Election officials across Texas reported record turnouts for a nonpresidential election on Monday, and the first day of early voting for the midterm elections in Travis County was no exception. In Travis County, 6 percent of registered voters cast ballots – including 34,737 who cast ballots in person and 12,668 voters who mailed in their […]
November 2018 elections
Posted inElections
Here are the candidates running to be Austin’s next mayor
If you’re tired of hearing about the face-off between Sen. Ted Cruz and Congressman Beto O’Rourke, maybe it’s time to turn your attention to local elections, like the mayor’s race. Mayor Steve Adler is fighting to retain his seat against six challengers, most of whom are political newcomers with some wild ideas – including building […]
Posted inElections
Transit, CodeNEXT, homelessness grab attention for District 9 candidates
The candidates vying for City Council’s District 9 seat next month have their pick of issues and pain points that need fixing. From transportation to homelessness to the recently scrapped CodeNEXT process to update the city’s Land Development Code, there are plenty of talking points and big things that need fixing in the district that […]
Posted inHousing
‘Prop A’ could bring unprecedented investment in affordable housing in Austin
Austin voters will decide this November on the fate of seven bond propositions totaling $925 million. Proposition A asks voters to decide on a $250 million bond for affordable housing. If approved, the proposition would provide money for the city to build, repair and maintain existing affordable housing throughout Austin. Here’s the breakdown of how that money potentially would […]
Posted inAISD
Here are the candidates for Austin ISD board of trustees
Five seats on the Austin Independent School District’s board of trustees will be on the ballot Nov. 6. The role of the school board is to oversee the AISD superintendent and district administration. The board votes on district policy and budgets, and sets tax rates. Members serve four-year terms. You can see which district you […]
Posted inElections
Differences stark among D8 candidates vying to succeed Troxclair
In the City Council district with the lone conservative Republican representative on the 11-member body, voters in District 8 face a choice in November: elect a Council member who will remain a brake of sorts on policies that largely reflect a progressive agenda or pick someone who will be more in harmony with the other […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: The next wave of humanity
Visit commission meetings… The fractious nature of the city’s newly convened Tourism Commission brought about consideration Monday of amending the group’s bylaws, with the possibility of requiring at least seven votes to approve recommendations that would be forwarded to City Council for possible action. Commissioner Michael Cannatti’s suggestion is based on ingrained differences of opinion […]
Posted inRadio
Austin Monitor Radio: District 3 candidates, Part 1
This week City Council candidates Jessica Cohen and Justin Jacobson sit down with Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano to talk District 3 and why they are vying for a seat on the dais. Austin Monitor Radio is produced in partnership with KOOP 91.7 FM. The Austin Monitor’s work is made possible […]
Posted inElections
IndyAustin raises funds to fight Precourt, Adler
IndyAustin’s specific-purpose political action committee reported raising nearly $30,000 in their campaign finance report filed on Tuesday. IndyAustin recently started gathering signatures for a petition to trigger an election on the city’s deal with Precourt Sports Ventures, which plans to bring a professional soccer team to city-owned property at McKalla place. The largest contributors to […]
Posted inElections
One month from election, candidates report fundraising figures
Reports from each candidate for mayor and City Council were due at the Office of the City Clerk on Tuesday. Mayor Steve Adler reported raising nearly $140,000 for the latest time period. His total raised for the current race is more than $714,000, according to a press release from the campaign. Laura Morrison, his major […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Prop J initiative exposes rift among Austin environmentalists
Environmentalists in Austin worry about methane emissions from Texas oilfields, plastic pollution clogging up creeks and rivers or nuclear waste being shipped through the state. But one thing they rarely worry about is each other – at least until recently, when an initiative called Proposition J landed on the ballot. Prop J would require that […]
Posted inElections
Affordability, CodeNEXT and displacement steer candidates in District 3 forum
The city’s failed CodeNEXT process – a nearly two-year rewrite of the Land Development Code that was scrapped in August – continues to be one of the most provocative issues in local politics. One needed only to listen in to last week’s forum hosted by KUT, the Austin Monitor, Glasshouse Policy, Austin Tech Alliance and […]