At least five more North Austin residents have announced their candidacy for Austin City Council seats for districts 6 and 10.
In November, the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission—the commission charged with creating Austin's new voting districts—split the city into 10 City Council districts that include North Austin representation in districts 4, 6, 7 and 10.
This November, residents will vote for candidates from the district in which they reside instead of voting for council members who serve everyone as at-large members. Voters will also choose a new mayor, who will still be elected at-large.
District 6
Pete Phillips has more than 24 years' experience in the military and currently serves in the Texas National Guard as the director of threat analysis and force protection/counterterrorism and special security officer. He is also part of the Federal/State Antiterrorism Force Protection Working Group, which examines threats to the Central Texas corridor.
Prior to his military career, he obtained a bachelor's degree in political science from Eastern New Mexico University and was a sixth grade teacher in North Carolina. His campaign priorities include ensuring it is affordable to live within District 6 and keeping transportation costs low.
"At the end of the day, I am a concerned citizen that has unique life experiences and truly what we need are people [who are] average, everyday citizens willing to take a stand and say, 'You know what, I'm going to do something to make a difference.'"
Other candidates running for the District 6 seat include Jimmy Flannigan, Matt Stillwell and Jay Wiley.
District 10
Sheri Gallo has lived in District 10 for 50 years and has been the owner of Private Properties Inc. since 1981. She is also a member of the Austin Board of Realtors and the Austin Apartment Association. She serves as an ex-officio member on the University of Texas Development Board as well as the board chairwoman of The University of Texas School of Social Work Dean's Advisory Council.
Her key priorities for the district include affordability and controlling taxes; water, drought and wildfire issues; improving infrastructure; and ensuring transparent government decisions and spending.
Jason Meeker, president of the Great Hills Homeowners Association (for sections nine and 10), is also running for the District 10 seat. He has served as a commissioner on the Austin Zoning and Platting Commission since 2011 and is the president of the Great Hills Park Neighborhood Association. He is the owner of advertising, content marketing and public relations firm Meeker Marcom.
He obtained a bachelor's degree in journalism from UT in 1991 and grew up in Humble. Issues he wants to see addressed in the district include public and wildfire safety and transportation. Specifically, Meeker said he wants to see traffic lights removed from Loop 360 to improve congestion, as well as looking into getting Car2Go options in Northwest Austin. In order to improve traffic, stakeholders need to be engaged, he said. Another priority for Meeker includes preventing the Lions Municipal Golf Course from being turned into new development by the University of Texas, who owns the property, he said.
"On a whole host of issues, I am a leader," Meeker said. "I would like to continue in that role if the voters will choose me. Part of being a leader is looking at an issue or a cause and setting a direction, moving toward it, fighting for it, even when the outcome is unclear."
Robert Thomas, attorney and owner of the Thomas Consulting Group, hosted his District 10 campaign kickoff party May 30. He is vice president of the Northwest Austin Civic Association and founding member of the Northwest Austin Coalition. Thomas served as the former SafePlace board chair as well as the board chair of Austin ISD's Community Bond Oversight Committee.
A graduate of UT, he has a law degree as well as a master's in business administration. His campaign is focused on issues such as water, affordability, traffic congestion, environmental stewardship and emergency services. Specifically, Thomas said he wants to see roadways expanded and to coordinate with local and federal resources to help solve transportation concerns.
"[Traffic] congestion is a universal problem across Austin," he said. "I think it is going to require a long term commitment to strategic budgeting and planning. I do think we need a commitment to multi-modal transportation. We need a commitment to multiple ways to get our community moving. That is going to include more strategic and intelligent bus and mass transportation."
Bill Worsham, director of coastal engineering at LJA Engineering and Austin resident of 19 years, said he is running for the District 10 seat because he wants to improve the quality of life for residents.
"I see my calling here is to do what I can to help each of us in town to be ourselves and do what we do with a little bit less of a need to be fending off the next program or tax or constrain on what it is we are trying to accomplish," he said.
Worsham graduated from Texas A&M in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in ocean engineering. He is a licensed civil engineer in California, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. His priorities for the district include addressing police, wildfire safety, emergency medical services and transportation issues. Worsham said he wants to minimize utility costs and ensure parks throughout the district are maintained.
Other candidates running for the District 10 seat include Mandy Dealey and Tina Cannon.
This article is not a comprehensive list of all residents who have announced their candidacy. For continued coverage of 10-1 and candidate announcements throughout Northwest Austin, visit www.impactnews.com/austin-metro/northwest-austin.
