2026 Texas General Election

I have lived in Austin’s District 5 for 17 years. I am the Democratic Precinct Chair for Travis County Precinct 307 in Barton Hills. My two children are students in Austin public schools. Eliza attends Austin High School, and Max attends O. Henry Middle School.

Both are graduates of Barton Hills Elementary School.

Meet David — David Weinberg

David Weinberg has two children who are students in Austin public schools.

I have spent my adult career working to protect the environment, preserve voting rights, and for other progressive causes.

For six years I led the Texas League of Conservation Voters, where I spearheaded successful campaigns to preserve state parks funding and stop bills that would have given a free passes to polluters. I spent four years working for the Brennan Center for Justice to defend the voting rights of Texans.

For six years I led the Texas League of Conservation Voters, where I spearheaded successful campaigns to preserve state parks funding and stop bills that would have given a free passes to polluters. I spent four years working for the Brennan Center for Justice to defend the voting rights of Texans. This includes stopping bills that would have placed onerous identification burdens on voters and allowed individuals to bring firearms into polling places.

In 2023, I helped lead a grassroots campaign to stop the Zilker Park Vision Plan, a costly boondoggle that would have significantly overdeveloped our beloved main metropolitan park.

My background in government includes serving as Chief of Staff for New York State Assembly member Linda B. Rosenthal, who represents Manhattan's West Side.

<a href="https://davidforatx.com/">David Weinberg</a> Weinberg raised $5,250 from Jan. 1 to June 30, but reported $240,471 cash on hand, largely due to a Dec.
30 personal loan of $250,000 to his campaign. Prior to this campaign, Weinberg worked as a consultant for his company, Weinberg Strategies.

Who’s winning the money race? See how every Austin City Council candidate stacks up

David Weinberg most recently worked as a consultant for Weinberg Strategies, his company. He previously led the Texas League of Conservation Voters, worked for the Brennan Center for Justice, and served as chief of staff for New York State Assembly member Linda B. Rosenthal.

David most recently worked as a consultant for Weinberg Strategies, his company. He previously led the Texas League of Conservation Voters, worked for the Brennan Center for Justice, and served as chief of staff for New York State Assembly member Linda B. Rosenthal.

Affordability

Austin has become an expensive place to live, and many longtime residents are struggling to keep up with rising housing costs, property taxes, and everyday expenses. The city must be extremely mindful of how its decisions affect affordability.

I will engage closely with District 5 residents on major financial decisions, including tax-rate elections, bond packages, and major budget priorities. Residents should have a meaningful voice before the city takes actions that affect their cost of living.

Issues — David Weinberg

This isn’t the way city government should work. This isn’t the way Austin should work. Representative government fails when council members show up to work to do the bidding of special interests instead of the voters who elected them.

I pledge not to accept any campaign contributions from large special interests seeking massive tax subsidies from the city and its taxpayers. My interest is representing the people of District 5 and I remain steadfast in that commitment.

Follow the money: Dog’s Head deal is a giveaway to Endeavor and Amazon | Austin Free Press

Pledges to seek District 5 residents’ input before tax-rate elections, bond packages, and major budget decisions.

Pledges not to accept campaign contributions from large special interests seeking major city tax subsidies.

- Pledges to seek District 5 residents’ input before tax-rate elections, bond packages, and major budget decisions.
- Pledges not to accept campaign contributions from large special interests seeking major city tax subsidies.

Economy

Parks and the Environment

I believe parks like Zilker Park should primarily function as accessible, everyday green space for all Austinites. While festivals and major events are part of the city’s identity, they should not dictate long-term design decisions or restrict regular community access to these public spaces.

I was strong opposed to the Zilker Park Vision Plan and will strongly oppose future efforts to over-develop and commercialize Zilker and other parks in Austin.

I support ecological restoration and preservation efforts that protect natural areas, maintain native habitats, and strengthen the overall environmental health of our park system. I also believe in investing in key community assets like Garrison Park Pool, which provides important recreation and relief during Austin’s increasingly hot summers, and in preserving historic infrastructure such as the Barton Springs Bridge through repair and rehabilitation rather than demolition.

Opposes overdevelopment and commercialization of Zilker Park and wants parks to remain accessible everyday green space.

Supports investing in Garrison Park Pool and repairing and rehabilitating Barton Springs Bridge rather than demolishing it.

