Election Q&A: Meet the candidates running for Austin mayor

Why do you believe you are the best fit for this office? What kind of voice would you bring to the council dais?

I recognize the frustration people feel over increasing rent prices because I face the high rents of this city myself. I know from experience how difficult it can be to make ends meet and the sacrifices it can require. I am working overtime at three jobs and one unpaid internship, while living with four guys in a two bathroom duplex. I endure the unreliable Capital Metro bus services. While at [The University of Texas], I would take the bus home to South Austin. If I was leaving UT at 3 [p.m.], I’d get home at 6 [p.m.]. If I was late to the bus by a couple of minutes, I could be getting home at 8 or later. I know people getting off of work at 5 or 6 p.m. are struggling with these same issues. I know how it feels to be constantly disappointed by the Austin government and its status quo because I actually live under it. When we had the freeze two winters ago, the government scrambled as families across Austin struggled to survive. I took my four by four and drove people to grocery stores to get supplies for their families, helped people get back to their homes, or took them to places with running water and electricity if they had none. When Steve Adler told Austin residents to stay home during COVID, then flew on a private jet to Cancun for a wedding, which extended into a vacation in Cabo, I felt as betrayed and fed up with this two faced system as any other Austinite. I am running to represent the real people of this city as a born and raised Austinite myself.

How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?

The first two steps we must take is changing development codes and using public property. Changing public property codes will allow for more multi-family housing developments that are both Austin-friendly and neighborhood friendly. This would range from massive apartment complexes to small duplexes and triplexes. This would let us to have more housing on the market and help with the demands while keeping current house owners happy. Austin must also use its property wealth and turn empty lots into affordable housing. Low costs houses, and low-rent homes. These two things will allow more individuals to live in Austin and allow the city to earn more tax money. Once that occurs, property taxes can be dropped to help current homeowners and their expenses.

How safe do you believe Austin is today? Do you think any funding, staffing or operational changes are needed in the city’s public safety departments?

The average response time to high-priority alerts was over a minute longer than the previous year, while citizens simultaneously faced the city's highest homicide rates since 2001. Specialized divisions like drug task forces no longer exist due to the thinly spread budget and officers have expressed their concerns over crime rates and response times due to extreme overtime hours. While budget cuts were made due to real issues, there are other ways to tackle these problems. Austin must re-evaluate these issues through the Police Oversight Office in order to determine what measures and funds are needed to guarantee proper police conduct, as well as increase citizens' safety.

How do you believe city resources should be used to address homelessness? What do you see as the most effective policy options to get people services and housing?

Fortunately, Austin qualifies for $11.4 million from the federal government to help fight homelessness, thus pulling financial responsibility off of the people. However, this money needs to be given to the hundreds of charitable organizations and non profits of Travis County. These organizations have systems and programs already in place, and have shown to be extremely effective. What we can achieve with a dollar, they can do for 50 cents.

What challenges or needs related to the overall city budget and property tax rate do you anticipate facing during your term? What fiscal strategies would you bring to the table to address those?

The main issue our city will face is overall rising prices for services. However, Austin's services have often been considered faulty and flawed in many ways. The easiest way to tackle these rising costs is to reevaluate every project, road, program, and etc. in order to find these flaws and fill them. We can be extremely more cost-effective and yet still achieve better service. This would leave the city with excess tax money that can help with any issue thrown our way in the future.

What aspects of the city’s land development code, if any, would you propose to review? How do you believe council should handle Austin’s ongoing growth and its existing neighborhoods, from individual zoning cases to broader policy updates?

Multifamily housing is a must. Many homeowners are paranoid about skyscrapers being open right next door, but really there are duplex options, triplex options, and so many more that would achieve what this city needs and not jeopardize neighborhoods. For overall policy updates, the city of Austin needs to update all code on 20-year or even 10-year basis. 1984 development codes hurt this city and cause Code Next to fail and leave this city in peril.

How should council address the implementation of larger transportation initiatives including the I-35 expansion and Project Connect? What safety and mobility improvements would you propose for city roadways and bike/pedestrian routes?

I am the only candidate to be opposed to both projects mentioned. I-35 only helps people driving through Austin, not in it, and Project Connect destroys so many aspects of this city that make it amazing. This city needs to learn to develop a noncar commute culture. We need to reevaluate Cap Metro and Project Connect to make them both cost less and be much more effective. Why constantly expand a pipe when you can just eliminate the need for it.

