Austin’s City Council Candidates Gear Up for Upcoming Election
Austin is buzzing with anticipation as the important election takes place next week on November 5. Along with the federal races, the candidates for City Council are finalizing their efforts. Recent campaign finance reports are now available, giving insight into how much money candidates have raised and who is backing them.
Key Players in the Election
One significant contributor to the local elections is the Vibrant Austin Political Action Committee, also known as a PAC. This urbanist group is backing Ashika Ganguly, who is running for the District 10 seat, and Krista Laine, who is seeking the District 6 position. Ganguly is challenging defendant Marc Duchen for the post currently held by Alison Alter, while Laine is running to unseat incumbent Mackenzie Kelly.
The Vibrant Austin PAC supports candidates who focus on vital issues like affordable housing and public transit. On their website, they state their mission is to help develop a more livable and equitable city for all residents. Recently, they disclosed raising nearly $9,000, spending around $21,000, while still having over $40,000 remaining in their bank account. They received significant donations from various sources, including $5,000 from the PAC Way to Lead and contributions from local software engineers.
District-Specific Insights
Turning to the District 10 candidates, Ganguly raised approximately $26,500 but spent more than $90,000. Although she still has nearly $34,000 left, she has loaned her campaign $7,000. Duchen, on the other hand, reported raising nearly $23,000 and spending over $77,000, leaving him with about $17,000 in his account. He has loaned his campaign $20,000 and received endorsements from the Austin United PAC.
In District 6, Mackenzie Kelly shared that she spent over $101,000 in the prior month, receiving $20,000 in contributions and keeping more than $37,000 available. Meanwhile, Laine raised around $11,000 and spent $37,000, with a loan of $10,000 on her end.
High Stakes for Mayoral Candidates
The competition does not end there, as Mayor Kirk Watson has raised an impressive $102,000 recently—bringing his yearly total to nearly $927,000. His supporting PAC, Austin Leadership PAC, has also reported significant fundraising efforts, with over $31,000 raised and almost $155,000 spent. A notable recent donor was Clint Lee Scott, contributing $10,000.
Other candidates running for mayor like Doug Greco and Carmen Llanes Pulido also have PAC support, contributing to the overall fundraising landscape. The Austin United PAC running for Llanes Pulido’s campaign disclosed raising about $44,725 while funding their candidates with approximately $46,553.90 and having about $7,400 left in the bank.
Candidates for the District 7 Seat
As for those vying for the District 7 position after Leslie Pool departs, several candidates are in the race, including Gary Bledsoe, Edwin Bautista, Pierre Nguyen, Adam Powell, Todd Shaw, and Mike Siegel. Bledsoe has raised nearly $19,000 and spent about $60,000, while Siegel brings in over $14,000 and has around $23,000 left. In contrast, some candidates like Bautista reported no new donations, indicating a more challenging road ahead.
What’s Next?
As Austin approaches Election Day, all eyes will be on the candidates as they seek to secure votes and make their cases heard. With diverse issues at stake and varying financial support, it will be interesting to see how the race unfolds and which candidates will make a significant impact in their respective districts.
