In her final speech from the Council dais, Ora Houston urged her colleagues to encourage diversity at every level and to put partisan issues aside. The city’s first representative of District 1 said it is important to look at and care for the city as a whole and not concentrate so much on individual districts. […]
District 1
District 1 is one of the largest districts by area created by the commission, being bounded by Interstate 35, bumps up against Pflugerville on the north, SH 130 on the east and reaches down into the eastern parts of downtown and the University of Texas campus. It includes a variety of neighborhoods, such as Copperfield, Harris Branch, University Hills, Colony Park and Rosewood. It also contains Decker Lake Park and some of the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Posted inElections
Natasha Harper-Madison easily prevails in District 1
After finishing in a virtual tie in the general election, Natasha Harper-Madison easily defeated Mariana Salazar to become the next Council member for District 1 in East and Northeast Austin. Harper-Madison carried the low-turnout runoff election 72 percent to 28 percent, with 3,404 votes to Salazar’s 1,341. In a barroom packed with supporters at the […]
Posted inElections
D1 forum looks at city’s role in affordability, health care, displacement
The runoff election to fill the seat of District 1 Council Member Ora Houston may well hinge on the approaches candidates Natasha Harper-Madison and Mariana Salazar take to persistent East Austin issues such as housing affordability, health care access and how the city can help longtime residents remain in the fast-growing area. At last week’s […]
Posted inElections
District 1 runoff: Mariana Salazar and Natasha Harper-Madison
With less than a percentage point separating them, Natasha Harper-Madison and Mariana Salazar will advance to a December runoff election for East Austin’s District 1 seat. In the end, Salazar had 5,673 votes (or 26.01 percent), with Harper-Madison behind at 5,469 (25.07 percent). “I’m feeling grateful and empowered,” said Salazar at her election watch party. […]
Posted inElections
Complaints filed against District 1 candidates
Complaints filed with the Texas Ethics Commission charge City Council District 1 candidates Natasha Harper-Madison and Vincent Harding with filing erroneous campaign finance reports in violation of the Texas Election Code. Both campaigns denied any violations when contacted Monday, but the campaigns acknowledged receiving copies of the complaints. The commission is prohibited from releasing copies […]
Posted inPlanning
Golf, recreation areas considered for future of Walter Long Park
Golf course, or no golf course? There are other questions being discussed with community members in and around East Austin about the future of Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park, but one of the main questions is whether the 3,695-acre park should have a golf course added as the city looks for ways to improve the […]
Posted inElections
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 […]
Posted inElections
Candidates in Districts 1 and 8 working hard
In City Council District 8 and District 1, incumbents Ellen Troxclair and Ora Houston are retiring. In each case, the current council member has announced her endorsement of a candidate to take her seat in January. However, that has not made the endorsement process much easier for those candidates. Houston endorsed Vincent Harding for District […]
Posted inElections
The Austin city clerk is no longer challenging Lewis Conway Jr.’s City Council bid
The Austin city clerk has reversed her decision to challenge Lewis Conway Jr.’s candidacy for Austin City Council. Conway, a candidate for District 1, has a felony record, and City Clerk Jannette Goodall requested clarification on his eligibility to run for public office late last week. Conway has maintained that he is legally allowed to […]
Posted inElections
Austin city clerk challenges convicted felon’s eligibility to run for City Council
Lewis Conway Jr., a candidate for Austin City Council who has a felony record, may not be able to run after all. Austin City Clerk Jannette Goodall sent Conway an email Friday challenging his eligibility and asking for documents showing that he had been pardoned or “otherwise released from the disabilities” resulting from his conviction. […]
Posted inRadio
Austin Monitor Radio: District 1 candidate Reedy Spigner
This week, City Council candidate Reedy Spigner joins Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano to talk about why he’s running for the District 1 seat, and to explain what issues he hopes to tackle if elected. It’s all embedded below, so go ahead and listen now: Austin Monitor Radio is produced in […]
Posted inRadio
Austin Monitor Radio: District 1 candidate Vincent Harding
This week, former Travis County Democratic Chair Vincent Harding sits down with freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano to talk about why he’s running for City Council and explain what issues he is hoping to tackle for District 1. The whole thing is embedded below for your listening convenience. The Austin Monitor’s work is […]