- Opposes overdevelopment and commercialization of Zilker Park and wants parks to remain accessible everyday green space.
- Supports investing in Garrison Park Pool and repairing and rehabilitating Barton Springs Bridge rather than demolishing it.

Public Services

Homelessness

I believe homelessness requires a multi-layered response because people have very different needs and circumstances. Austin must continue using a mix of emergency shelters, transitional options, and permanent supportive housing to address the full spectrum of need.

I believe addressing homelessness in Austin requires a coordinated system that includes immediate shelter and services through facilities like ARCH (the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless), lower-barrier options with on-site services and workforce training such as the Esperanza Community, and long-term housing solutions through programs like Caritas of Austin and Mobile Loaves & Fishes’ Community First! Village. No single program can solve homelessness on its own, which is why a full continuum of care—from crisis response to permanent supportive housing—is essential.

Development and Land Use

I support increasing Austin’s housing supply to address affordability and growth pressures, but I do not define myself as either YIMBY or NIMBY. Both perspectives make legitimate arguments and points. To me, the right approach is balancing the need for more housing with respect for existing neighborhoods and ensuring that residents have meaningful input into how their communities evolve.

I do not support unchecked development or blanket upzoning in established single-family neighborhoods. While I recognize the need for more housing options, I also believe people who have invested their lives in these communities deserve a real voice in decisions that affect the character, livability, and long-term stability of their neighborhoods.

The City should not grant density bonuses to projects that would destroy existing affordable housing and displace working class Austinites; the Council seriously erred when granting such a rezoning at Acacia Cliffs.

[11:41:20 AM]
>> Good morning, mayor and council. I am David Weinberg. I am from district five. I am supporting this item 39. I think it is a step in the right direction to sort of improving the thoughtfulness of process and communication, where we have existing affordable housing in the city, and making sure that the voices of the folks who are living there are being heard.

City Council Regular Meeting Transcript – 4/23/2026 (ATXN-1 (24hr))

Supports a range of homelessness services, including emergency shelters, transitional options, and permanent supportive housing.

Supports increasing housing supply while balancing neighborhood concerns and resident input on development.

Opposes blanket upzoning in established single-family neighborhoods and unchecked development.

Opposes additional development density for projects that would destroy existing affordable housing and displace working-class residents.

Supported City Council Item 39 to improve communication about rezoning and ensure residents of existing affordable housing are heard.

- Supports a range of homelessness services, including emergency shelters, transitional options, and permanent supportive housing.
- Supports increasing housing supply while balancing neighborhood concerns and resident input on development.
- Opposes blanket upzoning in established single-family neighborhoods and unchecked development.
- Opposes additional development density for projects that would destroy existing affordable housing and displace working-class residents.
- Supported City Council Item 39 to improve communication about rezoning and ensure residents of existing affordable housing are heard.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety and Criminal Justice

I believe the Austin Police Department must be adequately staffed and deployed in a way that ensures consistent public safety across all neighborhoods, so every resident receives reliable coverage. I believe improving police response times in Austin is essential to ensuring residents can rely on timely help when they call for service. This will require data-driven strategies so that emergency and urgent calls are handled quickly and consistently across all parts of the city.

I support criminal justice reforms that reduce incarceration for low-level offenses, expand diversion and reentry programs, and improve accountability within law enforcement. At the same time, I believe public safety must also address root causes like poverty, housing instability, and lack of opportunity.

I believe gun violence is one of the most serious public safety and public health challenges we face. I support prevention-focused, evidence-based strategies and collaboration with organizations like Texas Gun Sense to reduce firearm-related tragedies while respecting constitutional rights.

Supports adequately staffing and deploying the Austin Police Department and using data-driven strategies to improve emergency and urgent-call response times.

Supports reducing incarceration for low-level offenses, expanding diversion and reentry programs, and improving law-enforcement accountability.

Supports prevention-focused, evidence-based strategies and collaboration to reduce gun violence while respecting constitutional rights.

- Supports adequately staffing and deploying the Austin Police Department and using data-driven strategies to improve emergency and urgent-call response times.
- Supports reducing incarceration for low-level offenses, expanding diversion and reentry programs, and improving law-enforcement accountability.
- Supports prevention-focused, evidence-based strategies and collaboration to reduce gun violence while respecting constitutional rights.

