Austin Mobility Bond

Voters will decide whether to approve the city of Austin’s $720 million mobility bond, which includes three project categories. Most funding­—$482 million—would go toward implementing parts of the city’s seven completed corridor plans as well as studying a new corridor plan in South Austin. Another $101 million would go toward regional mobility projects, and the remaining $137 million would be spent on local road projects and implementing parts of the city’s sidewalk, bicycle, urban trails and fatality-reduction plans.

The city of Austin could issue $250 million in bonds without raising the debt service tax rate and would issue the remaining $470 million by raising that tax rate by an estimated 2.25 cents per $100 taxable valuation.

Austin City Council
District 6 

Incumbent Don Zimmerman faces James "Jimmy" Flannigan in District 6 for Austin City Council.During a Sept. 21 forum hosted by the West Austin Chamber of Commerce, the candidates discussed issues facing local residents.

District 10

District 10 features Austin City Council’s most crowded election race, with incumbent Sheri Gallo facing three challengers: Alison Alter, a philanthropic adviser and member of Austin’s Parks and Recreation board; Rob Walker, a certified public accountant; and Nick Virden, a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin who works in real estate finance. Candidates have highlighted housing affordability, managing Austin’s growth and mobility as top issues.

Travis County Commissioners Court
Precinct 3

Travis County Precinct 3 Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, a Republican, is seeking re-election and faces Democrat David Holmes in the race for the seat. Daugherty was first elected to the seat in 2002, was re-elected in 2004, lost the 2008 election and was elected again in 2012. Both candidates answered questions in a Q&A for Community Impact Newspaper.

Daugherty outpaced Holmes in terms of funds raised, according to campaign finance reports.

Travis County sheriff

Sheriff Greg Hamilton is stepping down after 12 years of service. Republican Joe G. Martinez and Democrat Sally Hernandez will look to fill the office. Hernandez garnered more political contributions than Martinez, with $26,531 in campaign funds raised compared to Martinez’s $8,950.

Travis County district attorney

Democrat Margaret Moore and Republican Maura Phelan are vying to replace outgoing DA Rosemary Lehmberg, who was arrested in 2013 in connection with driving while intoxicated. Lemberg is stepping down after nearly eight years in office.

State board of education
District 5

Incumbent Republican Ken Mercer faces two challengers in the race for State Board of Education District 5. The Democratic challenger in the race, Rebecca Bell-Metereau, took the lead in political donations this election season, according to the latest round of campaign finance reports, released Oct. 31. Bell-Metereau has raised four times as much as Mercer. Libertarian challenger Ricardo Perkins has not raised any political contributions for his campaign, according to documents from the Texas Ethics Commission.

Mercer, a resident of San Antonio, was elected to the State Board of Education in 2006 and re-elected in 2010 and 2012. He is a former member of the Texas House of Representatives.

Bell-Metereau is a San Marcos resident and professor of English at Texas State University.

Perkins is a chemical engineer who lives in Oak Hill.

District 10

State Board of Education District 10 incumbent Republican Tom Maynard faces Democratic challenger Judy Jennings.

Jennings leads the race in political donations with $163, according to the latest round of campaign finance reports released Oct. 31. Maynard did not raise any donations for his campaign, according to reports from the Texas Ethics Commission.

Jennings is a resident of Austin who works as director of assessment for a private consulting company that partners with the Texas Education Agency, according to her campaign website.

Maynard, a resident of Florence, was elected to the State Board of Education in 2012. He serves as executive director of the Texas FFA Association, an organization of career and technical students.

Leander ISD board of trustees
Place 3
Trustee Pamela Waggoner is a former insurance agent who served on the LISD board from 2002-08 and again from 2010-16. Challenger Chris Remy is in the software sales industry and has never served on the LISD board.

In a Q&A with Community Impact Newspaper, Waggoner said if re-elected she would focus on improving schools in the district that are struggling due to socioeconomic factors or the percent of students for whom English is a second language.

Remy said if elected to Place 3, he would be a service-oriented leader and guide the district to its fullest potential.

Place 4
Trustee Grace Barber-Jordan is a adjunct professor of student development and a licensed professional counselor. She has served on the LISD board for 15 years.

Challenger Scott Rowe recently moved to the district from Eastvale, California, where he was a board member of the Eastvale Community Foundation.

In a Q&A with Community Impact Newspaper, Barber-Jordan said if re-elected she would works to maintain the district’s “culture of excellence” as its population continues to grow.

Rowe said if elected he would work to build consensus among the concerns of parents, administrators, teachers and taxpayers.

Place 5
Trustee Russell Bundy has served on the LISD board for nine years and has a background in law enforcement. Challenger James MacKay is a military training instructor with the U.S. Air Force and has served on the School Health Advisory Committee, and the campus site-based planning committee for Vista Ridge High School.

In a Q&A with Community Impact Newspaper, Bundy said if re-elected, he would work with LISD’s new superintendent, Dan Troxell, to develop strategies for the district.

MacKay said he would work to restore local control of our children’s education, fight to put an end to high-stakes testing, and support and protect our teachers by rejecting any attempts to tie assessments of educators to student performance on standardized tests.

 

U.S. House District 25
Incumbent Rep. Roger Williams is running against Democratic candidate Kathi Thomas and Libertarian Loren March Schneiderman. Williams has served two terms as a congressman. U.S. representatives are elected to serve two-year terms.

Texas Senate
District 24

Republican Dawn Buckingham is facing off against Virginia “Jennie Lou” Leeder, Democrat. State senators are elected to serve four-year terms.

Texas House of Representatives
District 47

Texas House of Representatives District 47 incumbent Rep. Paul Workman, R-Austin, faces Democrat Ana Jordan and Libertarian Scott McKinlay in today’s general election.

District 47 includes Lake Travis and Westlake and portions of Leander and Cedar Park.

District 48

Texas State House of Representatives District 48 incumbent Donna Howard, a Democrat, faces Libertarian candidate Ben Easton in today’s election.

District 48 covers Lake Travis, Westlake and portions of south, west and central Austin.