Kirk Watson

Last updated

Kirk Watson
Mayor Kirk Watson at 8th Street Shelter.png
54th and 59th Mayor of Austin
Assumed office
January 6, 2023

Much of Watson's first year in office was spent mediating a long, very bitter dispute on the CAMPO board over highway improvements in the Austin area. While many of the improvements had been in transportation plans for years, they had never been constructed. A lack of transportation funding, affecting projects across Texas, had led previous boards to support plans that would toll the additional capacity as well as nearly completed projects, sparking intense opposition throughout the region.[ citation needed ]

Upon being elected chairman by the rest of the board in January 2007, Watson led the effort to keep the controversial projects in the region's transportation plan. He then spearheaded a public effort to create a process that would allow policy makers and the public to analyze the need for transportation projects, mechanisms to pay for them, and potential public benefits from them.[ citation needed ]

On October 8, 2007, the CAMPO board overwhelmingly approved a plan to add new toll lanes to several existing highways (U.S. Highway 290, U.S. Highway 183, and State Highway 71). Most of the improvements were approved on a 15-4 vote, and none were opposed by more than five board members. The board was heckled with shouts of "Political suicide!" and catcalls.[ citation needed ]

Second term as Mayor of Austin (2023–present)

Election

Watson declared his candidacy for the 2022 mayoral election. In the November 8 general election, he advanced to a runoff election against Celia Israel. [38] On December 13, 2022, Watson won the runoff election with 57,346 votes (50.39%) to his opponent Israel's 56,460 votes (49.61%). [39]

Tenure

Watson was sworn in a second time as mayor of Austin on January 6, 2023. [40] Shortly after beginning his second term as mayor of Austin, Watson led an effort to terminate city manager Spencer Cronk, who was fired in a 10-1 vote by City Council. The decision came following the city's handling of communications and response to the winter storm, which resulted in long-term power outages for thousands of city residents lasting up to 12 days, [41] and the City Manager's decision to announce a four-year contract with the Austin Police Association — against the wishes of City Council to vote on a one-year contract amid negotiations. [42]

The council appointed Jesús Garza — a previous city manager during Watson’s previous tenure as mayor, and manager of the Stand Together Austin political action committee that supported Watson's mayoral campaign. [43] As interim city manager, Garza focused on improving basic city operations and replaced the General Manager of Austin Energy, the CEO of Austin's airport, the head of emergency operations, and the assistant city manager overseeing public safety. [44]

Public Safety

In March 2023, amid staffing shortages, 911 response delays at the Austin Police Department, and a viral spree of street racing incidents in which cop cars were harassed with live fireworks, [45] Watson reached an agreement with Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick to deploy the Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to patrol Austin, drawing scrutiny from some city council members who were left out of conversations prior to the announcement. [46]

Under Watson's tenure, response times at Austin's 911 call center improved, with operators answering 93.28% of calls within 15 seconds in November 2023 compared to July 2023 when only 69.18% of calls in 15 seconds or less. [47]

Homelessness

In July 2023, Watson helped secure almost $65 million from the state of Texas for local community groups to expand emergency shelters and provide more resources for people experiencing homelessness. [48] In addition, Watson also led the effort to add hundreds of shelter beds to Austin's homeless response system through the opening of the Marshalling Yard, the reopening of the Salvation Army shelter, and the expansion of the city's Northbridge and Southbridge shelters. [49] In August 2023, Integral Care, Travis County's largest mental health provider, announced it was planning to eliminate several staff positions due to budget issues. [50]

Following the news, Watson immediately began to work with Integral Care and Central Health to find a stop-gap funding solution. On September 6, 2023, Central Health, voted to approve its 2024 budget with last-minute emergency funding to Integral Care. [51]

Housing

For decades, efforts to reform Austin’s land use planning policies faced strong opposition from some homeowners and established neighborhood associations, who feared reforms would upset their own neighborhood character— forcing unwelcome changes in the makeup. [52] The last time Austin had a significant change in the code was in 1984. [53]

The movement to reform land use policies in Austin gained traction in recent years because of the city’s dramatic population growth and rise in housing prices, coupled with a comparatively low housing stock, and the elections of several pro-housing candidates to the Austin City Council in 2022. [52]

