On Thursday City Council approved the release of bond funding from the 2020 transportation and safety bond. The funding will allow the Transportation Department to hire an additional 27 employees and the Public Works Department to hire eight new employees and give the two departments authorization to begin work on $460 million in local mobility […]
November 2020 elections
Posted inElections
Ethics complaint against Voices of Austin will get final hearing
A complaint that nonprofit Voices of Austin violated city code by campaigning against Proposition A will move to a final hearing, the Ethics Review Commission decided. The preliminary hearing at Wednesday’s meeting was a redo of the first preliminary hearing, which was cut short due to a problem with the city’s virtual meeting software. Political […]
Posted inElections
Flannigan and Kelly showdown in District 6 forum
District 6 voters once again have a choice between two candidates: incumbent Jimmy Flannigan and challenger Mackenzie Kelly. In November, Flannigan won just over 40 percent of the vote and Kelly just over 33 percent. On social media and at campaign events, the rhetoric between the two candidates and their supporters has been heated, and […]
Posted inElections
Virden and Alter face off in runoff forum
This week, District 10 voters will get their second opportunity to pick a City Council candidate in a runoff that pits incumbent Alison Alter against candidate Jennifer Virden. With seven names on the District 10 ballot, a December runoff was almost guaranteed. Alter has represented the district since beating former Council Member Sheri Gallo in […]
Posted inElections
County Judge-elect Andy Brown eager to start new job
Travis County Judge-elect Andy Brown is getting ready to start his new job. The most likely date for his first day on the job is Nov. 17, since commissioners will be canvassing the vote this week. Democrat Brown, who will serve the remainder of former County Judge Sarah Eckhardt’s term, won with 70 percent of […]
Posted inElections
Ann Howard getting ready for new job
Ann Howard, Travis County Commissioner-elect for Precinct 3, was getting to work Thursday, learning more about the job she will officially begin in January. Howard said commissioners will canvass the vote from Tuesday’s election in the next week to 10 days, making her election official. However, she will not take a seat on the court […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Prop B walks, rolls, rides to victory
In addition to passing a historic mass public transit system under Proposition A, Austin voters also approved Prop B, a $460 million active mobility bond that will allow the city to make significant progress toward completing the bike lane network, filling missing sidewalk gaps and improving traffic safety. In total, 260,706 votes were cast in […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
What’s Project Connect’s first stop after Austin voters handily pass Prop A?
Before any shiny new train and bus lines hit the streets of Austin, the less glamorous work of planning and administration must begin. City Council and the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors will meet next month to discuss appointments to a new local government corporation that will oversee the transit expansion, known as […]
Posted inElections
Williams ends Larsen’s tenure at aquifer district
In her first race for office, Christy Williams defeated longtime Board Member Bob Larsen, winning a seat on the board of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. Williams, who serves on the city’s Water and Wastewater Commission and is an environmental scientist by occupation, won the seat with nearly 76 percent of the vote. Williams […]
Posted inElections
Voters pass Project Connect transit plan
With the passage of Proposition A, voters have given the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority the green light to build out the core elements of the city’s first mass transit system over the coming decade as part of a $7.1 billion initial investment in the $10 billion Project Connect system. Capital Metro Board Chair Wade Cooper […]
Posted inElections
Fuentes coasts to victory in District 2
Political newcomer Vanessa Fuentes was headed toward a victory in the District 2 race Tuesday night after the early vote was counted, showing her with more than 56 percent of the vote. Her two competitors, David Chincanchan and Casey Ramos, each had less than 20 percent of the vote. A fourth candidate, Alex Strenger, had […]
Posted inElections
Casar headed toward easy victory
Council Member Greg Casar was headed toward an easy reelection victory Tuesday night after winning two-thirds of the early vote. Casar, who has held the District 4 seat since 2015, faced two opponents who had little money and messages that obviously did not resonate with the mostly minority district. The early vote, which included 65 […]