2026 Texas General Election

2026 Texas General Runoff

Nonpartisan

Born and raised in Dallas, I came to Austin twelve years ago to attend school and never left. Now 30, I've built my life and career in this city I love.

About Brock Skinner — Austin District 3 Candidate

Brock Skinner was born and raised in Dallas.

LinkedIn

Brock Skinner studied at the University of Texas at Austin.

My professional path has centered on sales, marketing, and business development — roles that have taught me how to listen, build trust, and deliver results for people and organizations across a range of industries. From supporting families through important life decisions to helping businesses grow and connecting people with critical services, I've focused on clear communication and practical solutions that make a real difference.

Brock has worked in sales, marketing, and business development across a range of industries.

The topic then shifted to privacy, specifically the city’s use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and the issue of council members text-messaging with lobbyists during debates and voting at City Hall. Private entities will often require city officials to sign NDAs to protect proprietary business data, site selections, financial projections, or trade secrets during preliminary talks. Proponents argue that NDAs prevent these private firms, or even competing cities, from exploiting active bid details before a deal is formally presented to the public or City Council. Under Texas law, NDAs cannot override the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), which allows the public, media, and watchdog groups to file Public Information Requests (PIR) for information relating to the NDAs. It is then up to the Texas Attorney General to determine whether the information must be released despite the NDA. “NDAs should not be signed by a city employee or city officials, especially if you’ve been elected. The fact that that’s not already a thing is infuriating,” said Brock Skinner, candidate for District 3.

The Austin Bulldog

Opposes city employees and elected officials signing non-disclosure agreements.

- Opposes city employees and elected officials signing non-disclosure agreements.

Economy

As of September 10, 2026, Brock Skinner did not have a website or any information online.

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Twitter

Brock Skinner

As of September 10, 2026, Brock Skinner’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Alejandra Gracias

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Eduardo "Lalito" Romero

Eduardo Romero lists his job as “university staff” on his ballot application. He doesn’t appear to have a campaign website, but he told the League of Women Voters that his priorities include cutting taxes and investing in city infrastructure. KUT reached out for an interview but didn’t hear back.

Austin City Council candidates: 2024 election

Eduardo Romero works as a university staff member.

Meet the candidates running for Austin City Council

United States Representative,
District 37
Representante de los Estados Unidos,
Distrito Núm. 37
Lloyd Doggett
Eduardo "Lalito" Romero
Christopher "Chris" McNerney

202403MARCH - COMPREHENSIVE-BALLOT - 20240112.PDF

Herrin, Louis  | District 4  | 1,149  | 6.09  |  
Guzmán, Monica  | District 4  | 5,223  | 27.70  |  
Romero, Eduardo "Lalito"  | District 4  | 630  | 3.34  | Mayor,Council,Special  |  
Vela, José  | District 4  | 11,034  | 58.52  |  
Rabuck, Jim  | District 4  | 819  | 4.34  | 

City of Austin - Austin City Clerk's Office - Election History | AustinTexas.gov

Lalito previously ran for U.S. Representative in District 37 and for Austin City Council District 4. He did not win the City Council race.

202403MARCH - COMPREHENSIVE BALLOT - 20240112.PDF

As of September 10, 2026, Eduardo “Lalito” Romero did not have a website or any information online.

Eduardo “Lalito” Romero

As of September 10, 2026, Eduardo “Lalito” Romero’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Mauricio Mendez

Facebook

Gavin Fernandez Jr. studied at Austin Community College.

Gavin has experience as a chief of staff to a Travis County Commissioner.

As of September 10, 2026, Gavin Fernandez Jr. did not have a website or any information online.

Gavin Fernandez Jr.

As of September 10, 2026, Gavin Fernandez Jr.’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Council Member José Velásquez is a community activist, thought leader, and proud son of Austin. He was raised in East Austin with his three siblings by a hardworking, tenacious single mother who instilled in him a commitment to service and the heart to fight for his community.