Public Safety

I will carefully evaluate large-scale spending decisions, including projects like the Interstate 35 Cap and Stitch initiative. While such projects may have merit, they must be weighed against rising property tax bills and other pressing needs like roads, parks, schools, and basic infrastructure that directly impact residents every day.

Public Transportation

I believe Austin must significantly improve its public transportation system, particularly by making CapMetro buses more reliable, safe, and user-friendly. I also support exploring microtransit options, such as curb-to-curb service models used in places like the DFW Metroplex.

While I strongly support public transit in principle, I have concerns about the current light rail portion of Project Connect. The plan delivers only a portion of what voters originally approved and will not provide broad city coverage at an extremely high cost per mile. Another huge shortcoming of the project is that that the current light rail plan does not connect to the airport.

I believe Austin needs a more integrated and practical transit network that better connects key destinations like the airport, downtown, and major employment centers in a way that actually serves daily needs.

Plans to weigh Interstate 35 Cap and Stitch spending against property-tax costs and needs, including roads, parks, schools, and basic infrastructure.

Supports improving Capital Metro buses and exploring on-demand, curb-to-curb transit service.

Has concerns that Project Connect’s current light-rail plan is costly, lacks broad coverage, and does not connect to the airport.

Supports an integrated transit network connecting the airport, downtown, and major employment centers.

- Plans to weigh Interstate 35 Cap and Stitch spending against property-tax costs and needs, including roads, parks, schools, and basic infrastructure.
- Supports improving Capital Metro buses and exploring on-demand, curb-to-curb transit service.
- Has concerns that Project Connect’s current light-rail plan is costly, lacks broad coverage, and does not connect to the airport.
- Supports an integrated transit network connecting the airport, downtown, and major employment centers.

Transportation & Infrastructure

More broadly, I support expanding and improving green space across Austin, with a focus on underserved areas like East Austin where access has historically been more limited. At the same time, I support efforts to improve climate and wildfire resilience, increase tree canopy coverage, and continue transitioning toward cleaner energy sources, including reducing reliance on the Fayette Power Project.

I am deeply concerned about the unchecked, rapid expansion of data centers. This swift, largely unregulated development threatens local power grids, drains water supplies, increases consumer utility bills, and by passes environmental and transparency safeguards. I support a moratorium on the construction of new data centers in Texas.

Supports ecological restoration and preservation to protect natural areas, native habitats, and environmental health in Austin’s park system.

Supports expanding green space, improving climate and wildfire resilience, increasing tree canopy, and reducing reliance on the Fayette Power Project.

Supports a Texas moratorium on new data-center construction.

- Supports ecological restoration and preservation to protect natural areas, native habitats, and environmental health in Austin’s park system.
- Supports expanding green space, improving climate and wildfire resilience, increasing tree canopy, and reducing reliance on the Fayette Power Project.
- Supports a Texas moratorium on new data-center construction.

Energy & the Environment

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David Weinberg

- Supports improving Capital Metro buses and exploring on-demand, curb-to-curb transit service.
- Has concerns that Project Connect’s current light-rail plan is costly, lacks broad coverage, and does not connect to the airport.
- Supports an integrated transit network connecting the airport, downtown, and major employment centers.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

#### Advocate for Families

As a mother and policy advocate, fighting for equal opportunity and a brighter future for all District 5 families. I've impacted two generations of birth rates and historically understand what preventation and support systems need to be in place that are not.

FARRAH FOR AUSTIN | FARRAH ABRAHAM

#### Business Leadership

18+ years running local businesses, understanding Austin's economic heartbeat and fostering growth. I am a business person on a global scale and am a asset to District 5 and all of Texas. I empower youth, give teens opportunities, and care for senior income. I will make you more money with  ethical business practices.

#### Legal & Policy Expertise

UT paralegal certified, driving civic ordinance reform and property tax relief. We are in a golden age and I want to bring everyone with and empower you to use policies in your favor.

Farrah Abraham has run local businesses and is certified as a paralegal through UT.

Farrah has run local businesses and is certified as a paralegal through UT.

As of September 10, 2026, Farrah Abraham’s website did not contain information on this issue.

