Shane Sexton withdraws from District 8 race

The race for the District 8 City Council seat just got a little less crowded. Shane Sexton, one of four left-of-center candidates vying to unseat Council Member Ellen Troxclair, the only conservative elected official left in city government, announced in a Facebook post on Saturday that he was getting out of the race. In a text message to the Austin Monitor on Sunday, Sexton said that the field of candidates had become overcrowded. “It divides the voters and resources in support of progressive candidates,” while those on the right will be united in support of Troxclair, he said. “I entered the race to better my community and the city and there are other good candidates that can help accomplish that now,” he said, adding that he plans to meet with the other challengers next week and has not yet decided who he will support.