City of Austin District 3

José Velásquez was raised in East Austin.

District 3 | City of Austin | AustinTexas.gov

The candidates are:

- José Velasquez, a former Austin city employee and community activist.
- Vanessa Silva, a local business owner and advocate for affordable housing.

Austin runoff election: Velasquez, Silva run to represent City Council District 3

Velásquez, who grew up in East Austin, works as a marketing consultant and has been a board member of organizations such as Latinitas and the Greater Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Silva is a local activist and volunteer.

José Velásquez wins race for District 3 seat on Austin City Council

José Velásquez works as a marketing consultant. He previously worked as an Austin city employee.

Austin City Council election: José Velásquez wins District 3 seat

José works as a marketing consultant. He previously worked as an Austin city employee.

Term of Office

Jan. 6, 2023 through Jan. 6, 2027

Council Member José Velásquez is a community activist, thought leader, and proud son of Austin.

José currently serves as the Austin City Council member for District 3. His term runs from Jan. 6, 2023, through Jan. 6, 2027.

As of September 10, 2026, José Velásquez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Together we’ll work to:
  1. Encourage more pedestrian and cycling traffic by ensuring safer streets, bike lanes, green space, walking trails and equitable access to public transportation.
  2. Work for more and affordable housing options that truly represent the lived experiences of all Austinites.
  3. Preserve and build more affordable housing stock to accommodate native Austinites and newcomers.
  4. Bridge the deep divide between old and new Austin by taking an active leadership role in community building initiatives, sustainability and leveraging our relationships to bring about a greater sense of solidarity.

2022 Austin City Council Candidate Questionnaire – Friends of Austin Neighborhoods

If reelected, what would be your top housing and mobility priorities for the next term?

> Anti – Displacement and pro-housing. Part of what has worked for our office is building broad coalitions around housing and dispelling arcane arguments that housing and zoning reform has to displace residents.

Austin City Council Early Endorsement Questionnaire 2026

Given Austin’s historic investment in Project Connect, what types of development would you support along the East Riverside Corridor to ensure the success of the light rail, the surrounding businesses and the community over the long term? How would you support those goals as part of the City planning process?

> I support transit-oriented development along East Riverside that makes light rail successful while keeping the corridor accessible, affordable, and community-centered.

That means more mixed-use and affordable housing near transit, safer walkability and bike connections, and commercial spaces that support small businesses and neighborhood-serving retail.

The City of Austin is working on missing middle districts. Where in District 3 would you like to see missing middle districts mapped, and what process would you use to get them adopted?

> I would prioritize missing middle housing along transit corridors, commercial corridors, and areas near jobs, schools, and services especially places like 7th street, Riverside, Oltorf and s. congress…where residents can realistically live with greater access to transit and daily necessities.

The process matters just as much as the map. I would focus on early and consistent community engagement, clear education around what missing middle housing actually is, anti-displacement protections, and close coordination with neighborhood stakeholders, renters, homeowners, and small businesses. The goal should be adding housing opportunities while preserving community stability and expanding affordability across District 3.

Advocates for preserving and building affordable housing stock.

Advocates for policies that support housing construction and zoning reform alongside efforts to prevent displacement.

Supports development near transit on East Riverside that keeps the corridor accessible, affordable, and community-centered.

Prioritizes a range of housing types between single-family homes and large apartment buildings along transit and commercial corridors, with community engagement and protections against displacement.

- Advocates for preserving and building affordable housing stock.
- Advocates for policies that support housing construction and zoning reform alongside efforts to prevent displacement.
- Supports development near transit on East Riverside that keeps the corridor accessible, affordable, and community-centered.
- Prioritizes a range of housing types between single-family homes and large apartment buildings along transit and commercial corridors, with community engagement and protections against displacement.

When investing in pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure reduces vehicle capacity or travel times for drivers, what should the City prioritize and why? Please use a current East Austin example to illustrate your answer.