* Budget Commitments: I commit to voting for line-items supporting within the Austin Public Health budget dedicated to AAPI community health navigators and language translation. Furthermore, I will advocate for equity-based budgeting matrices across all city departments so that municipal service expansions automatically reflect demographic growth in Central Texas.

* Ensuring Quality Access Regardless of Income or Address:

    * Support for Central Health & MAP: I will work closely with Travis County’s healthcare district (Central Health) to expand the Medical Access Program (MAP) and MAP Basic. This provides low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women with comprehensive preventative primary care to avoid crisis, specialized gynecological services, cancer screenings, and maternal care.

* Critical Services Needed:

    * Language Access & Navigation: I had the pleasure of helping AAPI seniors to their doctors appointments and I see how expanding full-language translation and interpretation services across municipal departments (Austin Public Health, Housing, and Emergency Management) can aid.

We must directly support Community Health Workers (CHWs) and navigators—such as those operating through the Austin Asian Community Health Initiative (AACHI)—to bridge healthcare system complexities for limited English proficiency (LEP) residents.

* Critical Services Needed:

    * Culturally Attuned Mental Healthcare: Supporting and Investing in community-based mental health initiatives, suicide prevention programs, and senior support networks tailored to AAPI cultural contexts to eliminate stigma and improve access (Drive A Senior) a non profit supports this initiative and appreciate volunteers, as I have volunteered with them.

* Critical Services Needed:

    * AAPI Community & Cultural Space: Prioritizing support, funding resources , capital investments and operational funding for the Asian American Resource Center (AARC) expansion to ensure our community has dedicated programming, senior care, and youth development hubs.

    * Reproductive & Maternal Health Grants: I support allocating municipal funds toward family planning, prenatal care, prevention support to avoid crisis, contraception, cervical and breast cancer screenings, and maternal mental health support. Please see my website for details on support for brighter futures. ( As seen on my link in bio on tikok @farrahabraham and Social Media.

    * Protections for Patients and Providers: I will defend municipal resolutions that protect women and healthcare providers that put humanity first, ensuring that Austin remains a safe haven for comprehensive medical care support to avoid crisis. Men are equally looked at not just women and providers, it takes two to tango, to truly support women and providers you must hold men accountable and have equality in the subject.

Advocates for equity-based budgeting across city departments to reflect demographic growth in Central Texas.

Plans to work with Central Health to expand the Medical Access Program and MAP Basic for uninsured and underinsured women.

Supports expanding language translation and interpretation services across Austin municipal departments.

Calls for direct support for community health workers and navigators serving residents with limited English proficiency.

Supports funding culturally tailored community mental-health, suicide-prevention, and senior-support programs.

Prioritizes capital and operating funding for expansion of the Asian American Resource Center.

Pledges to vote for Austin Public Health funding for community health navigators and language translation.

Supports municipal funding for family planning, prenatal care, contraception, cancer screenings, and maternal mental-health support.

Pledges to defend Austin resolutions protecting women and healthcare providers.

- Advocates for equity-based budgeting across city departments to reflect demographic growth in Central Texas.
- Plans to work with Central Health to expand the Medical Access Program and MAP Basic for uninsured and underinsured women.
- Supports expanding language translation and interpretation services across Austin municipal departments.
- Calls for direct support for community health workers and navigators serving residents with limited English proficiency.
- Supports funding culturally tailored community mental-health, suicide-prevention, and senior-support programs.
- Prioritizes capital and operating funding for expansion of the Asian American Resource Center.
- Pledges to vote for Austin Public Health funding for community health navigators and language translation.
- Supports municipal funding for family planning, prenatal care, contraception, cancer screenings, and maternal mental-health support.
- Pledges to defend Austin resolutions protecting women and healthcare providers.

Legislative & Oversight Steps to Stop Unlawful Stops:

  * Strict APD General Orders: I support and enforce updated APD General Orders that strictly prohibit officers from stopping, detaining, or inquiring about an individual’s immigration status, ensuring officers do not execute arrests solely based on civil/administrative ICE warrants.

  * Supervisory Authorization & Transparency: Requiring mandatory supervisory approval before any notification to federal authorities can occur, alongside robust public reporting. The city manager and police chief must submit quarterly audit reports tracking all immigration-related inquiries and federal requests.