Austin has weathered several disasters in recent years. How would you rate the city’s response to such incidents and what changes, if any, would you propose for civic emergency management operations?

COA and Texas have simply failed Austin on every occasion. Austin always flaunts its money, well its time to divert those funds for better planning and infrastructure for these issues. Even if a natural disaster is unlikely or near-impossible, Austin should have programs and equipment ready to go anyway. The city of Austin is weird, and so is the weather. So we must be prepared for it.

What is your familiarity with Austin City Council meetings and city governance processes?

I have attended too many meetings to count and have read too many procedures to count. I have a headache with everything in my head so my familiarity is high.

How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?

We need to force every department, every project, and even city council to have monthly or even weekly reports on progress, spending, and whatever else. The city needs to see where the money is and how its being used. If we can allow a finger to be pointed at a specific place, then responsibility and accountability can be achieved.

Why do you believe you are the best fit for this office? What kind of voice would you bring to the council dais?

I have a reputation for having an open door and open mind, and I have the experience and tenacious leadership to help us find common ground at every opportunity. I will have respect for our 10-1 system and the individual interests of my council colleagues, as they each represent a unique part of Austin and have special insight into the community. I want to support them and help them tell their story in their districts.

How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?

The city can creatively utilize city-owned land that currently sits vacant and collaborate with regional partners to build deeply affordable housing and workforce housing to rent and own. We can make it easier to build “missing middle” housing and seek creative partnership opportunities to repurpose outdated parking lots for new infill housing. We must have greater rental assistance and home repair support to prevent displacement and speed up city processes for all housing options.

How safe do you believe Austin is today? Do you think any funding, staffing or operational changes are needed in the city’s public safety departments?

Public safety is every city’s greatest responsibility and greatest expense. I’m concerned about the growing vacancies in 911 operator positions and the impact this has on the quality of public safety services. We must provide the competitive salary and benefits necessary to fill these vacancies. We should continue Austin’s tradition of paying our police high wages while also expecting high standards of conduct and a transparent and robust oversight process to ensure community trust.

How do you believe city resources should be used to address homelessness? What do you see as the most effective policy options to get people services and housing?

The city has a moral duty to address homelessness. We have all seen Austin’s unhoused population rise, and we must react with compassion and urgency. Austin is in need of more wraparound services, substance abuse treatment, and mental health support. We have an opportunity to improve coordination with the county, as well as provide our qualified nonprofit partners with streamlined support from the city and allow them a greater voice in regional planning efforts.

What challenges or needs related to the overall city budget and property tax rate do you anticipate facing during your term? What fiscal strategies would you bring to the table to address those?

We must be very sensitive to the impacts future city budgets may have on those who are already so close to being priced out. Our next council will face the challenge of maintaining quality city staff and will need to prioritize salary and benefits to prevent brain drain. In my administration, affordability will be a standing discussion item during each council work session, and we can more critically look at the incentives provided to major corporations.

What aspects of the city’s land development code, if any, would you propose to review? How do you believe council should handle Austin’s ongoing growth and its existing neighborhoods, from individual zoning cases to broader policy updates?

We must update our outdated land development code comprehensively, but in the meantime, we must move forward today with policy changes that will combat sprawl and increase housing supply and housing choice. We must provide new housing opportunities of all types in all parts of Austin. We can allow more housing on and near transit corridors, streamline processes for small multifamily projects citywide, and incentivize more density while also preserving existing homes.

How should council address the implementation of larger transportation initiatives including the I-35 expansion and Project Connect? What safety and mobility improvements would you propose for city roadways and bike/pedestrian routes?

At this critical time for the future of our transit system, we must create the greatest connectivity citywide without adjusting the expense approved by voters. We must improve I-35, but I cannot support the current project, which would construct 20 lanes through the heart of Austin. We must work with TxDOT to improve connectivity without expanding its footprint. We should fully embrace transportation safety initiatives to reduce fatalities and create connected streets for all modes.

Austin has weathered several disasters in recent years. How would you rate the city’s response to such incidents and what changes, if any, would you propose for civic emergency management operations?