> The City should prioritize safety, accessibility, and moving people efficiently over simply maximizing vehicle speed.

As Austin grows, we cannot build transportation policy solely around faster car travel. Investments in sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit create safer streets, improve mobility, and support long-term economic growth.

District 3 contains a significant share of Austin’s affordable housing, but much of it is disconnected, fenced off, or difficult to live in without a car. What specific actions should the City take to better connect housing to jobs, transit, schools, and services?

> We need to stop treating affordable housing as isolated projects and start treating it as connected community infrastructure.

That means investing in sidewalks, safe crossings, shade, bike infrastructure, frequent transit, and better first- and last-mile connections around affordable housing sites.

That means investing in sidewalks, safe crossings, shade, bike infrastructure, frequent transit, and better first- and last-mile connections around affordable housing sites. It also means co-locating housing near jobs, schools, childcare, healthcare, grocery stores, and transit corridors not pushing affordability to disconnected areas without services.

As a city, we should prioritize transit-oriented affordable housing, stronger connectivity requirements in the development process, and infrastructure investments that make it possible to live safely and affordably without needing a car for every daily necessity.

Prioritizes safety, accessibility, and efficient movement of people over maximizing vehicle speed.

Advocates for sidewalks, safe crossings, bicycle infrastructure, frequent transit, and connections to and from transit stops around affordable housing.

- Prioritizes safety, accessibility, and efficient movement of people over maximizing vehicle speed.
- Advocates for sidewalks, safe crossings, bicycle infrastructure, frequent transit, and connections to and from transit stops around affordable housing.

Instagram

José Velásquez

- Advocates for policies that support housing construction and zoning reform alongside efforts to prevent displacement.
- Supports development near transit on East Riverside that keeps the corridor accessible, affordable, and community-centered.
- Prioritizes a range of housing types between single-family homes and large apartment buildings along transit and commercial corridors, with community engagement and protections against displacement.

- It supports commercial spaces near East Riverside light rail that serve small businesses and neighborhood retail.

- Supports housing and zoning reforms paired with measures to prevent displacement.

- It prioritizes pedestrian, bicycle, and transit safety and accessibility over maximizing vehicle speed.

An immigrant is born

Neha's story begins in New Delhi, India, but her journey spans continents and cultures. Her family is from the Himalayas but migration due to economic opportunities meant she lived in multiple countries and cities, always adapting to change.

About Neha

Through hard work, she was accepted to liberal arts college Mount Holyoke College and received generous scholarships, and financial aid. Even though her parents were apprehensive to send their daughter alone and by herself to a foreign country, Neha convinced them this would be the education to launch her life. At college, she studied International Policy and Economics, and also worked campus jobs all four years.

Four years later, she would once again receive academic scholarships to get an MBA from George Washington University. She focused her studies on economic development through social entrepreneurship and community investments.

In 2018, Neha became a naturalized U.S. citizen. This sense of security after over a decade of navigating instability as a non-immigrant visa holder allowed her to lean in further into the community. She took some risks and leaps of faith to contribute to her community.

Neha Shah is originally from New Delhi, India. She studied international policy and economics at Mount Holyoke College and earned an MBA from George Washington University, focusing on economic development through social entrepreneurship and community investments. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018.

Neha Shah studied international policy and economics at Mount Holyoke College and earned an MBA from George Washington University, focusing on economic development through social entrepreneurship and community investments.

She applied to hundreds of jobs, with odds against her as a foreign citizen in the 2008 job market because she needed a visa sponsorship. She slept on friends’ couches till she got a full-time job. She stayed focused, and got hired with an employer-sponsored work visa to work in federal legislation and regulatory policy covering issues from senior care, grid modernization, cybersecurity, and broadband access for over 4 years.

She became a published bilingual Hindi-English children’s book author; she founded a tech startup focused on improving intergenerational relationships using snail mail. And she multiplied her local activism to speak up for the Black Lives Matter movement, call for police accountability, for stricter gun regulations, speak up against Asian hate during COVID, educate around the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and ongoing voter suppression around the country; and most recently vocally protest of the U.S. funding of the Gaza genocide.

