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Kirk Watson

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Kirk Watson
54th and 59th Mayor of Austin
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2023
Preceded bySteve Adler
In office
June 15, 1997 – November 9, 2001
Preceded byBruce Todd
Succeeded byGus Garcia
President pro tempore of the Texas Senate
In office
January 8, 2019 – May 27, 2019
Preceded byRobert Nichols
Succeeded byJoan Huffman
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 14th district
In office
January 9, 2007 – April 30, 2020
Preceded byGonzalo Barrientos
Succeeded bySarah Eckhardt
Personal details
Born
Kirk Preston Watson

(1958-03-18) March 18, 1958 (age 66)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLiz Ann McDaniel
Children2
EducationBaylor University (BA, JD)

Kirk Preston Watson (born March 18, 1958)[1] is an American attorney and politician who has served as the 59th mayor of Austin since 2023, previously holding the office as the 54th mayor from 1997 to 2001.[2] A member of the Democratic Party, he ran unsuccessfully for Texas attorney general in the 2002 election, where he was defeated by Republican Greg Abbott, later governor of Texas. In 2006, Watson was elected to the Texas Senate from District 14.

In 2011, Watson was chosen by his Democratic colleagues to chair the Senate Democratic Caucus and served until 2015.[3] On the first day of the 86th Texas Legislature, he was chosen by his colleagues—Democrats and Republicans—to serve as president pro tempore. The position typically goes to the most senior member, regardless of party, who has not yet served as president pro tem, and is second in line of succession to the Governor.[4]

It was announced by the Austin American-Statesman that Watson had planned to resign from the Texas Senate to become the first dean of the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs.[5] His resignation was effective April 30, 2020.[6] With incumbent Mayor Steve Adler not seeking another term, Watson entered the race to become Austin mayor for a second time. He was elected for his second stint as mayor in the 2022 Austin mayoral election runoff with 50.4% of the vote.

Early life and education

[edit]

Watson was born in Oklahoma City and raised in Saginaw, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth, where he attended Boswell High School.[7] He received a bachelor's degree in political science in 1980 and a Juris Doctor in 1981 from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.[8] At Baylor Law School, Watson was editor-in-chief of the Baylor Law Review and graduated first in his class.[9] He subsequently clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.[8]

Early political career

[edit]

Watson was elected president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association in 1990[10] and served on the executive committee of the State Bar of Texas. Watson was an active Democrat throughout the 1990s and served as the chairman of the Travis County Democratic Party.

In 1991, Watson was appointed by Governor Ann Richards to serve as chairman of the Texas Air Control Board, the state agency that was charged with protecting air quality in Texas. During his tenure, he worked to merge the agency with the Texas Air Control Board and the Texas Water Commission to form the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission, and oversaw implementation of the 1991 amendments to the federal Clean Air Act.

In 1994, he was named the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas.[9] In 1997, Watson co-founded the Austin law firm of Watson Bishop London & Galow, creating a broad law practice that represented families, doctors, small businesses, and some of the state's major universities.[citation needed]

First term as Mayor of Austin (1997–2001)

[edit]

In 1997, after Watson moved from Rollingwood to Austin, he was elected as the 54th mayor of Austin, a nonpartisan position. He ran on a pledge to build consensus in a city that was then dominated by political battles between environmentalists and developers. He campaigned to raise more than $78 million for land preservation and $300 million for transportation improvements. Watson's signature accomplishments as mayor included the transformation of Downtown Austin into a "24-hour downtown" by encouraging development of housing and retail in place of vacant warehouses and parking lots, partially through tax incentives and the city's Smart Growth initiatives.[11]

In 1999, Watson spearheaded a redevelopment project along several blocks of waterfront property in Downtown Austin, in an effort to create a new public-private "digital district" in place of dilapidated warehouses and businesses including the former Liberty Lunch, which were demolished.[12] Watson, along with architect Larry Speck, courted the Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) by offering a $10.4 million tax incentive to anchor two office buildings on the site in lieu of building their planned campus in a watershed, and under the condition that CSC foot the bill for a new city hall building.[13] The first two buildings were constructed and are now part of the Second Street District, while CSC vacated the premises before following through with the construction of the present-day Austin City Hall.[14]

In 2000, Watson spearheaded a $15.1 million tax incentive for Intel to build a new headquarters in Downtown Austin; Intel stopped construction and the unfinished building was demolished in 2007 and replaced by the Austin United States Courthouse.[14][15]

In 2000, Watson was reelected with 84% of the vote – the highest percentage a mayoral candidate has ever received in Austin. [citation needed] In November 2001, he stepped down to run unsuccessfully for Texas attorney general in the 2002 election, losing 41% to 57% to now-Governor Greg Abbott.[16] In 2005, he served as chairman of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.

