Austin Welcomes New Candidate in Mayoral Race
Austin, Texas – In a surprising turn of events, Jeffery Bowen has officially entered the race to become Austin’s next mayor. He made this decision on the day of the filing deadline, becoming the fifth candidate to join the contest. Bowen, a small business owner in the construction services sector, is determined to bring change to the city.
Joining the Race
Bowen joins an already competitive field of candidates, including Kathie Tovo, Doug Greco, and Carmen Llanes Pulido, all of whom are hoping to unseat the current mayor, Kirk Watson. Watson was elected in a tight runoff election in 2022. Bowen’s late entry into the race appears to be fueled by his increasing frustration with the City Council’s recent decisions.
Frustrations Drive Decision
His dissatisfaction began last year when the Council advanced two controversial HOME ordinances. In Bowen’s view, these measures were passed without allowing adequate community input. He expressed concern that residents were not given enough time to review or discuss the issues at hand. “Two minutes of speaking time doesn’t cut it,” Bowen stated, adding, “It felt like the Council had already made up their minds before we even spoke.”
The HOME initiative’s passage was particularly troubling for Bowen because Watson had previously sought support from local neighborhood associations during his campaign against former State Rep. Celia Israel, who had a strong following among voters advocating for increased housing density.
Past Legal Actions
In 2019, Bowen was one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the city, which alleged that residents were denied their right to protest the proposed rewrite of the Land Development Code named CodeNext. Though the city ultimately abandoned that effort, Bowen noted that the public was better informed about future changes, thanks to the lawsuit.
Budget Concerns
The final straw for Bowen came with the Council’s recent approval of a $5.9 billion budget, which began on October 1. He believes this large budget will escalate the cost of living in Austin, making it particularly challenging for small business owners. “There was no discussion on how to trim expenses, just constant additions,” he lamented, expressing his determination to seek changes.
Transparency and Accountability
Bowen is a strong advocate for transparency in city government. He is proposing an independent audit of all city departments, including the offices of the mayor and Council. “Why not let us see where all that money is going?” Bowen remarked. In 2018, city voters rejected a similar proposal for an independent audit, which Bowen believes was skewed by complicated ballot language.
Infrastructure and Public Safety
As Austin continues to grow, Bowen sees the need to address the city’s aging infrastructure. He argues that an audit could shed light on how to best allocate resources to improve public facilities. Bowen also acknowledges the ongoing budget discussions regarding public safety. He has expressed support for a recent proposal for a 28 percent salary increase for police officers over five years, aiming for adequate staffing levels.
Homelessness Solutions
Homelessness remains a significant issue in Austin. Bowen is committed to collaborating with local organizations to develop a viable plan to address the crisis. He highlighted the need to think critically about the city’s approach to clearing encampments, ensuring that vulnerable individuals do not lose essential documents and belongings during the process.
A Community Advocate
With over 40 years in the construction industry, Bowen is familiar with Austin’s development landscape. He has been involved in community affairs for years and currently serves as vice president of the Austin Neighborhoods Council. Bowen’s commitment to serving the community shines through in his candidacy.
A New Chapter
As the election season heats up, Bowen’s commitment to transparency, infrastructure improvements, and homelessness solutions will be closely watched. With support from past candidates like Jennifer Virden backing him, Bowen is determined to make his mark in this mayoral race.
