The field of candidates running for Mayor of Austin got considerably smaller Monday as community activist Patsy Woods Martin and former 3M Company executive Bill McLellan have both said they are dropping out of the race. That leaves Austin attorney Steve Adler as the only announced candidate. Less than a week after she formally […]
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 inElections, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Patsy Woods Martin announces for Mayor; others are waiting
The founder of I Live Here, I Give Here, Patsy Woods Martin, announced late Thursday that she has officially thrown her hat in the ring to be the next Mayor of Austin. Trained as a chemist, Martin, 59, lists herself as a social entrepreneur, mother, wife and community leader. Martin has worked as a […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Possible candidate Martin spends $50K exploring run for mayor
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. […]
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 Politics
Riley cites heavy lifting in 2013 to get ready for 10-1 Council
Council Member Chris Riley offers a broad frame for the 2013 Austin City Council. “Trying to look at it from a perspective of how this year will be viewed historically, I think the most notable thing about it may well be that it will be viewed as the last full year of regular operation of […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Spelman wants to leave city in good shape for new 10-1 Council
For his part, Council Member Bill Spelman likes Council Member Chris Riley’s “clearing the decks” metaphor for the past year in Council activity. “I like the frame of clearing the decks,” he began. “It’s something that’s been on my mind – I think it’s something that’s been on all of our minds in the last […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Martinez sees 10-1 Council Districts as 2013’s biggest event
For Council Member Mike Martinez, one of the most important things to happen in city government in 2013 didn’t have anything to do with the current City Council. “If you want to ask me what I think was one of the most significant events of the year, as it relates to city government, it’s […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Strains show between Council, City Manager over Auditors’ office
Tensions continued to mount Tuesday between City Manager Marc Ott and a number of Austin City Council members. At immediate issue is where to relocate the office of City Auditor Ken Mory as City Hall is reconfigured to make room for additional Council members under single member districts. During Tuesday’s work session, there was […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Council, City Manager in tug-of-war over location of Auditor’s office
A debate over where the City Auditor sits after the transition to the 10-1 Council Districts government is pitting City Council members against City Manager Marc Ott. The rising tension over the issue finds some Council members preparing a resolution to indicate their official position for the Dec. 12 Council meeting. Meanwhile, city staff has […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Major changes possible with shift to system of 10-1 Council districts
This article was co-produced with KUT News’ Joy Diaz as part of an ongoing City of Austin reporting partnership between In Fact Daily and KUT. Listen to KUT News Monday morning for an in-depth examination of how the interaction described below could play out. Among the changes that will accompany the start of districted […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Redistricting Commission gets final public input on district map
Edging ever closer to a final City Council district map, the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission held its final public meeting last night and received mostly positive feedback for its work in creating 10 single-member districts. The commission met at the Millennium Youth Center in order to gather input on their final proposed map, which […]
Posted inAustin, City Charter, City Council, Elections, Local Politics
Residents express concerns over final Council districts map
A week after the final proposed map of Austin’s first single-member districts was released, Austinites gathered mainly to tell the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission what they felt was wrong with the map and, occasionally tell them what the panel had done right. The meeting, held at The Lodge at 700 Dawson (formerly the Elks Lodge), […]