Austin Welcomes New District 7 Representative: Mike Siegel!
The vibrant city of Austin has a new face in District 7! Mike Siegel has earned the coveted position as the representative for the area after a nail-biting runoff election on Saturday. Siegel edged out his competitor, Gary Bledsoe, by a mere 200 votes. This victory makes Mike Siegel the second council member to represent North Austin’s District 7 since the establishment of the current district representation system in 2014. Before him, the outgoing representative was Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool.
The Road to Victory
The journey to this victory wasn’t an easy one. Initially, Siegel was one of six candidates vying for the seat. In the first round on November 5, he garnered around 40 percent of the votes but didn’t achieve a majority. This led to a heated runoff campaign between him and Bledsoe, where both candidates focused on their differences in ideology and support.
Siegel is no stranger to city politics; he previously served as an assistant city attorney and co-founded Ground Game Texas. He gained some recognition during his previous attempts to unseat U.S. Representative Michael McCaul and, according to him, the runoff was about re-engaging with the community regarding his background as an organizer and his experiences at City Hall.
Key Issues on the Table
Throughout his campaign, Siegel stressed the importance of having a strong progressive voice on the Austin City Council. He raised concerns about the current conservative climate in Texas, mentioning leaders like Ken Paxton and Greg Abbott. “It’s more important than ever that we have strong progressive representation on the Austin City Council,” he said in a November newsletter to voters.
Siegel highlighted his campaign’s commitment to issues like housing, climate action, justice, and labor rights, stating, “This victory is a testament to the wonderful coalition we built that worked tirelessly to get out the vote.” He shared that almost 35,000 doors were knocked on during the runoff, illustrating the community’s engagement.
The Other Side of the Race
On the other side was Gary Bledsoe, a civil rights attorney with a long history in Austin going back to the 1970s. Though he entered the race later than other candidates, he still managed to capture 19 percent of the vote in November. He placed emphasis on keeping housing affordable for working individuals in Austin and enhancing the city’s resilience against climate change.
Had he won, Bledsoe would have made history as the first Black representative of District 7. He positioned himself as a candidate who would advocate for the average Austinite and fight against what he described as backdoor politics and wealthy interests dominating local issues.
Future Plans
Despite the disappointment of losing, Bledsoe reflected on his experience as a rewarding one. “It’s clear that the people of Austin understood our issues and embraced them,” he said. He remains hopeful that the issues he raised during his campaign will continue to be discussed in future public policy agendas. He also aims to stay involved with the district and support grassroots movements.
As for Mike Siegel, he’s poised to take office in early January, joining newly elected Council members Krista Laine of District 6 and Marc Duchen of District 10. Mike expressed his eagerness to rest and build a capable staff, noting, “I look forward to putting my shoulder to the wheel to support the work my future colleagues are doing.”
Looking Ahead
Austin residents can expect a busy and impactful term ahead with Siegel’s leadership in District 7. As the city strives to address significant challenges like housing affordability and climate resilience, having an engaged representative in the council will be essential. With his proactive approach focusing on community engagement and progressive values, many are eager to see what’s next for North Austin!
