Phelps endorses Adler for mayor

Todd Phelps, who finished fourth in last week’s mayoral race, announced Monday that he is endorsing front-runner Steve Adler in the runoff election. Adler, who won 37 percent of the vote, faces Council Member Mike Martinez in a Dec. 16 runoff. Martinez garnered 30 percent of the vote on Nov. 4. Phelps, who got about 10 percent of the vote but took only one precinct, Precinct 232, sent out a news release stating, “At this point, I feel that it is in the best interest of preserving the culture and soul of Austin, as well as planning for the future of our city, that I am endorsing Steve Adler in the runoff election for Mayor of Austin. I am urging all of my supporters and those who voted for me to put their support behind Steve at this time.” Phelps, a country singer and entrepreneur, was one of the more conservative candidates in the race for mayor. Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole, who came in third behind Adler and Martinez, has not indicated whether she intends to endorse one of the runoff candidates, but she will likely make a decision on that this week.