The city of Austin, Texas, held nonpartisan elections for mayor and city council on November 4, 2014. The candidate filing deadline was August 18, 2014. Delia Garza and Ann Kitchen won contested races for Districts 2 and 5 respectively. Kathie Tovo was declared the winner in District 9 after Chris Riley withdrew on November 7.^[1]^[2]

A runoff election took place on December 16, 2014, to decide the outcome of the mayoral and remaining city council races. In that election Stephen Adler defeated Mike Martinez in the mayoral race. Ora Houston, Sabino "Pio" Renteria, Greg Casar, James T. Flannigan, Leslie Pool, Ellen Troxclair and Sheri P. Gallo won the runoffs in Districts 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 respectively.^[3]

As a result of redistricting and new term limits in 2012, every race in Austin's 2014 municipal elections was for an open seat.

Races that were decided in the general election on November 4 include districts 2, 5 and 9. All other races - including the mayoral race - advanced to the runoff elections on December 16, 2014.

Transportation, affordability and water were some of the key issues that shaped Austin's 2014 election cycle.

Redistricting, election dates and term limits

In November 2012, the citizens of Austin voted in favor of three propositions (1, 2 and 3) that functioned to reshape the city's electoral process. Previously, Austin featured a city council with a total of seven seats, including the mayor. All were elected at-large and served a maximum of three, three-year terms. Elections were held in May of uneven years.

Collectively, Propositions 1, 2 and 3 altered this arrangement by creating four new seats; establishing ten districts within the city, each of which will elect its own city council representative; moving elections to November of even years (to coincide with state and federal elections); and setting council and mayoral term limits to two, four-year staggered terms. The mayor will still serve on the council as its eleventh member.^[4]^[5]

For more information, see here

Impact on the 2014 Elections

One of the most significant consequences of the success of Propositions 1, 2 and 3 for Austin's 2014 election cycle was that only two city council incumbents were eligible to seek re-election in 2014 (due to the new term limits). These were Chris Riley and Kathie Tovo. Both sought the District 9 seat. Mayor Lee Leffingwell was also ineligible for re-election.

After the 2014 elections, incoming council members were divided into two groups by lot. The members of group one will serve four-year terms, while the members of group two will serve two-year terms and run for re-election in 2016. The winners of the 2016 election will then serve full four-year terms.^[6]^[7]

Mayor

Candidate list

Note: Due to term limits, incumbent Lee Leffingwell was ineligible for re-election.

November 4, 2014, General election candidates:

December 16, 2014, Runoff election candidates:

Election results

Mayor of Austin Runoff Election, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Stephen Adler	67%	52,159
Mike Martinez	33%	25,639
Total Votes		77,798
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

Mayor of Austin General Election, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Mike Martinez	29.6%	51,892
Stephen Adler	36.8%	64,416
Sheryl Cole	14.8%	25,846
Ronald J. Culver	0.8%	1,358
Mary Krenek	4.2%	7,370
David M. Orshalick	2.1%	3,746
Todd H. Phelps	9.9%	17,333
Randall F. Stephens	1.8%	3,204
Total Votes		150,882
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

City council

Candidate list

District 1

November 4, 2014, General election candidates:

December 16, 2014, Runoff election candidates:

District 2

November 4, 2014, General election candidates:

District 3

November 4, 2014, General election candidates:

December 16, 2014, Runoff election candidates:

District 4

November 4, 2014, General election candidates:

December 16, 2014, Runoff election candidates:

District 5

November 4, 2014, General election candidates:

District 6

November 4, 2014, General election candidates:

December 16, 2014, Runoff election candidates:

District 7

November 4, 2014, General election candidates:

December 16, 2014, Runoff election candidates:

District 8

November 4, 2014, General election candidates:

December 16, 2014, Runoff election candidates:

District 9

November 4, 2014, General election candidates:

December 16, 2014, Runoff election candidates:

Note: Chris Riley withdrew from the District 9 race on November 7, 2014.^[8]

District 10

November 4, 2014, General election candidates:

December 16, 2014, Runoff election candidates:

Election results

Runoff

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Austin City Council, District 1, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Ora Houston	74.3%	4,241
DeWayne Lofton	25.7%	1,469
Total Votes		5,710
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Runoff Election Results

