Austin Mayor Rotating Header Image

Austin Mayor Leffingwell

May 13th, 2009
by admin.

Brewster McCracken has bowed out of the runoff gracefully, facing a 20 point vote deficit and Lee Leffingwell is Austin’s new mayor.

I’m sure Max will be along soon - when he gets back in town - to give his viewpoint on the Mayor’s race and the future prospects for Austin.

McCracken withdrew just two days after he finished second in the polls behind council member Lee Leffingwell. McCracken made his decision Monday after talking to his supporters, but he says it became apparent on election night that winning a runoff was just too much of an uphill battle.

McCracken received 27 percent of the vote. Leffingwell led with 47 percent, just short of the “50 percent plus one vote” rule, that would have put Leffingwell into a runoff with McCracken.

McCracken said Monday a runoff would have required a tough fundraising drive in tough economic times and that the runoff itself would have been costly for taxpayers to the tune of about half a million dollars.
“I believe that pursuing a runoff election would not be in the best interest of Austin, so that’s why I’m doing it,” said McCracken. “I thought it would have been a distraction in a time when Austin needs to get to work tackling our challenges.”

McCracken offered his support and help to Leffingwell, who will be sworn in next month.

“We know there are some very difficult budget decisions ahead of us,” said Leffingwell. –”It will not exactly be a pleasant time to be mayor, but it’s an important time to be mayor.”

Mayor-elect Leffingwell said his priorities include tackling the budget and establishing a cabinet of community leaders to help advise him.

McCracken had reached his term limits as a council member. He says leaving elected life will give him more time to spend with his 5-year-old son and his new wife. He plans to stay involved with renewable energy issues like the Pecan Street Project.

Leffingwell said Monday that he will consider withdrawing his criminal complaint against McCracken if the issue can be resolved another way, such as by an attorney general’s decision or by city council action.

Stick around Austin Mayor blog for some thoughts and comments from Max Nofziger about Austin’s future.

Posted in: austin, election, environment, government, leffingwell, mayor, politics, texas.
Tagged: · · ·

← Runoff: LeeandBrew
  • Dear Austin Mayor leffinwell
    My name is Allen Wayne Ray Jr.I recently in the past few months emailed you and Assoc. with supporting ideas for the city , by introducing such projects such as the town lake boat scene for more tourist as well as a depression relief on the city giving them something new to look at. I also suggested new median gardens in spots and places that seem deserted and desolate to provide more color and inspiration ; I did see a man painting a mural by the obvious YMCA building I wonder if I had a part in that , fore I do not get ay positive update responses by word but is OK imp cool with that. I just gave a proposition for another bush and garden project that will help bring back some old and new friends and make life better on the inner and outer fishing scene that was the point on that one.
    SOMETHING NEW:
    Anyway I am a young & handsome African American male twenty four years old trying to make a name and find a spot for me carrier wise as well as for the experience of life. Now this is a band new proposal I present to you for the sake of enjoyment and happiness. What if we took Barton springs the free area and made it a half-beach half rocky area by smoothing it out breaking it down with all the right precautions adding sand and gravel for a more sunset beachside look? by doing this it will attract more people attention and eye witch means tourist food vacations , well as the look is more happy and joyous like we gave you the beach now settle down its cool. Also this will be safer for the construction workers because they are now on the ground. This is just a thought for a suggestion comment if you will that could become ground breaking reality for the sake of something new God bless thank you for your time.

  • Roger Barb
    City's green energy effort comprehensive
    Includes hybrid cars, wind and solar energy, and methane power from landfill
    By Sara Foley (Contact)
    Sunday, June 21, 2009

    CORPUS CHRISTI — The city has a plan to shrink its carbon footprint by buying hybrid cars, using wind energy and lighting city parks and traffic signals with solar power.

    The “Green City” program, which will go before the City Council for a vote Tuesday, calls for the city to reduce its energy usage by 5 percent and teach residents to cut energy costs.

    The plan ties into Mayor Joe Adame’s vision for city pride, an increased emphasis on recycling and a cleaner city, he said.

    “I think that anyone thinking along the lines of conserving energy is the kind of person who cleans up the city and has pride in it,” Adame said. “It’s all the same mindset as far as I’m concerned.”

    The proposed energy management program includes tentative plans to place up to 15 wind turbines at the Cefe Valenzuela landfill, using methane gas at the Elliot Landfill to power a nearby wastewater treatment plant and installing solar-powered panels at school zone traffic signals and other sites. There’s also an idea for a large-scale solar energy project at the city airport.

    The plan also asks the council to commit to buying hybrid or natural gas vehicles when it replaces outdated city cars. The city regularly replaces 100 to 150 cars a year and the plan calls for a portion of them to be eco-friendly models, which can cost about $10,000 more but use less fuel.

    Councilman John Marez said the council reviewed how Austin shifted to hybrid vehicles and was interested in Corpus Christi doing the same.

    “(Fuel costs) have been a big concern and hopefully hybrid vehicles could reduce the overall cost,” he said. “I think everyone on the council supports green living.”

    The plan would also require a review of the city’s policy for personal use of city vehicles and rearrange city driving schedules and routes to reduce the $7 million annual fuel spending by 5 percent a year.

    Part of the program would be a campaign to help city residents reduce their energy bills. That would be done with energy saving tips on the city’s Web site and programming on the city’s public access cable channel.

    The city has been allocated $2.7 million in federal stimulus dollars for energy efficiency programs, which could pay for some of the changes. Another request for $500,000 in federal energy efficiency grants is pending.

    The plans comply with statewide goals identified two years ago by the state Legislature, City Intergovernmental Relations Director Rudy Garza said.

    May work here in Austin
blog comments powered by Disqus