Between COVID and multiple cold weather events, the gaps and inequities in our emergency response system have been laid bare for us in recent years. The swift buildout of a resiliency hub network will be critical to providing all corners of Austin with necessary food, shelter, and resources during times of emergency. This program will need a robust education and community engagement plan, along with extensive community partners at the table to support it.

What is your familiarity with Austin City Council meetings and city governance processes?

I am very familiar with city processes. I’ve served on four boards and commissions at the City of Austin and I’ve worked in advocacy on issues at the city level throughout my career. Additionally, I’m a Realtor who understands the hurdles currently in place when navigating the necessary inspections and permitting at the City.

How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?

If only some Austinites have easy access to their government, but not all, then we are not doing right by our constituents. I want a robust public engagement from the city that considers Austinites of all council districts, abilities, languages, work schedules, and childcare needs. Additionally, I want to be out in the community whenever possible and directly accessible. Only with greater access and transparent communication can we create a government that works for all.

Why do you believe you are the best fit for this office? What kind of voice would you bring to the council dais?

I have a demonstrated history of bringing people together to get positive, progressive things done for our community. I don’t believe in “all or nothing” politics, where there are always winners and losers, and every policy choice must be binary. As a public servant, my goal has always been to bring diverse interests together to build consensus and take action to solve problems. That will remain my goal if elected in November.

How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?

I’ve proposed many approaches to reduce housing costs in Austin, including scrubbing our development review process and reducing fees, reforming our land development code to allow more housing options in every part of the city while protecting the character of our existing neighborhoods, and building affordable housing on city-owned land. I also want to create and expand city partnerships with large employers and explore the use of incentives to facilitate the development of workforce housing.

How safe do you believe Austin is today? Do you think any funding, staffing or operational changes are needed in the city’s public safety departments?

I believe Austin police officers are working to provide the best possible service to our community, but our police department is seriously understaffed. I am an advocate for scaling our recruitment and training programs and bringing more officers onto the force as soon as possible. I also believe strongly in police oversight. We should strengthen public safety, but do so in a way that reflects Austin’s progressive values and ensures justice and accountability.

How do you believe city resources should be used to address homelessness? What do you see as the most effective policy options to get people services and housing?

I support creating more permanent supportive housing (PSH) units with support services, and accelerating the city’s efforts to get more unhoused people into PSH. We should also expand the city’s partnerships with community organizations like Caritas and Mobile Loaves & Fishes to deliver even more housing options. I also believe the city should further explore options, including city-sanctioned encampments, to protect unhoused people that cannot or may choose not to move into PSH.

What challenges or needs related to the overall city budget and property tax rate do you anticipate facing during your term? What fiscal strategies would you bring to the table to address those?

While Austin is experiencing an affordability emergency, the city should explore every option to minimize tax increases. I believe this should include starting each budget with the assumption of a no-new-revenue tax rate—the property tax rate that would allow the city to collect the same amount of revenue from the same taxpayers as it did the year before—and then having a public discussion about what expenditures, if any, may justify a rate increase.

What aspects of the city’s land development code, if any, would you propose to review? How do you believe council should handle Austin’s ongoing growth and its existing neighborhoods, from individual zoning cases to broader policy updates?

Among the reforms I support are creating designated hubs of density where the city requires development minimums as opposed to setting limits; reducing compatibility and parking requirements in targeted areas; and making it easier to subdivide and/or redevelop single-family lots with appropriate duplexes, ADUs, or more. More broadly, to respond to Austin’s ongoing growth, I believe the council must take every possible step to increase housing options while protecting the character of our existing neighborhoods.

How should council address the implementation of larger transportation initiatives including the I-35 expansion and Project Connect? What safety and mobility improvements would you propose for city roadways and bike/pedestrian routes?

With approximately $25 billion worth of major regional mobility infrastructure projects in the pipeline or already underway, our central challenge as a city is now to ensure that these massive projects are executed with maximum efficiency, speed, accountability, and equity. That’s why I’ve proposed to create a centralized Construction Command Center to streamline and optimize the planning, design, contracting, permitting, and construction of projects, including developing and executing strategies to mitigate impact.

Austin has weathered several disasters in recent years. How would you rate the city’s response to such incidents and what changes, if any, would you propose for civic emergency management operations?

