Mike Siegel took a late lead and appears headed for victory in Austin's City Council District 7 runoff election, with Travis County reporting results from all voting centers late Dec. 14.
Siegel ended up with 4,402 votes, or 51.2% in the runoff, with Bledsoe just 206 votes behind at 4,196, according to county totals. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
With about 8,600 voters participating, the lower-turnout contest fell roughly in line with many of Austin’s other December runoffs held since the city moved to its current City Council system. Since 2014, Austin’s geographic district-level runoffs have each drawn between about 3,800 and 24,300 voters to the polls.After Siegel led in fundraising and spending through the year ahead of the general election, Bledsoe reported just under $68,000 in donations and about $97,300 spent from Oct. 27 through Dec. 4. He had about $61,300 still on hand in the week before the December runoff.
Siegel drew about $78,500 during the same late October to early December window and spent $68,600. He reported just over $33,000 on hand the week before the runoff.
Updated 8:55 p.m. Dec. 14
Gary Bledsoe held his close lead in the City Council District 7 runoff contest after the first election day votes were tallied late Dec. 14.Bledsoe sat at 50.35% in the runoff and had 3,776 votes to his opponent Mike Siegel's 3,724—a 52-vote gap—with Travis County reporting results from 40 of 51 voting precincts.Posted 7:34 p.m. Dec. 14
Gary Bledsoe took an initial lead in the runoff election for Austin City Council's District 7 seat, based on early voting results released Dec. 14.
The early totals put Bledsoe ahead with 2,878 votes, or a 50.77% share. Candidate Mike Siegel won 2,791 early votes, just 87 behind. Election day votes will be tallied and released later Dec. 14, and all results are unofficial until canvassed.
The overview
The two civil rights attorneys are squaring off in the North Austin district's December runoff after finishing ahead of four other candidates in the November general election. Neither won a majority of the vote, with Siegel just under 40% and Bledsoe with more than 19%, forcing the runoff. The pair were the top fundraisers and spenders among District 7 candidates this year.
Bledsoe has said his "common-sense" approach would include a focus on transparency at City Hall, improved police-community relationships and oversight, development policies shaped by neighborhood desires, and a push for civic climate initiatives. Siege's goals include the development of more housing citywide, maintaining police oversight policies and lowering response times, and advocating for local updates to counter conservative policies at the state and federal levels.
The victor will be the first new face from District 7 on the council dais since Leslie Pool was elected a decade ago. Pool has been the district's only representative since its creation after Austinites adopted a geographic council system, and she's reached her term limit and will leave office in early January.
The December contest will likely see much lower turnout than in November when more than 34,000 ballots were cast in District 7. Less than 14,000 early votes were recorded across three runoffs, including District 7's, countywide.
