Mayor votes Steve Adler for next mayor of Austin

Adler's campaign has been based on his assertion that as mayor he will lead "a new way forward" for the new 10-district council. He has openly criticized the council that has been led by Leffingwell throughout his campaign for its decisions, though that does not offend Leffingwell, the outgoing mayor said.

"I don't feel slighted," Leffingwell said. "Steve has consistently made comments of support of my tenure as mayor and obviously things are said in elections. Everybody is going to have to have a campaign program and I don't consider ['a new way forward'] to be a personal insult."

Adler said he is honored and thankful for Leffingwell's support and hopes the two-term mayor will continue to be available throughout his possible tenure as Austin's mayor.

The announcement was spurred by recent phone calls made by a Super PAC in South Carolina, Leffingwell said. The phone calls encourage voters to not vote Adler as the next mayor. The group has financial ties to Councilman Mike Martinez, according to a news release from Adler's campaign.