In an interview with the Texas Tribune in 2023, Watson signaled that the new Austin City Council would approach land use reform differently than previous ones: “We've got a supply and demand problem, and we're going to have to come up with unique and different ways than we've thought of in the past to solve it.” [52]

On December 7, 2023, Austin City Council took the first steps to reform housing policies by passing several new code amendments— including giving homeowners more freedom and the ability to build an additional unit on their lot. [54] In the spring of 2024, Austin City Council will consider more reforms including encouraging more transit-oriented developments, reducing the 5,750-square-foot minimum lot size in residential areas, and loosening compatibility rules. [55]

Watson faced criticism from some property owners who strongly opposed any changes in the land development code that would allow for more density, citing concerns about neighborhood character and worries about increased gentrification. [56] Reform advocates argue that under the current land development code, gentrification and displacement have already accelerated. [52]

Research by NYU’s Furman Center suggest that policies which constrained the housing supply may have unintended consequences for communities including environmental costs from a dependency on automobiles, an growing in suburban and rural sprawl, and increasing inequality. [57]

Project Connect

In November 2020, Austin voters overwhelmingly approved dedicating a portion of the City's property tax rate to fund Project Connect, Austin’s multibillion-dollar improvement and expansion plan. [58] This voter-approved funding included light rail, an expansion of rapid bus routes, and anti-displacement funds.

In the 88th Texas legislative session, Republican legislators Representative Ellen Troxclair and Senator Paul Bettencourt filed several pieces of legislation specifically targeting Austin’s voter-approved propositions, including the effort to kill Project Connect. [59] Watson worked with lawmakers in the Texas House to keep Project Connect alive from a last-minute senate amendment by Bettencourt that would have killed its financing. [60]

In November 2023, a small group of residents including former state senator Gonzalo Barrientos, Travis County commissioner Margaret Gómez, former Austin Council member Ora Houston, former city council candidate Susana Almanza, and hamburger restaurant Dirty Martin’s filed a lawsuit to halt the Project Connect’s funding mechanism. [61] The plaintiffs found support in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who issued a court filing challenging the validity of Project Connect’s funding mechanism. [62]

In response to the plaintiff’s lawsuit, Austin Transit Partnership, the local government corporation tasked with implementing Project Connect filed a bond validation petition in the Travis County District Court. The petition expedites a determination from an impartial court to affirm ATP’s bond program. The bond validation trial is set for May 28, 2024. [63]

Comments on the 2023-present Israel-Gaza conflict

On October 8, 2023, Watson released a statement after the events of October 7 in Israel. In the statement, Watson wrote, ""My heart breaks for the people of Israel. I stand with them, and I condemn the terrorist acts." [64] The next day he attended a pro-Israel event, titled "We Stand with Israel" [65] hosted by Shalom Austin and the Israeli-American Council, along with congressman Lloyd Doggett and Texas governor Greg Abbott. [66] Watson spoke at the event, held at the Dell Jewish Community Campus, wearing a yarmulke . [67] A coalition of several religious groups, University of Texas at Austin student groups, and the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation and the Jewish Voice for Peace have asked Watson to issue a statement supporting a ceasefire and the Palestinian people. [68] In a statement responding to the stabbing of Zacharia Doar at a pro-Palestine rally in February 2024, Watson supported the Austin Police Department's determination that it was a hate crime. In the same statement, he pivoted to comment on a proposed resolution by the Austin City Council supporting a ceasefire in Gaza, saying in part of a statement, "The proposed resolution of the Austin City Council will not realistically end the violence on the other side of the globe. Nor will it stop federal taxes from being used to implement U.S. foreign policy. That is not in our power. The resolution, however, has the power to divide Austin — and will." [69] [70] [71]

Electoral history

2022

2022 Austin mayoral runoff [72]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Kirk Watson 57,346 50.39
Nonpartisan Celia Israel 56,46049.61
Total votes113,806 100
2022 Austin mayoral general election [73]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Celia Israel 121,862 39.99
Nonpartisan Kirk Watson 106,508 34.95
Nonpartisan Jennifer Virden56,18918.44
Nonpartisan Phil Campero Brual7,2952.39
Nonpartisan Anthony Bradshaw7,1022.33
Nonpartisan Gary Spellman5,7811.90
Total votes304,737 100