Neha Shah worked on federal legislation and regulatory policy. She also founded a tech startup focused on improving intergenerational relationships using snail mail.

# Why subscribe to Neha for Austin City Council?

Neha Shah is a first-time candidate and naturalized citizen running for local elected office in Austin, TX. The goal of this newsletter is to share experiences and insights from life on the campaign trail.

About - Neha for Austin City Council Substack

Neha's campaign for Austin City Council is her first run for public office.

Keeping Austin One of a Kind — Protecting Small Businesses and Local Character
Neha believes the soul of D3 and Austin lives in our local food, music, art, and cultural history. Chain restaurants and national retailers being imported to fill new mixed-use developments erode the character and appeal of our city. 

Consulting with local businesses before mandating changes to parking requirements and zoning.

Keeping Austin One of a Kind — Protecting Small Businesses and Local Character

Consulting with local businesses before mandating changes to parking requirements and zoning.

Providing tangible resources, support, and communication to businesses impacted by new developments, and property safety concerns.

Proposing a local business first requirement added into every city incentive deal so that any development receiving a height bonus, tax abatement, or Chapter 380 agreement must reserve at least 20% of ground-floor retail space for locally owned Austin businesses at below-market rates.

Providing tangible resources, support, and communication to businesses impacted by new developments, and property safety concerns.

Proposing a local business first requirement added into every city incentive deal so that any development receiving a height bonus, tax abatement, or Chapter 380 agreement must reserve at least 20% of ground-floor retail space for locally owned Austin businesses at below-market rates. Those spaces must be offered to local businesses first before any national or out-of-state chain can sign a lease.

Expanding Austin's Place-Based Enhancement Program (PBEP) by lowering the eligibility threshold from 20 years to 7 years. The current bar locks out hundreds of locally owned businesses that are community-rooted but not old enough to qualify for commercial affordability relief.

Enacting a right of first refusal for small businesses facing lease displacement. Any landlord receiving city incentives must offer an existing local tenant the right to renew in comparable space at their current rent for at least one additional lease term before a new tenant can move in.

Build city rapid response team that activates the moment a mass layoff notice is filed. This will allow connecting displaced workers to retraining programs, rental assistance, and healthcare options during their notice period, potentially preventing a layoff from becoming a missed rent payment that leads to a family losing their home or leaving Austin.

Immigrant Safety

Incentivize companies negotiating and receiving city tax breaks or economic incentives to give workers more notice before layoffs than federal law requires, and set aside money to help those workers recover from job loss. Each layoff from companies that originally promised jobs in-return for tax incentives destabilizes workers and neighborhoods that make this city worth investing in.

Plans to consult local businesses before requiring changes to parking rules or zoning.

Plans to provide resources, support, and communication to businesses affected by new development and property-safety concerns.

Proposes requiring city-incentivized developments to reserve 20% of ground-floor retail space for local businesses at below-market rates.

Proposes expanding Austin's Place-Based Enhancement Program by lowering the business-eligibility threshold from 20 years to seven years.

Proposes renewal rights for local tenants facing lease displacement when their landlords receive city incentives.

Proposes a city rapid-response team to connect workers facing mass layoffs with retraining, rental assistance, and health-care options.

Proposes incentives for companies receiving city tax breaks to provide additional notice of layoffs and job-loss assistance.

- Plans to consult local businesses before requiring changes to parking rules or zoning.
- Plans to provide resources, support, and communication to businesses affected by new development and property-safety concerns.
- Proposes requiring city-incentivized developments to reserve 20% of ground-floor retail space for local businesses at below-market rates.
- Proposes expanding Austin's Place-Based Enhancement Program by lowering the business-eligibility threshold from 20 years to seven years.
- Proposes renewal rights for local tenants facing lease displacement when their landlords receive city incentives.
- Proposes a city rapid-response team to connect workers facing mass layoffs with retraining, rental assistance, and health-care options.
- Proposes incentives for companies receiving city tax breaks to provide additional notice of layoffs and job-loss assistance.

