AUSTIN — Fresh off of conservative candidate Mackenzie Kelly’s victory in Tuesday’s runoff election for the Austin City Council, the rest of the all-Democrat council wasted no time in ignoring the message voters sent.
Councilmember Greg Casar, a self-proclaimed socialist, announced he has garnered enough support to be elected “mayor pro tem” of the 2021-22 council session.
I’m thankful to my colleagues for trusting me with this position.
I first ran for office to make a difference for the people of District 4. I’m looking forward to building the consensus necessary to tackle our greatest challenges as Mayor Pro Tem. #ATX pic.twitter.com/3JiQfTUxcR
— Gregorio Casar (@GregCasar) December 17, 2020
The position of mayor pro tem is largely symbolic, with the only official duty being to preside over council meetings when the mayor is off the dais. Nevertheless, the position is often a launching pad; the current mayor pro tem, Delia Garza, was recently elected county attorney.
Casar is widely suspected to run for mayor when incumbent Steve Adler is term-limited in 2022.
Casar has been the ringleader for the council’s shift to the far left in recent years. He has championed causes that have harmed local citizens by voting repeatedly to raise taxes (the council is now taking well over double in property tax cash compared to 12 years ago), spending citizens’ money toward killing babies, defunding one-third from the local police department, legalizing lawlessness among the city’s homeless, and enacting a sick leave mandate on local businesses that has been proven to cut employees’ wages and force layoffs.
Casar’s move to mayor pro tem is far from a done deal, however, as Councilmember Paige Ellis has released the following statement:
In January, the Austin City Council will have eight elected women on the dais, more than any big city in Texas. There are several qualified women who could be a strong, unifying voice as Mayor Pro Tem. Our city has gone through a lot over the past two years, and we should begin 2021 with leadership that brings us together. As far as I’m aware, discussions are ongoing.
Ellis’ claims to want a woman in the position is likely a “woke” misdirection due to polling data about Greg Casar in her district. Ellis represents District 8, in southwest Austin, which was previously represented by conservative Ellen Troxclair. Ellis is up for re-election in 2022.
Concerned Austinites can contact their city council member.