  * Know Your Rights & Legal Defense: I will champion continued municipal funding for the City's Equity & Inclusion Human Rights Division and local legal defense funds. This ensures multilingual "Know Your Rights" materials (in Vietnamese, Chinese, Hindi, Urdu, Burmese, etc.) are distributed so residents know they never have to consent to unlawful searches or questioning.

Supports police rules barring immigration-status inquiries and arrests based solely on civil or administrative Immigration and Customs Enforcement warrants.

Calls for supervisory approval before police notify federal authorities and quarterly public audits of immigration-related inquiries and requests.

Pledges to support municipal funding for multilingual legal-rights materials and local legal-defense funds.

- Supports police rules barring immigration-status inquiries and arrests based solely on civil or administrative Immigration and Customs Enforcement warrants.
- Calls for supervisory approval before police notify federal authorities and quarterly public audits of immigration-related inquiries and requests.
- Pledges to support municipal funding for multilingual legal-rights materials and local legal-defense funds.

#### AI

Austin has 50+ data centers bringing vital tech, trade, and engineering jobs to District 5. I support smart development with strict water protections: mandating closed-loop dry cooling systems that eliminate water waste, expanding reclaimed water networks, and requiring large facilities to protect municipal drinking water. We can grow our economy while preserving vital natural resources. All infrastructure and details below for all answers on economic development.

Supports requiring water-saving cooling systems, reclaimed-water networks, and drinking-water protections for large facilities.

- Supports requiring water-saving cooling systems, reclaimed-water networks, and drinking-water protections for large facilities.

Farrah Abraham

- Supports expanding language translation and interpretation services across Austin municipal departments.
- Calls for direct support for community health workers and navigators serving residents with limited English proficiency.
- Supports funding culturally tailored community mental-health, suicide-prevention, and senior-support programs.
- Prioritizes capital and operating funding for expansion of the Asian American Resource Center.
- Pledges to vote for Austin Public Health funding for community health navigators and language translation.
- Supports municipal funding for family planning, prenatal care, contraception, cancer screenings, and maternal mental-health support.
- Pledges to defend Austin resolutions protecting women and healthcare providers.

MEET LIZ

Blue collar. Bat city. Straight talk.

Liz Brink was born and raised in District 5 — back when the drive down South Congress still felt like a small town and you knew the folks at the hardware store by name. She never left, and she watched every change up close.

Liz Brink for Austin City Council District 5

Liz Brink was born and raised in District 5.

What does Liz Brink do for a living?

She is a licensed master electrician who came up through apprenticeship and journeyman hours — code books, service calls, and Austin attics in August.

About Liz Brink

Liz Brink works as a licensed master electrician.

Liz works as a licensed master electrician.

Fiscal Responsibility

Limit tax increases. Spend wisely. Taxpayer dollars are not unlimited, and D5 families feel every hike.

Maintain Our City

Transparency & Accountability

Independent audits. Strong oversight. Clear reporting and measurable results you can actually look up.

Protect Austin

Supports limiting tax increases and spending city funds carefully.

Supports independent audits, oversight, and public reporting on city spending and results.

- Supports limiting tax increases and spending city funds carefully.
- Supports independent audits, oversight, and public reporting on city spending and results.

As of September 10, 2026, Liz Brink’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Here's the standard Liz will push for.

Staff the shifts

Recruit and retain officers, firefighters and medics with pay and support that competes with every suburb poaching them.

Light it up

Working streetlights, cleared sightlines, safe crossings, and intersections that stop killing people.

The Platform

Clear commitments. No hedging, no jargon, no consultant-speak. Hold her to every one.

Public Safety First

Keep our neighborhoods safe and back the men and women who answer the call — police, fire, and EMS staffed and supported.

Answer the call

Publish 911 and EMS response times by district, every month. If D5 waits longer, D5 hears about it first.

Plans to recruit and retain officers, firefighters, and medics through competitive pay and support.

Plans to maintain streetlights, clear sightlines, and improve crossings and intersections.

Supports staffing and providing support for police, fire, and emergency medical services.

Plans to publish monthly 911 and emergency medical services response times by district.

- Plans to recruit and retain officers, firefighters, and medics through competitive pay and support.
- Plans to maintain streetlights, clear sightlines, and improve crossings and intersections.
- Supports staffing and providing support for police, fire, and emergency medical services.
- Plans to publish monthly 911 and emergency medical services response times by district.