Texas Senate (2007–2020)

[edit]
Watson in 2012

Watson was elected to the Texas Senate in November 2006, succeeding Senator Gonzalo Barrientos. He received more than 80% of the vote.[17] Watson was unopposed in the March 2006 Democratic Primary.[18]

He took office in January 2007.[19] Watson served as vice-chairman of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security committee, as well as on the Senate Business and Commerce, Economic Development, Jurisprudence, and Nominations committees. In 2008, he was appointed as one of two senators to the state Business Tax Advisory Committee.

Watson has become a prominent voice on transportation, clean energy, and higher education issues, and he has campaigned to widen transparency in the state's finances and increase health coverage for Texans, particularly children. In 2009, he led the fight against a budget rider that would have effectively banned embryonic stem cell research at Texas universities. The rider ultimately was not adopted.[20]

Watson served on many committees including the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), of which he is the former Transportation Policy Board Chairman. CAMPO is federally designated as the primary transportation planning organization in Central Texas.[21]

The July 2007 Texas Monthly magazine recognized Watson as "Rookie of the Year" for the 2007 session of the Texas Legislature.[22] In 2009, the magazine named him one of the state's 10 Best Legislators and referred to him as "the Galápagos penguin of the Texas Legislature."[23] He also was given the Price Daniel Award for Distinguished Public Service by the Baylor Alumni Association,[24] and the Excellence in Leadership Award by Concordia University Texas.[25]

Watson endorsed Senator Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic party presidential primaries. Following Obama's victory in the 2008 Wisconsin Democratic primary election on February 19, 2008, Watson appeared via live feed on MSNBC's election night coverage as a supporter of Senator Obama. He was asked by Chris Matthews to name one of Senator Obama's legislative accomplishments. Watson was soon after excused, and Matthews commented, "He [Watson] is here to defend Barack Obama and he had nothing to say; that's a problem."[26]

Watson considered running in the 2010 gubernatorial election, but decided in August 2009 to instead seek re-election to the Texas Senate.[27]

In June 2013, Watson moved to overturn a ruling designed to end the filibuster of Senator Wendy Davis. Together, their efforts averted the passage of SB5, a bill that its opponents claimed would enact severe abortion restrictions in Texas.[28][29] Instead, in a second special session the same bill was passed (96 to 49) by the Texas House,[30] and then (19 to 11) by the Texas Senate,[31] and then signed into law by Gov. Perry less than a month later.[32] State representative Charles "Doc" Anderson of Waco (Texas HD 56) told reporters following the Davis filibuster that the additional special session might "cost taxpayers more than $800,000."[33] Another news organization estimated special-session costs at roughly $30,000 per day.[34]

In the general election on November 6, 2018, Watson easily won reelection, 274,122 (74.1%) to 96,355 (25.3%) for his Republican opponent, George W. Hindman. A Libertarian Party candidate, Micah M. Verlander, held another 10,838 votes (2.8%).[35]

In 2019, Watson proposed a series of money-raising maneuvers to fund the lane expansion project along I-35 through Austin, including doubling the state gas tax, raising vehicle registration fees in Travis County, enacting a special sales tax, and issuing bonds.[36]

Watson resigned from the Texas State Senate on April 30, 2020, to become the first dean of the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs. Watson resigned from the University of Houston after less than 1 year to become a candidate for mayor.[37]

Texas highways

[edit]

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)

[edit]

Election

[edit]
Main article: 2022 Austin mayoral 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

