Selena earned a degree in Political Science and Economics from Amherst College. Later she attended Austin Community College to study paramedicine and Texas Tech University to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Along the way, she developed a deep appreciation for both public policy and frontline service—an uncommon combination that continues to shape her leadership today.

Selena for Austin — About

Selena Xie earned a degree in political science and economics from Amherst College, studied paramedicine at Austin Community College, and earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Texas Tech University.

Her passion for public service ultimately led her to Austin-Travis County EMS, where she has served the community for more than a decade. Starting as a field paramedic and rising through the ranks to Commander, Selena has spent years responding to emergencies in neighborhoods across Austin, including many throughout District 8.

In addition to her EMS service, Selena works as an ICU nurse at Dell Seton Medical Center, caring for critically ill patients and helping families navigate some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

Selena Xie works as an intensive care unit nurse at Dell Seton Medical Center and serves as a Commander with Austin-Travis County EMS. She previously worked as a field paramedic.

Selena works as an intensive care unit nurse at Dell Seton Medical Center and serves as a Commander with Austin-Travis County EMS. She previously worked as a field paramedic.

2026 Texas General Election

Selena will:

Conduct rolling performance audits of every city department at least once every five years.
Require regular evaluations of city programs to ensure they are meeting community needs.
Advocate for sunset provisions on Council budget amendments to improve transparency and reduce government bloat.

Selena for Austin — Issues

How do you view city spending and taxing, and would you pursue any specific fiscal strategies in office?
Residents deserve a City government that spends responsibly and delivers results. I would support regular audits of every City department, outcome-based budgeting, and greater transparency around spending. We should scrutinize fees and contracts, prioritize essential services, and pursue efficiencies before asking taxpayers for more.

Meet the candidates running for Austin City Council District 8

Advocates for sunset provisions on City Council budget amendments.

Plans to conduct rolling performance audits of every city department at least once every five years.

Plans to require regular evaluations of city programs to assess whether they meet community needs.

Supports scrutinizing city fees and contracts and pursuing efficiencies before raising taxes.

- Advocates for sunset provisions on City Council budget amendments.
- Plans to conduct rolling performance audits of every city department at least once every five years.
- Plans to require regular evaluations of city programs to assess whether they meet community needs.
- Supports scrutinizing city fees and contracts and pursuing efficiencies before raising taxes.

Economy

Selena will:

Advocate for responsible water management policies that protect Austin's long-term water supply.
Clear out brush and other wildfire fuel to reduce wildfires from rapidly spreading into neighborhoods.
Advocate for more parkland acquisition and resources for our Parks department.

Selena will:

Increase homestead exemption for seniors and long term residents to reduce displacement.
Expand when our neighborhood pools open to earlier in the summer and close later in the fall.

Advocates for acquiring more parkland and providing additional resources to Austin's Parks department.

Plans to extend neighborhood-pool operating seasons to earlier in summer and later in fall.

- Advocates for acquiring more parkland and providing additional resources to Austin's Parks department.
- Plans to extend neighborhood-pool operating seasons to earlier in summer and later in fall.

Public Services

Selena will:

Closely monitor the implementation of the HOME initiative to ensure it delivers equitable and affordable outcomes.
Prioritize affordable family sized housing to help growing families afford Austin. This also increases enrollment in public schools.
Expand programs that help vulnerable residents access solar panels that reduce utility bills.

How would you grade the city’s current work on affordable housing and development policy, and why?
While Austin has made meaningful investments in affordable housing, much more needs to be done. There needs to be a focus on providing deeply affordable and family-friendly housing. At the same time we need to expand home repair and eviction prevention programs to keep residents in their homes and communities.

And echoing the complaints that have been made about the recent rezoning of Acacia Cliffs, Xie said, "While I do believe that we need to increase our housing stock, I don't think we should simply allow displacement to occur."

A Dem v Dem Battle in Southwest Austin

When I asked how she would have handled Acacia Cliffs, she said Council should have negotiated harder with the developer for "more concessions" for the current residents.

"If we are displacing people, they can end up homeless," she said. "We're allowing developers to foist these costs onto taxpayers."

Selena will:

Expand programs that help vulnerable residents access solar panels that reduce utility bills.
Increase homestead exemption for seniors and long term residents to reduce displacement.
Expand when our neighborhood pools open to earlier in the summer and close later in the fall.

Plans to monitor implementation of the HOME initiative for equitable and affordable outcomes.

Prioritizes deeply affordable, family-sized housing.

Supports increasing housing supply while seeking concessions from developers to limit displacement of current residents.

Supports expanding home-repair and eviction-prevention programs to help residents remain in their homes and communities.

Plans to increase homestead exemptions for seniors and long-term residents to reduce displacement.

- Plans to monitor implementation of the HOME initiative for equitable and affordable outcomes.
- Prioritizes deeply affordable, family-sized housing.
- Supports increasing housing supply while seeking concessions from developers to limit displacement of current residents.
- Supports expanding home-repair and eviction-prevention programs to help residents remain in their homes and communities.
- Plans to increase homestead exemptions for seniors and long-term residents to reduce displacement.

