Chronicle weighs in on local elections

On Thursday, the Austin Chronicle released its list of endorsements just ahead of Monday’s first day of early voting. The editorial board chose Celia Israel over Kirk Watson to lead the city for the next two years. (The other candidates in the race include Jennifer Virden, Anthony Bradshaw, Phillip Brual and Gary Spellman.) Although Israel has gathered some neighborhood and Democratic club endorsements, Watson has gotten the lion’s share, so this endorsement seems important for her. The Chronicle also endorsed incumbents Natasha Harper-Madison in District 1 and Paige Ellis in District 8. José Velásquez got the nod in the crowded District 3 race. The board did dual endorsements in District 5, choosing Ryan Alter and Ken Craig to take the seat currently held by Council Member Ann Kitchen, and Ben Leffler and Linda Guerrero in District 9. It seems likely that there will be runoffs in districts 3, 5 and 9; if that is the case, the Chronicle may have to choose between its endorsed candidates.