Southwest Austin is primed to have a fresh voice on the City Council dais in 2019 as four newcomers battle for the seat left vacant by current council member Ellen Troxclair. Troxclair, who, for a long time, has been the only conservative voice amongst her 10 other dais colleagues, has endorsed Frank Ward, a local public affairs executive. Opponents Rich DePalma, Paige Ellis and Bobby Levinski have each fashioned themselves as an environment-focused, left-leaning change of pace for the district. Southwest Austin has a set of unique challenges and characteristics. It is one of the more environmentally sensitive areas of the city as it sits atop the Edwards Aquifer, an important asset to the quality of Austin's drinking water. Further, the senior population is growing at a rapid rate, which exacerbates the need for services like recreation centers and adequate public transportation. The four candidates explain how they plan to address some of District 8's most pressing needs below. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6.