Housing & Urban Development

Selena will:

Maintain strong EMS, fire, and emergency response capabilities.
Protect response times and emergency service ratings.
Expand alternative response programs for non emergency 911 calls.
Create a homeless respite option so that when 911 is called on someone who is homeless, there are better options than the jail or the hospital.

Selena will:

Protect response times and emergency service ratings.
Expand alternative response programs for non emergency 911 calls.
Create a homeless respite option so that when 911 is called on someone who is homeless, there are better options than the jail or the hospital. Respite care offers mental health services and case management that are necessary in getting housed.

Selena will:

Expand alternative response programs for non emergency 911 calls.
Create a homeless respite option so that when 911 is called on someone who is homeless, there are better options than the jail or the hospital. Respite care offers mental health services and case management that are necessary in getting housed.

Plans to maintain emergency medical services, fire, and emergency-response capabilities while protecting response times and service ratings.

Plans to expand alternative-response programs for nonemergency 911 calls.

Plans to create a homeless respite option offering alternatives to jail or a hospital after 911 calls.

- Plans to maintain emergency medical services, fire, and emergency-response capabilities while protecting response times and service ratings.
- Plans to expand alternative-response programs for nonemergency 911 calls.
- Plans to create a homeless respite option offering alternatives to jail or a hospital after 911 calls.

Public Safety

What are the top mobility challenges in your district, and how should they be addressed?
The top mobility challenges in District 8 include a lack of sidewalks and connectivity, the need for greater transit options, and improved trail and bicycle infrastructure. It is also critical to make better connections between housing, transit, and other mobility options in the district.

Calls for better connections between housing, transit, and other mobility options in District 8.

- Calls for better connections between housing, transit, and other mobility options in District 8.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Selena will:

Enforce strong watershed protections for Barton Creek and the Edwards Aquifer.
Require green infrastructure and sustainable design practices in new developments.
Expand wildfire mitigation and climate resilience investments.

Selena will:

Enforce strong watershed protections for Barton Creek and the Edwards Aquifer.
Require green infrastructure and sustainable design practices in new developments.
Expand wildfire mitigation and climate resilience investments.
Support energy efficiency programs and renewable energy initiatives that lower costs and reduce environmental impacts.

Selena will:

Require green infrastructure and sustainable design practices in new developments.
Expand wildfire mitigation and climate resilience investments.
Support energy efficiency programs and renewable energy initiatives that lower costs and reduce environmental impacts.
Advocate for responsible water management policies that protect Austin's long-term water supply.

Selena will:

Expand wildfire mitigation and climate resilience investments.
Support energy efficiency programs and renewable energy initiatives that lower costs and reduce environmental impacts.
Advocate for responsible water management policies that protect Austin's long-term water supply.
Clear out brush and other wildfire fuel to reduce wildfires from rapidly spreading into neighborhoods.

Selena will:

Support energy efficiency programs and renewable energy initiatives that lower costs and reduce environmental impacts.
Advocate for responsible water management policies that protect Austin's long-term water supply.
Clear out brush and other wildfire fuel to reduce wildfires from rapidly spreading into neighborhoods.
Advocate for more parkland acquisition and resources for our Parks department.

Selena will:

Prioritize affordable family sized housing to help growing families afford Austin. This also increases enrollment in public schools.
Expand programs that help vulnerable residents access solar panels that reduce utility bills.
Increase homestead exemption for seniors and long term residents to reduce displacement.

Plans to enforce watershed protections for Barton Creek and the Edwards Aquifer.

Plans to require green infrastructure and sustainable design in new developments.

Plans to expand wildfire mitigation and climate-resilience investments, including clearing wildfire fuel near neighborhoods.

Supports energy-efficiency programs and renewable-energy initiatives.

Advocates for water-management policies that protect Austin's long-term water supply.

Plans to expand programs helping vulnerable residents access solar panels.

- Plans to enforce watershed protections for Barton Creek and the Edwards Aquifer.
- Plans to require green infrastructure and sustainable design in new developments.
- Plans to expand wildfire mitigation and climate-resilience investments, including clearing wildfire fuel near neighborhoods.
- Supports energy-efficiency programs and renewable-energy initiatives.
- Advocates for water-management policies that protect Austin's long-term water supply.
- Plans to expand programs helping vulnerable residents access solar panels.

Energy & the Environment

LinkedIn

Selena Xie

- Plans to conduct rolling performance audits of every city department at least once every five years.
- Plans to require regular evaluations of city programs to assess whether they meet community needs.
- Supports scrutinizing city fees and contracts and pursuing efficiencies before raising taxes.

- Supports expanding home-repair and eviction-prevention programs to help residents remain in their homes and communities.
- Plans to increase homestead exemptions for seniors and long-term residents to reduce displacement.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Jeffery Bowen

- 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.