About the Author
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Most Popular Stories
- Facing overwhelmingly negative feedback, city drafts refinements to residential permit parking program
- New Austin program helps connect residents with jobs as city begins major construction projects
- Developer appeals denial of right-of-way vacation
- City reports fewer crimes, stable crowds in Sixth Street pilot
- Plans for parks over I-35 collide with Austin’s cash crunch
-
Discover News By District
Lawler takes on a bigger job
Friday, May 9, 2025 by Jo Clifton
John Lawler started his City Hall experience with the newly elected Council Member Greg Casar in 2015. Casar moved on to Congress but Lawler stayed in Austin, working for a variety of jobs, some political, some policy. Now, he’s headed over to the Travis County Clerk’s Office.
Recently Lawler has been working for Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, but she was unable to attend Thursday’s meeting in person. However, Council Member José Chito Vela, followed by most of his colleagues, praised Lawler’s hard work and dedication to helping people. Vela noted that when Casar appointed him to the Planning Commission, Lawler was his “handler.” Lawler told the Austin Monitor he will be starting his new job on June 1. He will be working for Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon Mercado and could face any number of challenges from the Texas State Legislature.
This whisper has been changed since publication to adjust Lawler’s job title.
Join Your Friends and Neighbors
We're a nonprofit news organization, and we put our service to you above all else. That will never change. But public-service journalism requires community support from readers like you. Will you join your friends and neighbors to support our work and mission?