Neha will push for mobile outreach teams assigned specifically to District 3's highest-need corridors, and aim to expand housing navigator and social worker hours at Terrazas Branch Library and other existing District 3 community facilities.

Dignity for the Homeless

Restore and expand Austin's investment in immigrant legal services. It is problematic that the city cut its own budget for these programs by 10% in March 2026 in spite of its own Commission on Immigrant Affairs unanimously called for restoration.

Bring free public Wi-Fi for every Austinite by ensuring the city's new IKE kiosk network expands beyond downtown into East Austin neighborhoods

Drive educational initiatives and legislation to protect online consumer protections in increasing use of social media and AI-driven fraud and scammer trends.

Digital Inclusion of All Austinites for the 21st Century

Tax Payer Transparency and Citizen Engagement
The City Council structure was designed to include citizen input. However, the reality has seemed to not live up to the promise of our local city government structure. City Council is elected by the public, and so should be accountable to the public.

Push to create real-time public dashboard tracking council votes, city spending, and contract awards. Residents should always know how their tax dollars are spent

Challenge any additional funding or scope reduction to existing infrastructure projects such as Project Connect without clear reporting on the existing spend and path to promised outcomes.

Tax Payer Transparency and Citizen Engagement

Challenge any additional funding or scope reduction to existing infrastructure projects such as Project Connect without clear reporting on the existing spend and path to promised outcomes.

Expand the city council comments from the current 10 speakers per meeting limit to a number reflective for a city of over one million. Invite proposals to increase slots and allow overflow written testimony to be read into the record.

Extend the comment window earlier in the process. There should be more opportunities to provide public comment before agenda items are finalized, not just at the meeting itself, so residents can participate in shaping decisions rather than reacting with anxiety to them.

Extend the comment window earlier in the process. There should be more opportunities to provide public comment before agenda items are finalized, not just at the meeting itself, so residents can participate in shaping decisions rather than reacting with anxiety to them.

Plans mobile outreach teams and expanded hours for housing navigators and social workers at District 3 community facilities, including Terrazas Branch Library.

Plans to restore and expand Austin's investment in immigrant legal services.

Plans to expand the city kiosk network to provide free public Wi-Fi in East Austin neighborhoods.

Plans a real-time public dashboard tracking council votes, city spending, and contract awards.

Proposes increasing City Council public-comment slots and reading overflow written testimony into the record.

Proposes earlier public-comment opportunities before City Council agenda items are finalized.

- Plans mobile outreach teams and expanded hours for housing navigators and social workers at District 3 community facilities, including Terrazas Branch Library.
- Plans to restore and expand Austin's investment in immigrant legal services.
- Plans to expand the city kiosk network to provide free public Wi-Fi in East Austin neighborhoods.
- Plans a real-time public dashboard tracking council votes, city spending, and contract awards.
- Proposes increasing City Council public-comment slots and reading overflow written testimony into the record.
- Proposes earlier public-comment opportunities before City Council agenda items are finalized.

Proposals

Amending HOME legislation to require real affordability and penalties for undemonstrated outcomes. There should be no more density bonuses without guaranteed below-market units, and no more displacement of East Austin residents in exchange for speculative market-rate development

Affordability

Expanding Community Land Trust (CLT) designation and property tax exemptions to more community land trusts, and prioritizing city-owned land for CLT development before it ever hits the open market

Preventing Displacement — Strengthen District 3’s Community History and Legacy

Propose a speculative property tax surcharge on vacant lots and rapidly flipped properties in displacement-risk areas. It has been noted that landbanking and speculation are accelerating displacement along East 6th, Montopolis, and the Eastern Crescent.

