Sitting council member Chito Vela arrived on the council dais after winning a special election to replace former council member Greg Casar mid-term in 2022. He now faces one of his opponents from that race, Monica Guzmán, and three other challengers: Louis Herrin, Eduardo ''Lalito'' Romero and Jim Rabuck.
If no candidate earns a majority of the local vote in November, a runoff election between the two top finishers will take place Dec. 14.
Learn more about the candidates ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Eligible Austin residents have until Oct. 7 to register to vote, and early voting starts Oct. 21 and ends Nov. 1.
Candidates were asked to keep responses within 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
Louis Herrin
Experience:
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Occupation:
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Why are you running for this office, and what’s the central issue you’re hoping to address?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Following years of increased property taxes and costs for city services, how would you aim to keep Austin affordable for residents?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What are your mobility goals, both citywide and in your district? Are there any upgrades you’d seek for your constituents?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What approach should City Council be taking in relation to public safety and the police department?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Monica Guzmán
Experience:
10 years community organizing; 5 years policy work reflecting needs and expertise of D4 residents
Occupation:
Policy director
Candidate Website:
https://www.monicaford4.com
Contact Information:
512-827-9495
Why are you running for this office, and what’s the central issue you’re hoping to address?
I’m running for City Council because Austin needs, and deserves, needs new leadership. District 4 needs a leader who is accessible to the residents, takes the time to listen, and rolls up her sleeves to work alongside them while fighting to protect their rights.
Following years of increased property taxes and costs for city services, how would you aim to keep Austin affordable for residents?
Maintain public utilities; ensure city service costs are progressively increased - no “corporate welfare”; increase public/private partnerships to preserve and increase the stock of income-restricted housing; and collaborate with community stakeholders for equitable investments during the annual budget process.
What are your mobility goals, both citywide and in your district? Are there any upgrades you’d seek for your constituents?
Take Project Connect back to the voters; increase electric buses and in D4, establish neighborhood circulators in areas where families must walk more than ½ mile to the nearest bus stop. Amend sweeping land use changes with guardrails reducing speculation and an anti-displacement overlay to protect vulnerable renters and homeowners.
What approach should City Council be taking in relation to public safety and the police department?
The police budget needs to remain flat and they need to ensure an anti-racist department. APD has 35% of the city budget - more than multiple departments combined. Public safety is about community stability. Council must invest in the community, funding priorities, so APD isn’t and shouldn’t be doing another’s work.
Eduardo ''Lalito'' Romero
Experience:
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Occupation:
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Why are you running for this office, and what’s the central issue you’re hoping to address?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Following years of increased property taxes and costs for city services, how would you aim to keep Austin affordable for residents?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What are your mobility goals, both citywide and in your district? Are there any upgrades you’d seek for your constituents?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What approach should City Council be taking in relation to public safety and the police department?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
José ''Chito'' Vela*
Experience:
Veteran criminal defense/immigration attorney, PTA president, ATXCouncil leader on housing and transit
Occupation:
Attorney
Candidate Website:
https://www.chitovela.com
Contact Information:
512-953-3877
Why are you running for this office, and what's the central issue you're hoping to address?
Affordability is my priority. Austin must be a welcoming city for working class people, not a playground for the rich. We achieve that by building housing, investing in transit and providing social services. Police transparency/accountability is also critical. I passed the Police Open Data Portal resolution to enhance transparency.
Following years of increased property taxes and costs for city services, how would you aim to keep Austin affordable for residents?
Increased housing costs are making Austin unaffordable. City council passed measures to increase housing production and lower housing costs. Those measures are working. Rents and home prices decreased over the last year. School taxes are the biggest part of our property tax bills; the Texas Legislature needs to address this.
What are your mobility goals, both citywide and in your district? Are there any upgrades you'd seek for your constituents?
Austin needs to continue its sidewalk/bike lane buildout and invest in public transit. Project Connect - especially its light rail component - is essential for achieving Austin’s mobility, affordability and climate goals. In District 4, we need a number of small pedestrian bridges and paths to improve neighborhood connectivity.
What approach should City Council be taking in relation to public safety and the police department?
Police should be focused on investigating and responding to crime, not on homelessness or mental health emergencies. We also need to make sure to fund the investigation and resolution of crime, not just patrol officers. I want a well funded department that successfully investigates and closes cases.
Jim Rabuck
Experience:
Army Ranger and strategic leader in public-private partnerships, delivering efficient solutions for Austin's future
Occupation:
Southwest regional director, Defense Innovation Unit, Department of Defense
Contact Information:
N/A
Why are you running for this office, and what’s the central issue you hope to address?
I’m running for District 4 City Council to bring our community forward through strategic public-private partnerships. My central focus is on fostering collaboration between the tech industry, local businesses, and public offices to address the critical needs of our district. These partnerships will have a profound impact in three key ...
Following years of increased property taxes and costs for city services, how would you aim to keep Austin affordable for residents?
To keep Austin affordable, I would advocate for targeted tax relief for long-term residents and work to streamline city services to reduce costs. By encouraging the development of affordable housing through public-private partnerships and ensuring that growth is balanced and sustainable, we can maintain the character of our neighborhoods while ...
What are your mobility goals, both citywide and in your district? Are there any upgrades you’d seek for your constituents?
I firmly believe logistics and mobility are the keys to affordability for Austin residents. We simply can't solve Austin's mobility issues unless we begin to partner with organizations like the Autonomy Institute or Autonomy companies like Tesla to help drive modernizing both the city and state infrastructure. My mobility goals ...
What approach should City Council be taking in relation to public safety and the police department?
The City Council should adopt a balanced approach to public safety that includes both supporting our police department and investing in community programs. This means ensuring that our police are able to recruit the best candidates possible through better compensation while also being held to the highest standard of service ...