I believe the city and its public and private partners have responded exceptionally well to emergencies. Emergency preparedness must continue to be a top priority, given especially anticipated changes in our climate that threaten more extreme weather events, including flooding and droughts that increase the potential for wildfires. If elected I will work to promote broader regional coordination and to ensure that the public is fully informed and prepared in the event of future emergencies.

What is your familiarity with Austin City Council meetings and city governance processes?

As a former Austin mayor I am very familiar with Austin City Council meetings and city governance processes. I believe my two decades of experience in public service, both at the municipal and state level, positions me uniquely to get things done at City Hall. If elected I will work to help build strong, positive working relationships between council members, city management and staff, the city’s public and private partners, and the public.

How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?

I am a strong advocate for open government and am proud to have played a leadership role in promoting transparency and accountability at both the local and state level. As mayor I would continue this work with an emphasis on ensuring that Austinites have easy access to policy makers and staff, and that the city is broadly and proactively sharing complete information about everything from budgeting to zoning to capital improvement projects.

The questionnaire was not returned by the deadline.

Why do you believe you are the best fit for this office? What kind of voice would you bring to the council dais?

I’m a successful businessperson and lifelong Austinite. I’m a proven leader with decades of experience successfully completing complicated construction projects on-time and on-budget with teams of diverse people (clients, architects, builders, COA permitting staff, multiple tradespeople). As mayor and leader on the dais, I’ll restore common sense back to City Hall and focus back to core municipal services and functions, and steer council clear of utopian, socialist ideas like “guaranteed basic income.”

How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?

Property taxes and restrictions on development drive lack of affordability. My tax plan includes solutions to AISD recapture, reducing city property taxes by 3.5% per year without cutting any services, and increasing the senior exemption and benchmarking it to the rising cost of housing. We must increase the supply and diversity of housing, simplify the LDC, streamline permitting, and permanently cut COA development fees by more than 50%.

How safe do you believe Austin is today? Do you think any funding, staffing or operational changes are needed in the city’s public safety departments?

Austin is facing a public safety crisis. APD/AFD/EMS all need to be fully staffed up to what is budgeted. APD’s attrition rate is over 15 officers/month. APD is competing against PD’s nationwide to attract the best cadets, so it’s imperative that the mayor and council end their animosity toward the department, we improve retention of experienced officers with financial incentives, and re-recruit recently retired/resigned officers. Improve academy curriculum “in process”—never again halt the academy.

How do you believe city resources should be used to address homelessness? What do you see as the most effective policy options to get people services and housing?

Prioritize mental health and substance abuse treatment, which is necessary for the overwhelming majority of Austin’s homeless, while working with APD and the court system. Fully enforce the camping ban—no exceptions. Effectively leverage all state, local and federal resources (such as our local mental health authority and hospital district resources). End expensive homeless hotel enterprises. Move the ARCH out of downtown. Shift from “housing first” to “housing plus treatment.” Expand on Community First! Village’s model.

What challenges or needs related to the overall city budget and property tax rate do you anticipate facing during your term? What fiscal strategies would you bring to the table to address those?

First on the docket will be a third-party audit of all city expenditures to find and eliminate wasteful spending. Next, I have a practicable plan to freeze—and then reduce by 3.5% per year—city property taxes (which we can do without cutting any services), increase the senior exemption, and task our city lobbyist and her staff this next legislative session to assist AISD in brokering a more equitable Recapture formula for AISD taxpayers.

What aspects of the city’s land development code, if any, would you propose to review? How do you believe council should handle Austin’s ongoing growth and its existing neighborhoods, from individual zoning cases to broader policy updates?

We must increase the supply and diversity of housing (including more ADU’s, duplexes, and townhomes—always respecting existing deed restrictions), simplify the LDC (while preserving existing entitlements and protest rights), streamline permitting, and permanently cut COA development fees by more than 50%. ... Explore redevelopment of existing commercial properties that are no longer at highest and best use to significantly expand Austin’s housing supply, possibly with greater use of VMU-type projects.

How should council address the implementation of larger transportation initiatives including the I-35 expansion and Project Connect? What safety and mobility improvements would you propose for city roadways and bike/pedestrian routes?

