25 candidates file to run in Austin's mayor and city council elections
%INLINE%The landscape for Austin’s local elections this November is now set as 25 candidates have filed to run for the title of council member and mayor.
This year’s election features an open mayor seat and five open city council seats in Districts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9. Although the 2018 election is the second since the city switched to a district system of city council representation in 2014, it will be the first time the running incumbents have to defend their seats.
The race for mayor will have incumbent Mayor Steve Adler vying for re-election against challengers Laura Morrison, a former two-term Austin City Council member; Travis Duncan, a former installer at Tesla and Gus Peña, a military veteran and former Internal Revenue Service investigator.
The next iteration of the 10-1 council will see at least two new faces join the dais representing Districts 1 and 8 in what looks to be a pair of crowded races. Incumbents Ora Houston and Ellen Troxclair chose not to seek re-election. District 5 incumbent City Council Member Ann Kitchen will run unopposed, while District 9 incumbent Council Member Kathie Tovo and District 3 incumbent Council Member Pio Renteria will face three and five challengers, respectively.
Below is a complete list of the candidates in each race. Election day is Nov. 6.
Mayor of Austin
Steve Adler (incumbent)
Travis Duncan
Laura Morrison
Gustavo “Gus” Peña
City Council District 1
Mitrah Avini
Lewis Conway Jr.
Vincent Harding
Natasha Harper-Madison
Mariana Salazar
Reedy Spigner
City Council District 3
Sabino “Pio” Renteria (incumbent)
Susana Almanza
Jessica Cohen
Justin Jacobson
Amit Motwani
James Valadez
City Council District 5
Ann Kitchen (incumbent)
City Council District 8
Rich DePalma
Paige Ellis
Bobby Levinski
Frank Ward III
City Council District 9
Kathie Tovo (incumbent)
Isiah Jones
Linda O’Neal
Danielle Skidmore
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From FOX 7's reporting partner Community Impact.