-attended despite chilly temperatures and […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Martinez to emphasize affordability, mobility in campaign for Mayor
Though he won’t be formally launching his campaign for Mayor of Austin until April 5, Council Member Mike Martinez did expand on his Tuesday night “announcement to announce” he was running. Martinez told those gathered Wednesday outside City Hall that he would be formally launching his campaign April 5, starting with a main news […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Morrison says she will not run for Mayor
Council Member Laura Morrison, who has served on the Austin City Council for nearly six years and has been considered a likely candidate for Mayor on the November ballot told the Austin Monitor today that she has decided against the race. Morrison, 59, said decision was a difficult one for her. “I love this […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
City Council meetings to move to Travis County this summer
The City of Austin is moving. The City Council, at least, will be moving up Lavaca Street to the Travis County building this summer while renovations take place in council chambers to accommodate a larger membership. The Travis County Commissioners Court chambers will serve, at least temporarily, as City Hall in August and September. […]
Posted inDevelopment, Elections
ANC wants Land Development Code rewrite held for 10-1 Council
The Austin Neighborhoods Council and others are calling for the ongoing rewrite of the city’s Land Development Code to be put on hold until the new 10-1 City Council is seated in January 2015. At their Monday afternoon meeting, members of the Land Development Code Advisory Group heard from several citizens, all of whom […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Task Force meets to determine future of boards and commissions
With just one meeting under its belt, the city’s commission on commissions is diving into the work ahead of them. First on the agenda? Maybe fewer commissions. The Boards and Commissions Transitions Task Force met Wednesday evening, and began work on the daunting task ahead of them: addressing Austin’s upcoming switch to single-member […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Conservatives, others see opportunities in new City Council districts
With single-member districts soon to become a reality, Austin City Council candidates are already lining up to crowd what promises to be a very full November ballot. Austin’s political insiders and outsiders alike are trying to get a handle on an election that promises to shape the city for years to come. Roger Borgelt […]