Important dates
- Early voting: April 30–May 8
- Last day for ballot by mail: May 4
- Election Day: May 12
* (incumbent)
2012 Sunset Valley City Council Election Responses given to Community Impact Newspaper
Mayor
Rose Cardona, Age: 33, Occupation: Owner of law firm and pet furniture business, Years in Sunset Valley: Four, Priorities: Ensuring that the city has five-, 10- and 15-year plans for fiscal protection
Barbara Wilson*, Age: 61, Occupation: Assistant director, Alliance Work Partners, Years in Sunset Valley: 20, Priorities: Develop a long-term financial plan to ensure continued level of service, work with Austin to bring a fire station to the city
City Council (two seats)
Jeff Burdett, Age: 40, Occupation: Government relations, Texas Cable Association, Years in Sunset Valley: Four, Priorities: Economic development, private property rights and water accessibility
Zubair Humir, Age: 35, Occupation: Retired corporate commercial banker, Years in Sunset Valley: Three, Priorities: Ensuring the financial viability of the city
Walter Jenkins, Age: 63, Occupation: Managing director, real estate appraisal firm, Years in Sunset Valley: Six, Priorities: Water issues
2012 Austin City Council Election Candidate responses to a Real Estate Council of Austin questionnaire were used in the compilation of these results.
Mayor
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"
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."
Clay Dafoe, Age: 27, Occupation: Tax preparer, Years in Austin: one year, eight months, www.claydafoeformayor.com
Vision: "We must reduce the size of city government by ending corporate welfare programs that hurt our ability to provide essential services."
Place 2
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."
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."
Place 5
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."
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."
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."
Audrey "Tina" Cannon, Age: 41, Occupation: Entrepreneur Years in Austin: 19, www.tinacannon.org
Vision: "A healthy economy with balanced priorities ... which preserves the unique characteristics of each neighborhood are the right way to preserve, enhance and share the best of Austin and Central Texas."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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.