Preventing Displacement — Strengthen District 3’s Community History and Legacy

Accelerate and complete the 78702 community preservation plan — the city commissioned a study of historically significant properties and public land in Central East Austin in 2024, but it has sat in planning limbo for over a year.

A right to return policy for displaced residents — any new affordable housing development built on formerly occupied land in District 3 must give documented former residents of that neighborhood priority placement and below-market rates

Reviving and expanding Austin's abandoned Household Affordability Tracker. This data can updated annually and reported directly to council, with childcare, transit, and utility costs added alongside housing

Restore council authority over zoning changes in major development agreements. No deal should hand approval power to city staff and strip future councils of the ability to correct course for decades

Environmental Protections

Coordinate with departments within the city government and across the city to create and execute a plan to end chronic homelessness in Austin. Communicate with residential and business communities to create a community-centered solution that tackles realities of our unhoused neighbors, instead of sweeping our socio-economic crisis under the rug.

Stop funding repeat sweeps - Study how we might redirect the dollars spent clearing the same locations over and over into permanent supportive housing units that end the cycle of homelessness.

Technology infrastructure that supports small business growth and remote work. This includes proposing a local ordinance guaranteeing every Austin renter the right to choose their internet provider, challenging landlord ISP lock-in.

Proposes requiring guaranteed below-market units and demonstrated affordability outcomes for density bonuses.

Proposes expanding Community Land Trust designations and tax exemptions and prioritizing city-owned land for Community Land Trust development.

Proposes a property-tax surcharge on vacant lots and rapidly flipped properties in areas at risk of displacement.

Plans to accelerate and complete the 78702 community preservation plan for historically significant properties and public land in Central East Austin.

Proposes prioritizing displaced District 3 residents for below-market homes built on formerly occupied land.

Plans to revive and expand Austin's Household Affordability Tracker to include childcare, transit, utility, and housing costs.

Proposes restoring council authority over zoning changes in major development agreements.

Plans a citywide, community-centered strategy to end chronic homelessness.

Proposes studying whether repeat encampment-sweep spending can be redirected to permanent supportive housing.

Proposes guaranteeing Austin renters the right to choose their internet provider.

- Proposes requiring guaranteed below-market units and demonstrated affordability outcomes for density bonuses.
- Proposes expanding Community Land Trust designations and tax exemptions and prioritizing city-owned land for Community Land Trust development.
- Proposes a property-tax surcharge on vacant lots and rapidly flipped properties in areas at risk of displacement.
- Plans to accelerate and complete the 78702 community preservation plan for historically significant properties and public land in Central East Austin.
- Proposes prioritizing displaced District 3 residents for below-market homes built on formerly occupied land.
- Plans to revive and expand Austin's Household Affordability Tracker to include childcare, transit, utility, and housing costs.
- Proposes restoring council authority over zoning changes in major development agreements.
- Plans a citywide, community-centered strategy to end chronic homelessness.
- Proposes studying whether repeat encampment-sweep spending can be redirected to permanent supportive housing.
- Proposes guaranteeing Austin renters the right to choose their internet provider.

Public accountability for every encampment sweep (that costs the city $150,000 ). Requiring the city to publish its encampment dashboard by end of 2026, tracking sweep locations, costs, shelter availability at time of sweep, and 90-day housing outcomes is crucial. The written record of every sweep will also show how many people were present, how many were offered shelter, and how many accepted.

Fix the encampment sweep notice loophole - The current policy requires 72 hours notice before a sweep, but that requirement disappears once a site is labeled "keep clear." People who return to a cleared site because shelters are full can lose everything with zero warning. A fix would be to update the 72-hour notice before every single sweep regardless of a site's designation, and also mandate that personal belongings be stored for at least 30 days before disposal

Engage with public safety and community to work with individuals experiencing homelessness separately from instances where there are clear, documented concerns around community safety.  

Tackle gaps in support for city’s unhoused populations.