Maintain Our City

Fix our roads, our drainage, our grid. Deliver the essential services we already pay for before chasing shiny new ones.

Transparency & Accountability

Prioritizes repairing roads, drainage, and the electrical grid before pursuing new city services.

- Prioritizes repairing roads, drainage, and the electrical grid before pursuing new city services.

Protect Austin

Preserve our parks, greenbelts, waterways, and the natural beauty that made people fall in love with this town.

People Over Politics

Supports preserving parks, greenbelts, waterways, and other natural areas.

- Supports preserving parks, greenbelts, waterways, and other natural areas.

Liz Brink

- Supports staffing and providing support for police, fire, and emergency medical services.
- Plans to publish monthly 911 and emergency medical services response times by district.

Twitter

- Supports staffing, competitive pay, and support for recruiting and retaining police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel.
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Ryan was born at St. David's South and is still here. He lives in South Austin with his wife Rita and their three kids — Aurora, Atticus, and Alistair. If you see them on the trails, at the playground, or around the neighborhood, come say “Hi!"

Ryan for Austin

Trained with the analytical skills of an engineer from UT Austin and graduate of Harvard Law School, Ryan has proven he has the tools to tackle any challenge facing our community. At the Capitol and now in City Hall, Ryan has championed policies to create more opportunities for more people everywhere.

Welcome to District 5

Ryan Alter was born at St. David's South. He trained as an engineer at UT Austin and graduated from Harvard Law School. He lives with his wife, Rita, and their three children.

District 5 | City of Austin | AustinTexas.gov

As the lead sponsor of the Environmental Investment Plan and other policies that ensure we have clean air, fresh water, and abundant natural space to enjoy, Ryan has relentlessly pushed to protect our environment. Having fought for years fighting for progressive policies as a Capitol staff member for Senators Kirk Watson, Sylvia Garcia, and Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, he understands it is going to take local solutions to meet the challenges of today.

Ryan Alter previously worked as a Capitol staff member for Senators Kirk Watson, Sylvia Garcia, and Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa.

Ryan previously worked as a Capitol staff member for Senators Kirk Watson, Sylvia Garcia, and Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa.

Welcome to District 5

Ryan Alter was elected in 2022 to represent District 5, covering south Austin.

Quick Links

Ryan currently serves on the Austin City Council representing District 5. He was elected in 2022.

As of September 10, 2026, Ryan Alter’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Imagine walking a few blocks from your front door to a park that's actually ready for you. A place where the playscapes are intact, restrooms clean, trails maintained, and enough shade for you to enjoy it all. This is what a park system built for Austin looks like: not a rare amenity across town, but a neighborhood fixture every family can walk to and count on.

How we get there:
 Establish an asset renewal fund to fix our broken slides, swing sets, and other equipment
 Continue to grow our parks maintenance efforts
 Close the gap for the 35% of Austin that can’t walk to a local park

Ryan for Austin — Issues

Proposes a park asset-renewal fund, expanded park maintenance, and improvements to walkable park access.

- Proposes a park asset-renewal fund, expanded park maintenance, and improvements to walkable park access.

Everyone who wants to live in Austin should be able to afford to live in Austin. That means building enough housing for our workers, for our seniors, for our students, and for our families. We can do this by:
 Requiring deeply affordable housing to be built in exchange for increased entitlements
 Lowering development costs by further fixing the permitting process
 Modernizing our 40+ year-old development code to meet today’s housing needs

Seniors on a fixed income shouldn’t struggle to stay in their home. That’s why we’ve almost doubled the senior homestead exemption in the last 4 years from $113,000 to $204,000 – saving seniors thousands. We’ve also increased funding for programs like Meals on Wheels that support aging in place.

We have to build on this work by:
 Continuing to keep senior taxes flat through increases in the senior homestead exemption
 Strengthening programs that allows seniors to stay in their homes
 Expand our network of senior and recreation centers

A renter must not be held hostage by their landlord. That starts with work we did to:
 Require fee disclosures, so no one is surprised by hidden junk fees
 Prevent evictions with legal support and targeted rental assistance
 Enforcing lease terms that protect renters
 We must build on these successes to level the playing field between renters and landlords.

