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Austin City Council
Unicameral legislature of Austin, Texas From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Austin City Council is the unicameral legislature of the city of Austin, Texas, United States of America. The mayor is included as a member of the council and presides over all council meetings and ceremonies. The current mayor of Austin is Kirk Watson. The duty of the council is to decide the city budget, taxes, and various other ordinances.[2] While the council is officially nonpartisan,[3] all current council members are affiliated with the Democratic Party.
Before 2012, the council was composed of six at-large elected members and the mayor, and members could only serve three terms (nine years) on the council. However, in 2012 the citizens of Austin approved two propositions that established ten single-member districts within the city and assigned council and mayoral seats staggered four-year terms, with members limited to two terms. However, the mayor remains as the 11th member on the council, an arrangement known as 10-1. The new setup was first implemented in advance of the 2014 elections, following a 2012 ballot initiative.[2]
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Duties
The duty of the Austin City Council is to oversee and decide on the city budget, local taxes, amendment of laws, and creation of ordinances and policies. The council members meet every Thursday.[2] There are several boards and commissions that are composed of non-elected appointed citizens to give advice and recommendations to council members. These board generally review, debate, and comment on recommendations for the council.[4][2] At the start of each term, Council elects a Mayor Pro Tempore from its members, usually serving 1-2 years. While largely a symbolic title, the Mayor Pro Tempore is in charge of running meetings upon the absence of the mayor.[5] The current Mayor Pro Tempore is Vanessa Fuentes, elected on January 6, 2025.
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Members
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Members of the council are elected to 4 years terms and can serve a maximum of 2 terms. The current council was elected in 2022 and 2024.[2] The council is officially nonpartisan; however, all current council members and the mayor are affiliated with the Democratic Party.
Notable past members
- Emma Long (1948-1959, 1963-1969) The first woman elected to serve on the Austin city council. [18] Emma Long Metropolitan Park was named in her honor. [19]
- Hub Bechtol (1959)
- Greg Casar (D), U.S. Representative from the 35th District (2023-present)
- Sheryl Cole (D), State Representative from the 46th District (2019-present)
- Lee Cooke (R), Mayor of Austin (1988-1991)
- Jimmy Flannigan (D), Austin council member (2017-2021), first openly gay male city council member in Austin history
- Gustavo L. "Gus" Garcia (D), Mayor of Austin (2001-2003)
- Delia Garza (D), Travis County Attorney (2021-present)
- Ann Kitchen (D), State Representative from the 48th District (2001-2003)
- Ron Mullen, Mayor of Austin (1983-1985)
- Brigid Shea (D), Travis County Commissioner (2017-present)[20]
- Randi Shade (D), Austin council member (2008-2011), first openly gay city council member in Austin history [21]
- Homer Thornberry (D), U.S. Representative from the 10th District (1949-1963)
- John Treviño Jr. (D), Austin council member (1975-1988), first Mexican-American city council member in Austin history
- Ellen Troxclair (R), State Representative from the 19th District (2023-present)
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Election results
2024
2022
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History
The City of Austin was officially incorporated by the Fourth Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 27, 1839. The city was established at the confluence of the Colorado River and Shoal Creek, which was then the site of a small community known as Waterloo. The city was founded to act as the capital of the Republic of Texas and was named in honor of Stephen F. Austin, the so-called Founder of Texas.[22] The governmental structure established by the original Austin charter called for "one mayor, and eight Aldermen", with the mayor being elected city-wide, and each Alderman representing one of the city's eight wards.[23] Austin had its first mayoral election on January 13, 1840, in which citizens elected Edwin Waller to be the city's first mayor.[24]
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Districts
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District 1
The Austin City Council 1st district covers east Austin. The current councillor is Natasha Harper-Madison who has represented the district since 2019.[26] She is a member of the Democratic Party.
List of city councillors from District 1
District 2
The Austin City Council 2nd district covers southeast Austin, including Dove Springs, Bluff Springs, and the Austin Bergstrom International Airport.
The current councillor is Vanessa Fuentes, who has represented the district since 2021.[27] She is a member of the Democratic Party.
On January 6, 2025, she was elected by council to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore for the duration of 2025.
List of city councillors from District 2
District 3
The Austin City Council '3rd district covers east and south Austin.
The current councillor is Jose Velasquez, who has represented the district since 2023.[28] He is a member of the Democratic Party.
List of city councillors from District 3
District 4
The Austin City Council 4th district covers north Austin.
In November 2021, Councillor Greg Casar resigned his seat to run for Congress. District 4 was vacant until a January 25, 2022 special election was held to fill the vacancy.
The current councillor is Jose "Chito" Vela, who has represented the district since February 2022.[29] He is a member of the Democratic Party.
On January 6, 2025, he was elected by council to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore for the duration of 2026.
List of city councillors from District 4
District 5
The Austin City Council 5th district covers south Austin.
The current councillor is Ryan Alter, who has represented the district since 2023.[30] He is a member of the Democratic Party.
List of city councillors from District 5
District 6
The Austin City Council 6th district covers northwest Austin including portions of the city within Williamson County.
The current councillor is Krista Laine, who has represented the district since January 6, 2025. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
List of city councillors from District 6
District 7
The Austin City Council 7th district covers north Austin including Crestview, Allendale, and Shoal Creek.
The current councillor is Mike Siegel, who has represented the district since January 6, 2025. [31] He is a member of the Democratic Party, as well as the Democratic Socialists of America.
List of city councillors from District 7
District 8
The Austin City Council 8th district covers southwest Austin, including Zilker Park, Barton Creek, and Oak Hill.
The current councillor is Paige Ellis, who has represented the district since 2019.[33] She was re-elected in 2022 with over 60% of the vote. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
List of city councillors from District 8
District 9
The Austin City Council 9th district covers central Austin, including Downtown, The University of Texas, Travis Heights, Hyde Park, and Mueller.
The current councillor is Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, who has represented the district since 2023.[36] He is a member of the Democratic Party.
List of city councillors from District 9
District 10
The Austin City Council 10th district covers west Austin, including Tarrytown, Bryker Woods, Northwest Hills, and River Place.
The current councillor is Marc Duchen, who has represented the district since January 6, 2025. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
List of city councillors from District 10
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See also
References
Further reading
External links
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