Council challenger enters the ring

City Council Member Delia Garza has drawn a challenger for her District 2 seat, which is one of five Council seats up for election this November. Prizefighter Casey Ramos, who filed paperwork to appoint a campaign treasurer last week, confirmed to the Austin Monitor on Tuesday that he is running to unseat Garza. Ramos, who said he is the former vice president of the Dove Springs Neighborhood Association, listed among his top issues affordability, beautification and education. He cited as his qualifications his experience as a community advocate during recent floods, his service as a mentor and tutor at Smith Elementary and his career as a boxer. “I’m actually undefeated, world-ranked and signed up with a big company. So lots of people look up to me that way,” Ramos said. He also said that he has studied public policy in pursuit of his economics degree at St. Edward’s University, where he plans to graduate this fall. Ramos explained that he decided to run against Garza because, according to him, the former firefighter has ignored large parts of her district. “I got a lot of community support and she’s got a lot of political support, so whichever one weighs out more, that’ll determine who wins,” Ramos said. Ramos is only the second challenger to announce a run for Council this year. He joins Jimmy Flannigan, who is looking to unseat District 6 Council Member Don Zimmerman. District 4 Council Member Greg Casar, District 7 Council Member Leslie Pool and District 10 Council Member Sheri Gallo have so far not drawn any opponents.