Too often we measure success by the number of dollars we are spending, not the number of people being successfully housed. We must do better by:
 Investing in proven, cost-effective solutions
 Holding partners accountable who are not performing
Working with service providers so they aren’t set up for failure

In just the past five years we have more than doubled our shelter and housing capacity. This has allowed us to get more people off the streets and into housing than ever before. We can maintain this momentum by:
 Bringing 400+ shelter beds online over the next 4 years
 Taking advantage of high vacancy rates to get people in housing
 Delivering the hundreds of supportive housing units in the pipeline

Seniors on a fixed income shouldn’t struggle to stay in their home. That’s why we’ve almost doubled the senior homestead exemption in the last 4 years from $113,000 to $204,000 – saving seniors thousands. We’ve also increased funding for programs like Meals on Wheels that support aging in place.

NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, EVERYONE DESERVES THE DIGNITY OF A BED, PILLOW, FOOD, AND A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.
First multi-year decline in the number people entering homelessness
Wait time to get housing has decreased 25%
More than doubled emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and supportive housing capacity over past 5 years
Opening a new housing navigation center better equipped to handle this growing need
The cheapest, most effective tool we have is to keep people housed. Expanding our prevention programs will allow us to serve more people with fewer dollars all while increasing outcomes.

Proposes requiring deeply affordable housing in exchange for increased development entitlements.

Plans to increase senior homestead exemptions, strengthen aging-in-place programs, and expand senior and recreation centers.

Supports rental-fee disclosures, eviction-prevention legal support and rental assistance, and enforcement of lease terms protecting renters.

Proposes investing in proven homelessness solutions, holding underperforming partners accountable, and working with service providers.

Plans to add more than 400 shelter beds, use high housing-vacancy rates, and deliver planned supportive-housing units.

Said the council nearly doubled the senior homestead exemption and increased Meals on Wheels funding to help seniors remain at home.

Advocates expanding homelessness-prevention programs to keep more people housed.

- Proposes requiring deeply affordable housing in exchange for increased development entitlements.
- Plans to increase senior homestead exemptions, strengthen aging-in-place programs, and expand senior and recreation centers.
- Supports rental-fee disclosures, eviction-prevention legal support and rental assistance, and enforcement of lease terms protecting renters.
- Proposes investing in proven homelessness solutions, holding underperforming partners accountable, and working with service providers.
- Plans to add more than 400 shelter beds, use high housing-vacancy rates, and deliver planned supportive-housing units.
- Said the council nearly doubled the senior homestead exemption and increased Meals on Wheels funding to help seniors remain at home.
- Advocates expanding homelessness-prevention programs to keep more people housed.

Thinking differently about how we respond to emergencies is not only going to save lives, it’s going to save money. That’s why in the next four years we should:
 Expand EMS’s C4 program that replaces a costly ambulance with connections to more appropriate and effective community services
 Utilize non-APD personnel for non-emergency calls like crash reporting, allowing existing officers to focus on higher priorities
 Explore non-sworn park safety options so everyone is safe in our parks

SAFE COMMUNITIES DON’T JUST RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES, THEY PREVENT THEM.
6% reduction in District 5 crime since taking office
Expanded the Emergency Medical Crisis Outreach Team to 24/7
Long-term contracts with all three public-safety departments
First dedicated investment to community violence intervention to prevent crime
Filled vacancies across our public safety departments
We are breaking the cycle of crime and trauma by investing in programs that stop crimes before they occur. Through the community violence intervention program, we invest in neighborhoods to address the root causes of crime and stem gun violence. Violent crime can be prevented if we continue to make smart investments in community-level programs like these.

Not every emergency requires someone with a badge to show up. That’s why I have pushed aggressively for smarter emergency response that matches an emergency with the right professional. This is particularly true for emergency mental health calls, where now instead of a police officer, we utilize trained mental health professionals 24/7.

Plans to expand Emergency Medical Services' C4 program, use non-police personnel for nonemergency calls, and explore non-sworn park-safety options.

Supports community violence-intervention programs intended to address causes of crime and reduce gun violence.

Advocates assigning trained mental-health professionals, rather than police officers, to mental-health emergency calls.

- Plans to expand Emergency Medical Services' C4 program, use non-police personnel for nonemergency calls, and explore non-sworn park-safety options.
- Supports community violence-intervention programs intended to address causes of crime and reduce gun violence.
- Advocates assigning trained mental-health professionals, rather than police officers, to mental-health emergency calls.