Safety and engineering should be the primary determinants of how I-35 is expanded through Austin. Not cap-and-stitch. Project Connect was a bait-n-switch and is the biggest boondoggle in Austin’s history. Transportation initiatives I support are: prioritizing easing congestion whenever considering transportation projects, working with TxDOT to maximize state investment in Austin state-owned roads, expanding existing high-volume roads, not counterproductively removing traffic lanes from right-of-way, using technology (i.e., predictive light synchronization) to improve existing flows of traffic.

Austin has weathered several disasters in recent years. How would you rate the city’s response to such incidents and what changes, if any, would you propose for civic emergency management operations?

Austin’s responses to Storm Uri and Austin Water’s three boil notices were beyond unacceptable and inadequate, along with our losing millions of gallons of water due to leaky pipes. I will focus on proactive maintenance and improvement/modernization of basic city infrastructure, improving our drainage systems in high-risk areas, and I will prioritize working closely with AFD to mitigate wildfire risks and for AFD to be well-prepared and well-equipped.

What is your familiarity with Austin City Council meetings and city governance processes?

I’m familiar with Austin City Council meeting processes and city governance. I am also familiar with the process changes that have taken place in the past few years, which limit public participation in council meetings, such as limiting speaking time to 1 minute (down from 3 minutes). I find these changes unacceptable.

How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?

A priority of mine is to restore trust between city hall and the public. Years of not genuinely listening to the public, and City Hall’s spin, have eroded trust in the mayor’s office. Regarding accessibility and transparency, some solutions are: stop moving popular agenda items to the last items of the night, restore testimony to more than 1 minute per speaker, and publicly post all “back-up” at least 24 hours in advance of council meetings.

Why do you believe you are the best fit for this office? What kind of voice would you bring to the council dais?

I am a true independent (Purple Party). I will bring accountability and critical thinking to City Hall.

How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?

I have heard some great ideas and plans on how we should move forward. As mayor I will use the best ideas from all council members, then fine tune it to one great workable plan and then have our outside experts pick it apart we I’ll then improve and approve it so it works in all of Austin.

How safe do you believe Austin is today? Do you think any funding, staffing or operational changes are needed in the city’s public safety departments?

Murder rate in Austin has risen 25% and 54% and rising in the past 2 years. Every council person I have talked with agrees we must improve the relationship between Austin City Council and the APD and APD with the community. I will not know what my resources are until I am in office. I do know it will start with community outreach.

How do you believe city resources should be used to address homelessness? What do you see as the most effective policy options to get people services and housing?

If the numbers are correct Austin will be spending over $100k per homeless person and it has only gotten worse. I would address homeless the same way our Peace Love Happiness organization has been doing it for over 20 years. Partnering with the private sector and working with the many nonprofits and their experts is a great start.

What challenges or needs related to the overall city budget and property tax rate do you anticipate facing during your term? What fiscal strategies would you bring to the table to address those?

There are too many to list, we can start with 1. I-35, 2. housing 3. public safety, 4. AISD, 5. land use. The same fiscal strategy that we use in our company, it will promote strong and sustainable growth, reduce poverty.

What aspects of the city’s land development code, if any, would you propose to review? How do you believe council should handle Austin’s ongoing growth and its existing neighborhoods, from individual zoning cases to broader policy updates?

As I have stated before, Austin is a 10/1 split so as mayor I will first get super familiar to what has been called an outdated code. Then look to the council for their best ideas based on the needs of their districts and move on from there for a plan.

How should council address the implementation of larger transportation initiatives including the I-35 expansion and Project Connect? What safety and mobility improvements would you propose for city roadways and bike/pedestrian routes?

Just throwing a bunch of money and more lanes will not fix the problem. I would request and create the best ideas from the private sector utilizing the many super intelligent minds at our disposal.

Austin has weathered several disasters in recent years. How would you rate the city’s response to such incidents and what changes, if any, would you propose for civic emergency management operations?

Response was a 7. I would request an audit of all the agencies involved. Austin and Texas had never seen such a winter. Are we ready for more people and electric and their need a drain on the grid? Are we ready for the next big event?

What is your familiarity with Austin City Council meetings and city governance processes?

I am not a politician. I am fresh eyes looking in on an existing inefficiency.

How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?

Another great way is to have the city council appear more frequently on the local news explaining what and why major decisions are being made. For Austin to hit its full potential its citizens must become more engaged.