Gómez: Longest-serving commissioner finding new ways of doing business

With new members on the court this past year, Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gómez has been rethinking the court’s longtime processes. (Ann Howard, who represents Precinct 3, assumed office at the start of 2021, while County Judge Andy Brown assumed…

Travis County • By Andrew Logan • Dec 28, 2021

Where some see problems, Travillion sees opportunities

Travis County Precinct 1 Commissioner Jeff Travillion acknowledges that 2021 was a “challenging year.” But where others saw problems, Travillion saw opportunities. In areas lacking basic amenities like hospitals, clinics and pharmacies, Travillion made use of public schools and community…

Travis County • By Eniola Longe • Dec 28, 2021

Tovo 'strongly considering' a run for mayor in 2022

As Council Member Kathie Tovo enters her last year as District 9 representative, she sat down with the Austin Monitor to discuss what she hopes to accomplish in 2022, including a potential run for mayor and how she responded to…

City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Dec 27, 2021

Alter says resilience has been the theme of 2021

Reflecting on her fifth year serving District 10, City Council Member Alison Alter recalls confronting significant obstacles, but maintains that Austin has come out the better for it.  “It’s been an incredibly challenging year, but we’ve set a lot of…

City Council • By Kali Bramble • Dec 27, 2021

Pool’s 2022 priorities include district-level plans, increased EV use

With City Council set on implementing building code changes by individual plans and priorities, Council Member Leslie Pool said in 2022 every member of Council will get their own “time to shine” with the chance to push the changes important…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 23, 2021

Ellis sees opportunity for growth amidst 2021's challenges

Despite a year that brought both public health and environmental disasters, District 8 City Council Member Paige Ellis has pushed forward in her efforts to rethink transportation, parks and affordability solutions in our rapidly growing city. While the Covid-19 pandemic…

City Council • By Kali Bramble • Dec 23, 2021

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Casar says 2021 was about helping people in crisis

From community organizer to City Council member to congressional candidate, Greg Casar exudes the energy of someone eager to get things done. Since taking office in January 2015, he has accomplished much of the social agenda he put forward as…

City Council • By Amy Smith • Dec 22, 2021

Kitchen: 'We could write a whole book about the last year'

Ann Kitchen thrives from the many challenges of being a City Council member. “It’s a combination of being really proactive and trying to address the problems that we’re having as a city,” she told the Austin Monitor. “It’s always new, it’s…

City Council • By Seth Smalley • Dec 22, 2021

Mackenzie Kelly: A collaborative conservative among Democrats

Since the creation of the 10-1 City Council, the Council members who have represented District 6 in far Northwest Austin have stood out for one reason or another. The first two – conservative Republican Don Zimmerman, followed by progressive Democrat…

City Council • By Amy Smith • Dec 22, 2021

Natasha Harper-Madison’s focus in 2022? ‘Housing, housing, housing’

Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Harper-Madison’s tenure on City Council has been marked by crisis. Elected in November 2018 as the District 1 representative, Harper-Madison barely had a year in office before Covid-19 struck. “What a time to have your first…

City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Dec 21, 2021

Vanessa Fuentes: Putting health and equity first

City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes stepped into a rather busy first term in office – this year, an unprecedented winter storm took Travis County by surprise and the pandemic continued to surge despite hopes for Covid-19’s retreat. But Fuentes, who…

City Council • By Willow Higgins • Dec 21, 2021

Pio Renteria: Seven years in office and 71 years in District 3

City Council Member Pio Renteria recalls the time when he was able to purchase his East Austin home for just over $20,000. Now he’s received an offer to sell it for nearly a million. As a lifelong resident of East…

City Council • By Kali Bramble • Dec 21, 2021

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