Tuesday's filing deadline for the May 12 City elections reveals that Mayor Lee Leffingwell will have two challengers on the ballot, while 11 people will vie for three seats - places 2, 5, and 6 - on the City Council.
Brigid Shea, who served on the council from 1993-1996, helped co-found the Save Our Springs Alliance. In an interview with the Austin American-Statesman in January, Shea said that she senses a growing dissatisfaction among Austinites with their local government. "The overwhelming response I've gotten (while considering a run) is that people are not happy with the direction at City Hall," Shea told the Statesman. "They feel that City Hall is tone deaf about the effect their choices are having on people's household budgets."
Joining Leffingwell and Shea on the mayoral ballot is Richard "Clay" Dafoe.
City Council Place 2 incumbent Mike Martinez is being challenged by Laura Pressley, an outspoken advocate for going fluoride free in city water. She also wants to focus on City finances, making sure that an increase in spending means an increase in services.
City Council Place 5 has drawn 6 challengers vying to unseat incumbent Bill Spelman - Audrey “Tina” Cannon, Dominic M. Chavez, David Yepez Conley, John Duffy, Robert A. “Bo” Prudente, and John A. Rubine.
And in City Council Place 6, incumbent and current Mayor Pro-Tem Sheryl Cole is being challenged by Shaun D. Ireland.
Election day is May 12. Early voting will run from April 30 - May 8.