You shouldn’t have to get in your car to visit a neighbor, get a cup of coffee or taco, or enjoy a park. Complete connected communities should be the standard, not the exception. To do that, we should allow:
 Neighborhood-scale coffee and food shops
 Mixed-use development that integrates housing and commercial, especially in transit zones
 Missing-middle housing attainable to first-time homebuyers, teachers, nurses, and workers

In the general election in November, none of the six candidates for District 5 got more than 50% of the votes. As the top two vote-getters, Alter and Bazan went to a runoff this month.

During the campaign season, the two candidates were aligned on some key issues, like support for Project Connect. On other initiatives, though, like expanding I-35, they differed: Bazan was against the project, while Alter supported it.

Along with a new mayor and two new council members, Alter is scheduled to be sworn in on Jan. 6.

Ryan Alter wins race to represent District 5 on the Austin City Council

WALK, BIKE, AND STROLL
Neighbors can’t connect with each other if they can’t reach each other. We need to build infrastructure that:
 Allows parents to stroll their kids to their local park
 Makes it safe to walk or bike without getting hit by cars
 Supports small local businesses where neighbors can gather

Supports neighborhood-scale food and coffee shops, mixed-use development near transit, and missing-middle housing.

Supported Project Connect and expanding Interstate 35 during the 2022 campaign.

Advocates pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure that improves access to parks and local businesses and reduces the risk of vehicle collisions.

- Supports neighborhood-scale food and coffee shops, mixed-use development near transit, and missing-middle housing.
- Supported Project Connect and expanding Interstate 35 during the 2022 campaign.
- Advocates pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure that improves access to parks and local businesses and reduces the risk of vehicle collisions.

We are building a climate-ready Austin that can withstand the heat, storms, and growing demands on our local infrastructure. As summers grow longer and hotter and hundred-year winter storms hitting with greater frequency, we must:
 Increase the resiliency of our local grid through batteries, solar, and other infrastructure
 Lower our urban heat-island with more trees, cooler pavement, and more shade
 Deploy more green infrastructure to naturally mitigate local flooding

We should never worry about water coming out of the faucet or the air we breathe poisoning our bodies. That’s why I have been a fierce advocate to protect our water supply, limit pollution, and preserve green spaces from over-development. I will continue to fight for:
 Limits on large water users, including data centers
 Electrification of everything we can
 Strong protections for natural spaces in any new development

NATURE IS THE SOUL OF AUSTIN. THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR CLEAN AIR, FRESH WATER, AND OUR NATURAL SPACES.
Championed a $50 million investment to preserve parks and open spaces
Added millions to better maintain our park spaces
Launched the largest solar on city facilities effort in the nation – saving money and increasing resilience
Stormwater improvements in D5

Advocates grid resilience through batteries, solar, and other infrastructure; heat reduction through trees, cooler pavement, and shade; and green flood infrastructure.

Advocates limiting large water users, expanding electrification, and protecting natural spaces in new development.

Said he championed a $50 million investment to preserve parks and open spaces and launched a solar initiative for city facilities.

- Advocates grid resilience through batteries, solar, and other infrastructure; heat reduction through trees, cooler pavement, and shade; and green flood infrastructure.
- Advocates limiting large water users, expanding electrification, and protecting natural spaces in new development.
- Said he championed a $50 million investment to preserve parks and open spaces and launched a solar initiative for city facilities.

Ryan Alter

- Said the council nearly doubled the senior homestead exemption and increased Meals on Wheels funding to help seniors remain at home.
- Advocates expanding homelessness-prevention programs to keep more people housed.

- Supports community violence-intervention programs intended to address causes of crime and reduce gun violence.
- Advocates assigning trained mental-health professionals, rather than police officers, to mental-health emergency calls.

- Advocates pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure that improves access to parks and local businesses and reduces the risk of vehicle collisions.

- City council members collaborate to create and enforce city policies, including legislation on essential services like police, fire, parks, libraries, and utilities.
- They work alongside the mayor to manage city departments, including transportation and parks and recreation.
- Council members can be elected to represent specific districts or the entire city at-large.
- The structure of city councils, including the number of members, their terms, term limits, and partisanship, differs by county.

Passes laws and regulations for your city.

Austin City Council Member, District 5

Candidates (4)