Affordability topped the list of issues that Austin mayoral candidates Sheryl Cole, Mike Martinez, Steve Adler, Todd Phelps, Randall Stephens and David Orshalick discussed at Wednesday’s Ballot Boxing Mayoral Forum. Moderators Nathan Bernier of KUT, Shannon Wolfson of KXAN and Michael Kanin of the Austin Monitor covered a broad array of topics. They included how […]
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
Zimmerman threatens lawsuit over abuse stories
An attorney representing District 6 candidate Don Zimmerman has threatened to sue The Austin Bulldog over last week’s story referring to alleged physical abuse of his daughter and subsequent court action giving Zimmerman’s ex-wife sole managing conservatorship of the child. Zimmerman’s attorney, Stephen Casey, also demanded that the Austin Monitor retract a Whisper concerning the […]
Posted inElections
Ballot Boxing: The District 10 Forum video
Video of the Ballot Boxing: District 10 forum is posted below, courtesy of our partners at KXAN.
Posted inElections, Local Politics
District 10 candidates ponder changes at City Hall
City Council District 10 candidates talked transportation, water conservation and incentives during Monday night’s Ballot Boxing forum hosted by the Austin Monitor, KUT News, Austin Chronicle, KXAN and Univision. But some of the most interesting comments from the eight candidates vying to represent Austin’s wealthiest district came in response to the night’s most colorful question: […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
PAC spending plays role in City Council races
Although political action committees play a big role in the financing of campaigns nationwide and in Texas, they have not been very important recently in electing Austin’s mayor and City Council. While there is no evidence that that will change this year, some of the players who have an interest in the fate of their […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Proponents, opponents raise big bucks on Prop. 1
While the Let’s Go Austin PAC was touting its fundraising efforts, opponents were quietly raising money, too. As the Monitor reported Tuesday, the pro-Proposition 1 group said it raised $485,876 during the most recent reporting period. That brings the overall fundraising total to $559,121, according to PAC officials. After expenses, they report $290,724 remaining. The […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics
District 9 challenger says no to rail proposition
Erin McGann, a challenger to two current City Council members vying for the District 9 position, made her stance clear as early as possible on Monday night. The forum in the Ballot Boxing series was sponsored by the Monitor with partners KUT, the Austin Chronicle, KXAN and Univision, and hosted at KUT’s Studio 1a. “I’m the only candidate […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Cole, Martinez respond to Adler spending
With the release of Monday’s campaign finance reports, Council Member Mike Martinez and Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole got a look at the kind of money that mayoral opponent Steve Adler is raising and spending. Adler, a newcomer to politics, reported that he loaned his campaign $296,000 and spent more than $492,000. Combined with the […]
Posted inElections
Ballot Boxing: The District 9 Forum, video
Video of the Ballot Boxing: District 9 forum is below, courtesy of our partners at KXAN.
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Council candidates file campaign financial reports
(Monday was the deadline for all 78 candidates for Austin City Council to file their 30-day-out Contribution and Expenditure Reports with the City Clerk’s office. Here is a summary from the mayor’s race and all 10 Council districts. To save space, some candidates who did not raise significant amounts are not listed. Tyler Whitson and […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Council initiates ‘Private Party’ code amendments
City Council members Thursday OK’d a set of code amendments that, when finalized, could carve out a bit of extra technical leeway for some private events, particularly parties that happen in the West Campus area. Final language is due back Nov. 20. Council Member Chris Riley, who brought the item forward, explained its impact. “We […]
Posted inElections
Ballot Boxing: The District 7 Forum, complete video
The complete video of the Ballot Boxing: District 7 Austin City Council candidate forum is posted below.