Election
BY BEN THOMPSON
*INCUMBENT
Austin City Council, District 6
Austin City Council, District 10
Why are you running for this office and what’s the central issue you’re hoping to address? D6 needs results not rhetoric on 911 response times; power, water and wastewater reliability; traffic solutions and safer streets; housing affordability and neighborhood stability; homelessness; [and] extreme weather and wildfire preparedness. I have 10 years professional experience analyzing Austin housing, transportation and utilities projects, plus a track record as an effective D6 community leader and problem solver. I’m running for re-election to continue my work restoring the police force and prioritizing public safety. My central goal is to build a thriving, affordable community in District 6 by improving infrastructure, supporting small businesses and reducing the tax burden for residents.
How would you aim to keep Austin affordable for residents? Austin has long had complex regulations that are expensive and time consuming to navigate. We must streamline regulations, internal processes and departments so that permits and approvals are easier for individuals to obtain. It is also critical to maintain a strong financial rating.
Why are you running for this office and what’s the central issue you’re hoping to address? I want to build on my professional and community service experience to continue to bring accountability and affordability to our budget, land use policies and city planning. I’ll work to ensure we are putting District 10 people and priorities first, and push back against extremism and wastefulness.
How would you aim to keep Austin affordable for residents? I’ll leverage my financial and budgeting experience to ensure projects are scoped correctly and tax dollars create value. I’ll advocate for audits, retire obsolete programs, spend our $1.4B in unexpended bonds and champion metrics that tie spending to outcomes so we can continue what works and fix what’s broken.
Krista Laine Occupation & experience: expert Austin housing market analyst, longtime community leader, Access RRISD co-founder and president, Columbia University graduate www.kristalaine.com
Marc Duchen Occupation & experience: two decades in politics, advocacy, technology, running a small business, decade of community board service www.marcforaustin.com
To keep Austin affordable, I’ll advocate for property tax relief, efficient city budgeting and support for local businesses. I’ll work to stabilize utility rates; explore renewable energy; and ensure residents, especially seniors and low-income households, aren’t priced out of their homes. Affordability remains my top priority.
District 10 faces many challenges after years of growth. I grew up in Austin, and I have watched the city change. We are facing public safety challenges, including police staffing and wildfire preparedness, traffic and housing challenges, and the biggest challenge of all—holding on to what makes Austin special.
The median home price in Austin has tripled in the last fifteen years. That’s because we don’t have enough housing. The council should focus its energy on ensuring long-time residents can afford to live here while also responsibly managing growth. We can do more with senior and disabled homestead exemptions.
Mackenzie Kelly* Occupation & experience: current District 6 council member www.mackenzie4austin.com
Ashika Ganguly Occupation & experience: five years [Austin] ISD teacher, UT master’s in policy, legislative and policy expert at Capitol www.ashikaforaustin.com
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.
HYMEADOW 12611 Hymeadow (512) 506-8401 CEDAR PARK 13530 Ronald Reagan Blvd (512) 986-7681
ARBORETUM 10515 N Mopac Expressway (512) 342-6893 NORTH 620
10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316
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