Strongest possible limits on APD's cooperation with ICE within what Texas law allows. Neha is aware that Austin rolled back its own protections under state pressure; but that retreat had consequences on vulnerable communities. This also impacts faith in public safety and government institutions.

Drive educational initiatives and legislation to protect online consumer protections in increasing use of social media and AI-driven fraud and scammer trends.

Proposes a public dashboard documenting encampment sweeps, including costs, shelter availability, and 90-day housing outcomes.

Proposes 72-hour notice before all encampment sweeps and 30-day storage of personal belongings before disposal.

Plans to distinguish homelessness outreach from cases with clear, documented community-safety concerns.

Supports the strongest limits Texas law allows on Austin Police Department cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Plans educational efforts and legislation to protect consumers from online fraud and scams involving social media and artificial intelligence.

- Proposes a public dashboard documenting encampment sweeps, including costs, shelter availability, and 90-day housing outcomes.
- Proposes 72-hour notice before all encampment sweeps and 30-day storage of personal belongings before disposal.
- Plans to distinguish homelessness outreach from cases with clear, documented community-safety concerns.
- Supports the strongest limits Texas law allows on Austin Police Department cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Plans educational efforts and legislation to protect consumers from online fraud and scams involving social media and artificial intelligence.

Streamline Austin's shift away from car dependency by holding CapMetro accountable to Transit Plan 2035's higher-frequency bus routes in D3 neighborhoods, and completion of a practical and usable Light Rail.

Expanding high-speed internet access to all neighborhoods

Technology infrastructure that supports small business growth and remote work. This includes proposing a local ordinance guaranteeing every Austin renter the right to choose their internet provider, challenging landlord ISP lock-in.

Push to create real-time public dashboard tracking council votes, city spending, and contract awards. Residents should always know how their tax dollars are spent

Challenge any additional funding or scope reduction to existing infrastructure projects such as Project Connect without clear reporting on the existing spend and path to promised outcomes.

Expand the city council comments from the current 10 speakers per meeting limit to a number reflective for a city of over one million. Invite proposals to increase slots and allow overflow written testimony to be read into the record.

Plans to hold Capital Metro accountable for higher-frequency District 3 bus service and the completion of usable light rail.

Plans to expand high-speed internet access to all Austin neighborhoods.

Plans to challenge additional Project Connect funding or scope reductions without public reporting on spending and promised outcomes.

- Plans to hold Capital Metro accountable for higher-frequency District 3 bus service and the completion of usable light rail.
- Plans to expand high-speed internet access to all Austin neighborhoods.
- Plans to challenge additional Project Connect funding or scope reductions without public reporting on spending and promised outcomes.

Amend Austin's Land Development Code to classify large data centers as a distinct use requiring a Conditional Use Permit . This will trigger mandatory public hearings, buffer protections around waterways and neighborhoods, and council approval before any facility that could strain our water or energy grid gets a green light

Timely and informative community notification requirements - Any project affecting District 3's air, water, or natural habitats should include multilingual outreach, and must have a minimum 25-day public comment period, and a community hearing before council votes

Proposes conditional-use permits, hearings, buffers, and council approval for large data centers that may strain water or energy systems.

Proposes multilingual outreach, a 25-day comment period, and a council hearing for District 3 projects affecting air, water, or habitat.

- Proposes conditional-use permits, hearings, buffers, and council approval for large data centers that may strain water or energy systems.
- Proposes multilingual outreach, a 25-day comment period, and a council hearing for District 3 projects affecting air, water, or habitat.

Neha Shah

TikTok

- City council members collaborate to create and enforce city policies, including legislation on essential services like police, fire, parks, libraries, and utilities.
- They work alongside the mayor to manage city departments, including transportation and parks and recreation.
- Council members can be elected to represent specific districts or the entire city at-large.
- The structure of city councils, including the number of members, their terms, term limits, and partisanship, differs by county.

Passes laws and regulations for your city.

Austin City Council Member, District 3

Election results

Runoff election

Candidates (5)