Austin City Council, District 3, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Sabino "Pio" Renteria	59.7%	2,558
Susana Almanza	40.3%	1,724
Total Votes		4,282
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Runoff Election Results

Austin City Council, District 4, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Greg Casar	64.6%	2,854
Laura Pressley	35.4%	1,563
Total Votes		4,417
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Runoff Election Results

Austin City Council, District 6, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Donald S. Zimmerman	51.2%	4,012
James T. Flannigan	48.8%	3,821
Total Votes		7,833
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Runoff Election Results

Austin City Council, District 7, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Leslie Pool	66.2%	5,270
Jeb Boyt	33.8%	2,686
Total Votes		7,956
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Runoff Election Results

Austin City Council, District 8, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Ellen Troxclair	50.2%	6,234
Edward S. Scruggs	49.8%	6,178
Total Votes		12,412
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Runoff Election Results

Austin City Council, District 10, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Sheri P. Gallo	54.7%	8,927
Mandy Dealey	45.3%	7,380
Total Votes		16,307
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Runoff Election Results

General

Austin City Council, District 1, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Ora Houston	49.1%	6,429
DeWayne Lofton	14.4%	1,887
Andrew Bucknall	6.2%	811
Michael D. Cargill	5.4%	711
George W. Hindman	7.1%	928
Christopher J. Hutchins	3.2%	421
Norman A. Jacobson	1.2%	153
Valerie M. Menard	9.3%	1,221
Samuel A. Osemene	4%	529
Total Votes		10,766
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

Austin City Council, District 2, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Delia Garza	65.8%	5,576
Edward A. Reyes	15.6%	1,325
John C. Sheppard	10.5%	887
Mike Owen	8.1%	691
Total Votes		8,479
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

Austin City Council, District 3, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Susana Almanza	21%	2,142
Sabino "Pio" Renteria	18.8%	1,919
Mario Cantu	9.7%	993
Julian Limon Fernandez	5%	510
Christopher L. Hoerster	1.6%	163
Shaun D. Ireland	6.3%	646
Fred McGhee	4.5%	462
Kent K. Phillips	6%	615
Jose Quintero	2.2%	223
Eric J. Rangel	6.3%	648
Ricardo Turullols-Bonilla	2%	201
Jose A. Valera	16.5%	1,683
Total Votes		5,727
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

Austin City Council, District 4, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Greg Casar	38.6%	3,272
Laura Pressley	21.6%	1,826
Katrina M. Daniel	16.2%	1,369
Monica A. Guzman	6.6%	556
Louis C. Herrin III	2.6%	224
Marco Mancillas	0.9%	77
Sharon E. Mays	8.5%	720
Roberto Perez, Jr.	5%	426
Total Votes		7,247
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

Austin City Council, District 5, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Ann Kitchen	53.6%	11,396
Daniel Buda	9%	1,923
Jason R. Denny	4.1%	875
William David Floyd	4.8%	1,016
CarolAnneRose Kennedy	3.9%	835
Luis M. Rodriguez	22.2%	4,719
David C. Senecal	2.3%	488
Total Votes		16,045
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

Austin City Council, District 6, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
James T. Flannigan	24%	3,702
Donald S. Zimmerman	24.2%	3,729
Mackenzie Kelly	9%	1,382
Lloyd "Pete" Phillips Jr.	4.6%	704
Matt Stillwell	15.4%	2,366
Jay Wiley	22.8%	3,513
Total Votes		11,883
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

Austin City Council, District 7, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Jeb Boyt	16.9%	3,299
Leslie Pool	32.1%	6,275
Ed English	13.8%	2,701
Zachary R. Ingraham	3.1%	612
James A. Paver	10.8%	2,107
Pete Salazar, Jr.	5.9%	1,148
Darryl R. Wittle	2.2%	429
Melissa A. Zone	15.1%	2,951
Total Votes		14,994
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

Austin City Council, District 8, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Ellen Troxclair	26.4%	5,682
Edward S. Scruggs	25.6%	5,503
Rebecca A. Bray	19.1%	4,108
Darrell Pierce	16.5%	3,549
Eliza May	12.5%	2,696
Total Votes		21,538
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

Austin City Council, District 9, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Kathie Tovo	49.1%	10,041
Chris Riley	40.4%	8,258
Erin K. McGann	10.5%	2,149
Total Votes		20,448
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

Austin City Council, District 10, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Mandy Dealey	30.7%	8,566
Sheri P. Gallo	22.9%	6,403
Margie Burciaga	4.6%	1,298
Tina Cannon	3.8%	1,072
Matthew L. Lamon	3.1%	877
Jason W. Meeker	6.3%	1,769
Robert D. Thomas	18.9%	5,276
Bill Worsham	9.5%	2,666
Total Votes		18,216
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

Issues

As Austin's 2014 election took shape, several major issues emerged. Below, Ballotpedia highlights what they were and how they shaped Austin's 2014 municipal elections.