2022

[edit]
2022 Austin mayoral runoff[72]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Kirk Watson 57,346 50.39
Nonpartisan Celia Israel 56,460 49.61
Total votes 113,806 100
2022 Austin mayoral general election[73]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Celia Israel 121,862 39.99
Nonpartisan Kirk Watson 106,508 34.95
Nonpartisan Jennifer Virden 56,189 18.44
Nonpartisan Phil Campero Brual 7,295 2.39
Nonpartisan Anthony Bradshaw 7,102 2.33
Nonpartisan Gary Spellman 5,781 1.90
Total votes 304,737 100

2018

[edit]
Texas general election, 2018: Senate District 14[74][75]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kirk Watson 276,052 71.93 −8.05
Republican George W. Hindman 96,834 25.23 +25.23
Libertarian Micah M. Verlander 10,889 2.84 −17.18
Majority 179,218 54.75 −5.21
Turnout 383,775 46.61 n/a
Democratic hold

2014

[edit]
Texas general election, 2014: Senate District 14[76]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kirk Watson 154,391 79.98 −0.31
Libertarian James Arthur Strohm 38,648 20.02 +0.31
Majority 115,743 59.96 −0.62
Turnout 193,039 n/a n/a
Democratic hold

2012

[edit]
Texas general election, 2012: Senate District 14[77]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kirk Watson 212,527 80.29 +19.56
Libertarian Ryan M. Dixon 52,187 19.71 +16.10
Majority 164,578 60.58 +35.52
Turnout 264,714 n/a n/a
Democratic hold

2010

[edit]
Texas general election, 2010: Senate District 14[78]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kirk Watson 115,949 60.73 −19.59
Republican Mary Lou Serafine 68,100 35.67 +35.67
Libertarian Kent Phillips 6,884 3.61 −16.07
Majority 47,949 25.06 −35.57
Turnout 190,933 n/a n/a
Democratic hold

2006

[edit]
Texas general election, 2006: Senate District 14[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kirk Watson 127,223 80.32 +27.61
Libertarian Robert "Rock" Howard 31,180 19.68 +15.51
Majority 96,043 60.63 +51.05
Turnout 158,403 −12.29
Democratic hold

2002

[edit]
Texas general election, 2002: Texas Attorney General[79]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Greg Abbott 2,542,184 56.72 +2.46
Democratic Kirk Watson 1,841,359 41.08 −3.1
Libertarian Jon Roland 56,880 1.26 −0.3
Green David Keith Cobb 41,560 0.92 +0.92
Majority 700,825 15.63
Turnout 4,481,983
Republican hold

2000

[edit]
2000 Austin mayoral election[80]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Kirk Watson 29,777 84.03
Nonpartisan A. Leslie Cochran 2,755 7.77
Nonpartisan Dale A. Reed 1,662 4.69
Nonpartisan Jennifer L. Gale 1,244 3.51
Total votes 38,166 100

1997

[edit]
1997 Austin mayoral election[81]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Kirk Watson 30,278 48.47
Nonpartisan Ronney Reynolds 24,915 39.89
Nonpartisan Michael "Max" Nofziger 5,966 9.55
Nonpartisan Jennifer L. Gale 420 0.67
Nonpartisan Kirk Becker 361 0.57
Nonpartisan Ray Blanchette 197 0.31
Nonpartisan Ted Kircher 165 0.26
Nonpartisan John Johnson 154 0.24
Total votes 62,840 100

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

[edit]

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

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "Kirk Preston Watson". Texas State Cemetery.
  2. ^ Martin, Ken (October 24, 2022). "What kind of mayor was Watson?". The Austin Bulldog.
  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. ^ a b "Pro Texana, Medal Of Service: Sen. Kirk Watson". Baylor Magazine. Fall 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  9. ^ a b 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.
  11. ^ Clark-Madison, Mike (November 23, 2001). "Cast a Big Shadow". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  12. ^ Parker, Mike (July 30, 2014). "When Liberty Lunch was the place". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  13. ^ Yetmen, Canan (July 20, 2016). "Pygmalion City". Texas Architect. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Smith, Amy (July 6, 2001). "Isn't It FABulous?". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  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. ^ a b "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.
  19. ^ "Kirk Watson (D)". Texas State Directory. January 6, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  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. ^ a b c d 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.
[edit]
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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