2018

Texas general election, 2018: Senate District 14 [74] [75]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Kirk Watson276,05271.93−8.05
Republican George W. Hindman96,83425.23+25.23
Libertarian Micah M. Verlander10,8892.84−17.18
Majority179,21854.75−5.21
Turnout 383,77546.61n/a
Democratic hold

2014

Texas general election, 2014: Senate District 14 [76]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Kirk Watson154,39179.98−0.31
Libertarian James Arthur Strohm38,64820.02+0.31
Majority115,74359.96−0.62
Turnout 193,039n/an/a
Democratic hold

2012

Texas general election, 2012: Senate District 14 [77]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Kirk Watson212,52780.29+19.56
Libertarian Ryan M. Dixon52,18719.71+16.10
Majority164,57860.58+35.52
Turnout 264,714n/an/a
Democratic hold

2010

Texas general election, 2010: Senate District 14 [78]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Kirk Watson115,94960.73−19.59
Republican Mary Lou Serafine68,10035.67+35.67
Libertarian Kent Phillips6,8843.61−16.07
Majority47,94925.06−35.57
Turnout 190,933n/an/a
Democratic hold

2006

Texas general election, 2006: Senate District 14 [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Kirk Watson127,22380.32+27.61
Libertarian Robert "Rock" Howard31,18019.68+15.51
Majority96,04360.63+51.05
Turnout 158,403−12.29
Democratic hold

2002

Texas general election, 2002: Texas Attorney General [79]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Greg Abbott 2,542,18456.72+2.46
Democratic Kirk Watson1,841,35941.08−3.1
Libertarian Jon Roland56,8801.26−0.3
Green David Keith Cobb 41,5600.92+0.92
Majority700,82515.63
Turnout 4,481,983
Republican hold

2000

2000 Austin mayoral election [80]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Kirk Watson 29,777 84.03
Nonpartisan A. Leslie Cochran 2,7557.77
Nonpartisan Dale A. Reed1,6624.69
Nonpartisan Jennifer L. Gale1,2443.51
Total votes38,166 100

1997

1997 Austin mayoral election [81]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Kirk Watson 30,278 48.47
Nonpartisan Ronney Reynolds24,91539.89
Nonpartisan Michael "Max" Nofziger5,9669.55
Nonpartisan Jennifer L. Gale4200.67
Nonpartisan Kirk Becker3610.57
Nonpartisan Ray Blanchette1970.31
Nonpartisan Ted Kircher1650.26
Nonpartisan John Johnson1540.24
Total votes62,840 100

A majority is usually required to win a mayoral election in Austin, and if no candidate receives more than 50% in the general election, a winner is usually determined in a runoff election. However, on May 5, 1997, two days after the general election, candidate Ronney Reynolds, a two-term council member, withdrew from the runoff resulting in Watson's election as mayor. [82]

Personal life

Watson is married to Elizabeth Ann "Liz" McDaniel [83] and is the father of two sons. [84]