Transportation

A particularly divisive issue was transportation. In June 2014, the Austin City Council voted in favor of a $1 billion transportation project that focused on improving roads and highways and constructing an almost ten-mile long rail system that will run through the city.^[9] Experts described the project as one designed to satisfy both supporters of a rail system and supporters of rehabilitating the city's already existing transportation infrastructure. Austinites got a chance to weigh in on the plan in November, when it appeared on the ballot as "Proposition 1."^[10]^[11]

Affordability

Another divisive issue was affordability, especially as it relates to buying and owning a home. In 2013, the Austin Business Journal reported that housing prices in Austin were quickly outpacing median incomes and the ability of most Austinites to secure home loans.^[12] To address this problem, mayoral candidate Stephen Adler proposed a 20-percent homestead tax exemption, which, according to Adler, could save homeowners up to $190 per year. Mike Martinez sharply criticized Adler's proposal, saying that it would only benefit the wealthy and could raise costs for renters. The latter point was also made by Todd H. Phelps.^[13] Martinez suggested that he would prefer to cut down on city fees and offer homeowners flat rate tax exemptions instead.^[14]

Water

A third issue that shaped Austin's 2014 election cycle was water. Austin, a city with almost one million residents, gets the majority of its potable water from a constellation of freshwater reservoirs in central Texas called the Highland Lakes. As a result of a prolonged drought throughout much of 2013 and 2014, however, the water levels in these reservoirs began to reach record lows in the months leading up to the election, which prompted concerns amongst city and state officials over the future of Austin's access to potable water.^[15]^[16] Consequently, many of Austin's mayoral and city council candidates made water a central component of their 2014 campaign platforms.

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Austin + Texas + election"

Austin News Feed

External links

Footnotes

[1] Travis County Clerk Election Results, accessed September 15, 2015

[2] Austin Chronicle, "Breaking: Chris Riley Withdraws From Run-off," November 7, 2014

[3] Travis County Clerk Election Results December 16, 2014, accessed September 15, 2015

[4] Daily Texan Online, "City Propositions 1 and 2 Pass: Austin to have November City Elections," November 7, 2012

[5] The Austin Bulldog, "10 to 1 Plan to rule council elections," November 7, 2012

[6] KUT.org Austin’s Next City Council: Primarily Made of Newbies," April 12, 2013

[7] KVUE, "New Austin mayor, city council sworn in," January 6, 2015

[8] Austin Chronicle, "Breaking: Chris Riley Withdraws From Run-off," November 7, 2014

[9] Next City, "How Transportation Is Shaping Three 2014 Mayoral Races," September 5, 2014

[10] Next City, "Results Are Mixed for Cities That Bundle Rail and Freeway Funding," August 6, 2014

[debate-11] Daily Texan, "Austin mayoral candidates debate public transportation," August 27, 2014

[12] Austin Business Journal, "Sticker shock: Austin home affordability gap widens," September 20, 2013

[13] TWC News, "Mayoral Candidates Tackle Austin Affordability at Forum," September 4, 2014

[14] KVUE, "Mike Martinez calls out Steve Adler on tax exemption proposal," September 4, 2014

[15] State Impact, "Where will Austin go for water next?" May 27, 2014

[16] Austin Post, "Is Austin running out of water?" October 1, 2014

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Municipal elections in Austin, Texas (2014)

Redistricting, election dates and term limits

Impact on the 2014 Elections

Mayor

Candidate list

Election results

City council

Candidate list

District 1

District 2

District 3

District 4

District 5

District 6

District 7

District 8

District 9

District 10

Election results

Runoff

General

Issues

Transportation

Affordability

Water

Recent news

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External links

Footnotes

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