2012 Austin City Council Election

Lee Leffingwell*, Age: 72, Occupation: Mayor of Austin, Years in Austin: 20+, www.leffingwellformayor.com

Vision: "Create more jobs; investing in our future; going coal free; reforming City Hall"

Challenges: "Keeping Austin affordable by keeping taxes, utility rates and housing costs as low as possible; continuing to grow our economy and creating an environment for job growth; improving transportation options, protecting the environment and securing clean water for Austin."

Brigid Shea, Age: 57, Occupation: Environmental adviser, Years in Austin: 23, www.brigidsheaformayor.com

Vision: "To have a city that is affordable, has a high quality of life and provides opportunities to all of our residents."

Challenges: "To create an affordable future for the citizens of Austin; put Austin Energy on a sound fiscal footing; improve the quality and efficiency of city services; ensure that we have a reliable water supply, primarily through greater conservation and reuse."

Place 5

Bill Spelman*, Age: 55, Occupation: Council member, professor, Years in Austin: 23, www.billspelman.org

Vision: "[Success] depends on innovating and adapting to changing circumstances, making helpful mistakes and learning from them and looking our problems squarely in the eye and solving them."

Challenges: "Mitigating our traffic congestion problem; ... ensuring [Austin] provides high quality services (including utility services) at an affordable price."

Audrey "Tina" Cannon, Age: 41, Occupation: Entrepreneur, Years in Austin: 19, www.tinacannon.org

Vision: "A healthy economy with balanced priorities including the environment, schools, dense urban development which preserves the unique characteristics of each neighborhood are the right way to preserve, enhance and share the best of Austin and Central Texas."

Challenges: "Transportation and urban planning, growing local business and job creation and increase financial accountability."

Dominic "Dom" Chavez, Age: 37, Occupation: Government, Affairs professional, Years in Austin: 10, www.domchavez4austin.com

Vision: "Austin remains affordable, safe, and thriving—not only today, but for the next generation."

Challenges: "Dealing with the financial problems at Austin Energy; to recognize and seize the opportunity that education and workforce development can offer Austin for the next 20 years."

David Y. Conley, Age: 36, Occupation: Art director, Years in Austin: 17 years, seven months, www.conleyforcitycouncil.com

Vision: "An Austin where nearly all can achieve a meaningful and satisfying life."

Challenges: "Balancing the effects of "gentrification" from an improving and more desirable Austin with the availability of affordable housing ... implementing an urban rail system so that development changes course from an automobile dependent highway clogging system to multi-modal one."

John F. Duffy, Age: 31, Occupation: Activist, Years in Austin: Two years, six months, www.electduffyatx.com

Vision: "Food forests and small acreage farms exist in every neighborhood, parks are full of community-operated gardening initiatives, and unused public buildings and lands have been converted into cooperatives for community residence, activity and food production."

Challenges: "High energy prices (globally) and the resulting economic fall out; ... drought; ... capitalism."

R. A. "Bo" Prudente, Age: 60, Occupation: Safety professional, Capital Metro, Years in Austin: 28

Vision: "Austin is the city of the nation to watch in terms of real estate. It also boasts of being the third in the nation with job creation ... By making the right decisions, Austin could be the mecca of Central Texas."

Challenges: "Two of our most important aspects of our infrastructure, water and electricity, are taking a hit by supply and demand; escalated utility rates (taxes)."

John A. Rubine, Age: 41, Occupation: Hospitality professional, Years in Austin: 10 years, four months

Vision: "My vision is about family, community, diversity, equality, transparency, and that which has been completely forsaken by our current leadership, democracy."

Challenges: "Change from at-large elections to the 10-1 plan; reign in blank check spending; put down corporate welfare and incentives; ... stop the misdoings regarding Austin energy; mitigate the sway of the special interests."

Place 2

Mike Martinez*, Age: 43, Occupation: Council member, Years in Austin: 20+, www.martinezforaustin.com

Vision: "I believe Austin will be defined, not by our successes, but by the extent to which we have risen to our challenges—by the tough, roll-up-your-sleeves, often uncomfortable decisions we have to make each and every day."

Challenges: "Balancing needs for service and capacity to generate revenue; restoring confidence in city government; and addressing mobility challenges."

Laura Pressley, Age: 50, Occupation: Chemist, Years in Austin: 23 years, five months, www.pressleyforaustin.com

Vision: "To give a voice to Austinites with regard to affordability, environmental stewardship and transparency of our city government."

Challenges: "My top three priorities...utility rates remain as affordable as possible; .... offering real commuter incentives; ... transparency and accountability ... such as spending of tax payer's money."

Place 6

Sheryl Cole*, Age: 48, Occupation: Council member, Years in Austin: 25, www.sherylforaustin.com

Vision: "As mayor pro tem, I am most proud of my efforts to bring a diversity of perspectives, opinions and experiences together to build an even stronger community."

Challenges: "My top three priorities for the City of Austin will be improving our local schools, resolving any issues with Austin Energy and continuing the economic growth of Austin."

Shaun Ireland, Age: 29, Occupation: Entrepreneur, Years in Austin: 11 months, www.irelandforaustin.com

Vision: "[Austin's] growth must be managed in a clear and deliberate fashion, to plan for the future, all the while respecting and protecting the natural environment which is vital to Austin's rise as a major American city."

Challenges: "Affordability is the main issue. Austin City Council spends too much money on private for-profit entities and not enough on basic City needs like infrastructure."

Important dates

Early voting: April 30–May 8

Last day for ballot by mail: May 4

Election day: May 12

* (incumbent)

Update: May 29 primary election

Texas' long-awaited primary elections will take place May 29 with a runoff July 31, if needed. The date, having already been pushed back twice, could have been delayed again if the district court in Washington, D.C., charged with approving the interim maps, had ruled against them. While the court has still not ruled as of April 12, delaying the primary further would interfere with general election deadlines. Any possible court-ordered changes will likely pertain to the 2014 elections.

City of Austin election resources

Candidate video statements and other election resources are available at www.austintexas.gov/vote.

Fliers about the May election will be available at city facilities such as libraries and recreation centers.

Voters can also follow election news on the city's Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/austintexasgov and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/austintexas.gov.