Notes

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  3. Mike Ward, "Democrat leader in Senate to leave post", San Antonio Express-News , October 10, 2015, p. A4
  4. Lindell, Chuck (January 8, 2019). "Austin's Kirk Watson elected Senate president pro tem". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  5. Pollock, Cassandra (February 18, 2020). "State Sen. Kirk Watson to retire from Texas Senate". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  6. Goudeau, Ashley (April 30, 2020). "State Sen. Kirk Watson headed to University of Houston". KVUE . Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  7. Watson, Kirk. "Meet Kirk". kirkwatson.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  8. 1 2 "Pro Texana, Medal Of Service: Sen. Kirk Watson". Baylor Magazine. Fall 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  9. 1 2 Hunt, Alan (April 22, 2005). "Kirk Watson To Speak At Baylor Law Graduation April 30". Baylor.edu. Baylor University. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  10. "TYLA 80th Anniversary – 1930-2010". Texas Young Lawyers Association.
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  13. Yetmen, Canan (July 20, 2016). "Pygmalion City". Texas Architect. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
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  15. Smith, Amy (April 20, 2001). "Deconstructing Downtown". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  16. "Race Summary Report - 2002 General Election". Secretary of State of Texas. November 5, 2002. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  17. 1 2 "Race Summary Report; 2006 General Election". Secretary of State of Texas. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  18. "Race Summary Report; 2006 Democratic Primary Election". Secretary of State of Texas. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
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  20. "The Dark Rider | Texas Senator Kirk Watson". Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  21. CAMPO Board members Archived July 31, 2012, at archive.today
  22. Burka, Paul; Hart, Patricia (July 2007). "2007: The Best and Worst Legislators". Texas Monthly.
  23. Harms, Natalie (July 2009). "The Best and Worst Legislators 2009". Texas Monthly.
  24. "Baylor Alumni Association to Present Two Awards at Dec. 19 Luncheon". Baylor University. December 14, 2009.
  25. "Concordia University Texas 2009: Excellence in Leadership Gala" (PDF). Concordia University Texas Magazine. Winter 2009. p. 17.
  26. "Kirk Watson v. Chris Matthews". The Texas Observer. Archived from the original on February 26, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
  27. Ward, Mike (August 14, 2009). "UPDATED: Watson seeking re-election, not trying for governor; Earle not yet decided on governor try". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011.
  28. Texas Senate Livestream 83(3). YouTube . Archived from the original on December 11, 2021.
  29. Hoppe, Christy (June 26, 2013). "Still disputed whether SB5 vote met midnight deadline". Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on June 26, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  30. MacLaggan, Corrie (July 10, 2013). "Texas House OKs bill restricting abortions, moves it to Senate". Reuters News Service.
  31. MacLaggan, Corrie (July 13, 2013). "Texas passes abortion restriction bill, governor certain to sign". Reuters News Service.
  32. Blake, Aaron (July 18, 2013). "Perry signs Texas abortion bill into law". The Washington Post.
  33. Elizondo, John (June 26, 2013). "2nd special session could cost taxpayers additional $800K". KXXV . Archived from the original on November 10, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  34. Brooks-Harper, Karen (July 17, 2013). "Lawmakers pass abortion, juvenile justice bills with time running out in second special session". Community Impact Newspapers (Texas). Archived from the original on July 17, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  35. "Election Returns". Secretary of State of Texas. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  36. Price, Asher (February 26, 2019). "Watson seeks funds for I-35 expansion". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  37. "Ex-Austin mayor Kirk Watson's pandemic reckoning changes priorities". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved July 9, 2022.(subscription required)
  38. Autullo, Ryan (November 9, 2022). "Austin mayor's race: Celia Israel and Kirk Watson headed to a runoff". Austin American-Statesman.
  39. Fechter, Joshua (December 13, 2022). "Austin voters elect Kirk Watson, who served as mayor two decades ago, to lead the city again". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  40. "Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, 3 city council members sworn in Friday". January 2, 2023.
  41. Seipp, Skye. "99.9% of Austin Energy customers have power; nearly 300 continue to deal with outages".
  42. Fechter, Joshua (February 15, 2023). "Austin's city manager fired over botched winter storm response". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  43. Thompson, Ben (February 15, 2023). "Council fires Austin City Manager Spencer Cronk; Jesús Garza appointed as interim manager". Community Impact. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  44. ""Nearly a third of top level Austin leadership positions are in new hands under Jesús Garza"". Austin American Statesman .
