Anderson Mill resident Jay Wiley announced March 6 his candidacy to run for the District 6 seat on Austin City Council.

He is hosting a campaign kickoff party May 10 at The Oasis, 6550 Comanche Trail. The public is invited to attend to meet him and his family. He is married to Sally Grogono-Wiley, who is an obstetrician, and they have two children, Dyson and Anders.

District 6 covers the area surrounding Toll 45 and RM 620 as well as areas near Lake Travis. It is the largest district with more than 82,000 residents.

Wiley, an entrepreneur and nonpracticing attorney, said citywide and District 6 issues that need to be addressed include transportation, lessening government control and giving environmental concerns in Northwest Austin more attention. Decreasing regulations for business owners is a priority, he added.

"We have a lot of property owners in Northwest Austin, a lot of people who pay an awful lot in taxes," he said. "A lot of business owners live out here. We put a lot into the system, but we haven't gotten much out of it. Value for our tax dollars is going to be important in the race."

Wiley added that he has no interest in raising taxes should he be elected.

"I think government should do a few things and do them well and efficiently," he said. "10-1, I think, is going to get us on the right track because now City Council is going to be forced to listen to different points of view from all over the city instead of just the core of the city. It's going to be a healthy thing for city council to have new perspectives, new ideas and have to talk to new people that they have not talked to before."

Wiley said he has introduced himself door-to-door to residents in neighborhoods such as Avery Ranch, Balcones Woods and Spicewood Springs.

Wiley graduated from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina and received his law degree from St. Mary's University in San Antonio. His political experience includes serving as an aide to former President George W. Bush, former state Sen. Phil Gramm and Congressmen Michael Burgess and John Sullivan.

He has been an Austin resident for nine years and grew up in Galveston. Wiley and his family also have a home in River Place near Four Points, where he serves on the Four Points Chamber of Commerce as well as on the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about Wiley and his campaign, visit www.jaywileyforaustin.com.