City Officials
Elected officials for Austin — their promises, tenure record, and accountability.
City Council
Natasha Harper-Madison
District 1 Council Member2023-2027
Natasha Harper-Madison is seeking re-election to the Austin City Council, aiming for her second term. Her platform includes a focus on environmental issues, as indicated by an endorsement from Environment Texas, and a commitment to planning progress within her district.
Vanessa Fuentes
District 2 Council Member2025-2029
Vanessa Fuentes' platform centers on fiscal management and the preservation of essential social services through strategic budget allocations. She has prioritized addressing the tension between city tax rates and the need for funding community support programs, such as family stabilization grants.
Jose Velasquez
District 3 Council Member2023-2027
Jose 'Chito' Vela
District 4 Council Member2025-2029
Ryan Alter
District 5 Council Member2023-2027
Ryan Alter's platform centers on the responsible management of municipal utilities, specifically focusing on the intersection of energy reliability and environmental sustainability. His priorities reflect a commitment to balancing infrastructure needs with the long-term ecological goals of the city.
Krista Laine
District 6 Council Member2025-2029
Krista Laine's campaign appears to have centered on housing issues and sharing her vision for Austin's District 6. Her platform likely addresses development and community planning within the district.
Mike Siegel
District 7 Council Member2025-2029
Mike Siegel runs on a progressive platform that prioritizes climate action, housing affordability, and public safety reform. His policy agenda emphasizes systemic change and community-focused governance within the Austin metropolitan area.
Paige Ellis
District 8 Council Member2023-2027
Paige Ellis is running for a third term on the Austin City Council. Her campaign has received an endorsement from Environment Texas, suggesting a focus on environmental issues. The articles primarily cover her re-election bid and the challenges she faces, rather than detailing specific policy proposals.
Zohaib 'Zo' Qadri
District 9 Council Member2023-2027
The provided articles indicate that Zohaib 'Zo' Qadri is running for re-election to the Austin City Council, specifically for the District 9 seat. His campaign efforts appear to be focused on securing his position for the upcoming 2026 election cycle. The articles do not detail specific policy promises or platform positions beyond his candidacy and re-election efforts.
Marc Duchen
District 10 Council Member2025-2029
Marc Duchen's platform appears to prioritize fiscal conservatism, as evidenced by his stated preference for budget cuts over tax increases. This suggests a focus on controlling city spending and potentially reducing the tax burden on residents.
Former Officials (5)
Alison Alter
District 10 Council Member2017–2025
Served until Jan 2025
Leslie Pool
District 7 Council Member2015–2025
Served until Jan 2025
Mackenzie Kelly
District 6 Council Member2021–2025
Served until Jan 2025
Ann Kitchen
District 5 Council Member2015–2023
Served until Jan 2023
Sabino 'Pio' Renteria
District 3 Council Member2015–2023
Served until Jan 2023
Boards & Commissions
Brian Bedrosian
Planning CommissionerAdam Powell
Planning CommissionerCandace Hunter
Planning Commissioner (Ex-Officio)Imad Ahmed
Planning Commission ParliamentarianPeter Breton
Planning CommissionerJessica Cohen
Planning Commissioner (Ex-Officio)Jessica Cohen's platform centers on grassroots advocacy and the promotion of inclusive policy-making within the Austin community. Her public profile emphasizes leadership development and generational empowerment, though her campaign has faced scrutiny regarding her professional background and internal party standing.
Casey Haney
Planning Commission Vice ChairChris Gannon
Planning CommissionerAnna Lan
Planning CommissionerJoshua Hiller
Planning CommissionerDanielle Skidmore
Planning CommissionerDanielle Skidmore's campaign centered primarily on addressing Austin's infrastructure challenges, specifically focusing on resolving the city's transportation crisis. Her platform prioritized urban mobility and transit improvements as key solutions for the district.
Alice Woods
Planning Commission ChairAlice Woods' platform focuses on urban modernization and housing reform, prioritizing the expansion of city infrastructure and the removal of restrictive residential occupancy regulations. Her legislative record indicates a focus on increasing density and integrating new commercial technologies into the public right-of-way.
Felicity Maxwell
Planning Commission SecretaryCouncil Member Felicity Maxwell prioritizes urban development and housing policy, specifically focusing on increasing density through upzoning measures. Her platform centers on addressing Austin's housing needs by promoting denser residential growth.
Nadia Barrera-Ramirez
Planning CommissionerCouncil Member Fuentes
Audit and Finance Committee MemberCouncil Member Ellis
Vice ChairCouncil Member Harper-Madison
Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee MemberCouncil Member Siegel
Climate, Water, Environment, and Parks Committee MemberCouncil Member Laine
Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee MemberMayor Pro Tem Vela
Audit and Finance Committee MemberMayor Watson
ChairMayor Kirk Watson's platform centers on the theme of 'affordability first' as he seeks re-election. His administration has focused on fiscal caution regarding city debt, specifically opposing the advancement of a 2026 bond election.
Council Member Duchen
Audit and Finance Committee MemberMarc Duchen's platform emphasizes fiscal conservatism, prioritizing municipal budget reductions over raising taxes on residents.
Council Member Alter
Vice ChairCouncil Member Alter's platform focuses on enhancing government transparency and accountability, particularly regarding lobbyist interactions and office spending. Her legislative priorities emphasize responsible fiscal management and oversight of city operations and infrastructure projects.