  45. "Chaotic Austin 'street racing incidents' Saturday night fuel local policing discourse". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  46. Cobler, Nicole; Price, Asher (March 28, 2023). "Texas DPS troopers to patrol Austin streets". Axios. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  47. Hollis, Brianna. "Fact checking statement about APD 911 being 'nearly 100%' staffed by next week" . Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  48. Sanchez, Kelsey. "'This puts a big dent in it' | Austin Mayor Kirk Watson announces $65M investment to combat homelessness" . Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  49. Thompson, Ben. "Austin to ramp up homeless shelter capacity, will open temporary 300-bed complex". Community Impact. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  50. Sanders, Austin. "Integral Care Budget Would Layoff 48 Employees" . Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  51. Aldridge, Olivia. "Central Health approves budget with a Hail Mary provision to halt layoffs at Integral Care" . Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  52. 1 2 3 4 Joshua, Fechter. "Austin will try again to tame its housing affordability crisis with zoning reforms. Can it do it this time?".
  53. McGlinchy, Audrey (March 22, 2023). "Austin tried and failed to rewrite its land code. Republican lawmakers might do it for them" . Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  54. "Austin City Council Passes HOME Code Amendments – Phase 1". City of Austin Press Release.
  55. Thompson, Ben. "Austin land-use code changes including 'HOME' Phase 2 to be considered this spring".
  56. Reader, Grace. "What is the HOME initiative? What to know about Austin's latest push for more housing".
  57. "Supply Skepticism: Housing Supply and Affordability".
  58. Flager, Jack. "Project Connect vote: Austin residents pass $7.1 billion transit plan". Community Impact. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  59. "Project Connect funding challenged by Texas lawmakers". KXAN.
  60. "Austin Democrat delivers possible fatal blow to anti-". Austin Statesman. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  61. Clifton, Jo. "Aggrieved citizens sue over funding Project Connect". Austin Monitor. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  62. Rogers, Chase. "Texas AG Paxton asks judge to reject Austin's plans to finance Project Connect improvements". Austin Statesman.
  63. "Austin Transit Partnership takes one more step to advance Austin Light Rail - ATP News". February 20, 2024.
  64. Sanchez, Kelsey (October 9, 2023). "Israeli, Palestinian supporters rally at Texas State Capitol after Hamas attack". KVUE.
  65. "Headlines / Quotes of the Week". Austin Chronicle. October 13, 2023.
  66. "Central Texans show support for Israel". KTBC. October 9, 2023.
  67. Freeman, Andrew (October 10, 2023). "Austin leaders rally in support of Israel following Hamas' attack: A call for peace and a stand against antisemitism". CBS-Austin.
  68. Fisher, Lina (November 3, 2023). "Protesters Call for Mayor Kirk Watson to Support Cease-Fire in Gaza". Austin Chronicle.
  69. Pagano, Elizabeth (February 15, 2024). "TipSheet: Austin City Council, 2.15.24". Austin Monitor.
  70. Pitcher, Michelle (February 14, 2024). "Austin Officials Condemn Anti-Palestinian Hate Crime But Remain Divided Over Ceasefire Resolution". The Texas Observer.
  71. Watson, Kirk (February 7, 2024). "The Watson Wire".
  72. Farias, Robert (December 13, 2022). "Austin runoff election results: Who won race for mayor, City Council seats?". Austin American-Statesman.
  73. "Results" . Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  74. "Race Summary Report; 2018 General Election". Secretary of State of Texas. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  75. "County by County Canvass Report; 2018 General Election". Secretary of State of Texas. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  76. "Race Summary Report; 2014 General Election". Secretary of State of Texas. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  77. "Race Summary Report; 2012 General Election". Secretary of State of Texas. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  78. "Race Summary Report; 2010 General Election". Secretary of State of Texas. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  79. "2002 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State of Texas. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2006.
  80. "Election History: May 6, 2000, election". Office of the City Clerk of the City of Austin. Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  81. Office of the City Clerk. "Election History". AustinTexas.gov. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  82. de Marban, Alex; Duff, Audrey (May 9, 1997). "Mayor: What, Me Negative?". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  83. "Liz Ann McDaniel Watson". Texas State Cemetery .
  84. "Kirk Watson's Biography". Vote Smart . Retrieved December 28, 2023.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Texas Attorney General
2002
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Bruce Todd
Mayor of Austin
1997–2001
Succeeded by
Preceded by Mayor of Austin
2023–present
Incumbent
Texas Senate
Preceded by Member of the Texas Senate
from the 14th district

2007–2020
Succeeded by
Preceded by President pro tempore of the Texas Senate
2019
Succeeded by

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The 2022 Texas elections were held on November 8, 2022. Primary elections were held on March 1, with runoffs held on May 24 for primary candidates who did not receive a majority of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Texas elections</span>

The 2024 Texas elections will be held on November 5, 2024. Primary elections took place on March 5, 2024. If needed runoff elections will take place on May 28, 2024.