Austin City Council could see big changes in wake of upcoming election

Among the 18 propositions on the City of Austin's November election ballot are three governance changes that could significantly change the faces on the Austin City Council as well as how council members are elected.

Proposition 2 moves the city's general election from May to November, requires council members serve four-year, staggered terms and limits them to two terms. Council members currently can serve three three-year terms, totaling nine years. Proposition 2 would have council members and the mayor able to serve a total of eight years—two four-year terms. Council members said the change in terms and term limits is an effort to increase voter turnout for municipal elections.

If Proposition 2 passes, all council members would term out except for councilwoman Kathie Tovo.

The next two propositions would change the way the City Council is elected, moving away from the current at-large system and moving to a system that would allow for geographic representation. One federal requirement when drawing geographic districts is to create a district where the African-American population could elect a candidate of its choice.

Proposition 3 designates 10 geographic single-member districts with a mayor's seat elected at-large. The proposition also stipulates the boundaries be drawn by an independent citizen redistricting committee. This system would create a district with a stronger African-American population than the 8-2-1 hybrid system in Proposition 4.

Proposition 4 will create a hybrid system by requiring eight geographic, single-member districts to be drawn with two council seats elected at-large along with the mayor's seat. The hybrid system would allow residents of Austin to vote for a total of four candidates including three council members and the mayor. The 10-1 system only allows residents to vote for two candidates, one from their district and the mayor.