WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:01.001 [Music]. 00:01.001 --> 00:03.604 >> With a new form of government taking shape at City Hall, 00:03.604 --> 00:07.774 and every seat up for grabs, Austin voters elected two new 00:07.774 --> 00:11.945 City Council Members on November 4th and sent 16 Council 00:11.945 --> 00:15.449 candidates plus two vying for Austin mayor to run-off 00:15.449 --> 00:16.450 elections. 00:16.450 --> 00:20.554 Tonight, Beyond the Rhetoric, we sit down with the newly-elected 00:20.554 --> 00:24.157 Council Members to hear how they will lead their districts and 00:24.157 --> 00:25.158 our city. 00:25.158 --> 00:30.931 [Music]. 00:43.777 --> 00:45.712 >> Support for Civic Summit comes from Google, 00:45.712 --> 00:48.148 a global technology leader focused on improving the ways 00:48.148 --> 00:51.552 people connect with information and also by Texas Mutual 00:51.552 --> 00:54.888 Insurance, providing workers' compensation for Texas 00:54.888 --> 00:56.657 employers. 00:56.657 --> 00:57.624 [Music]. 01:04.598 --> 01:05.766 >> Hello. 01:05.766 --> 01:07.734 And thanks for joining us for Civic Summit, 01:07.734 --> 01:10.137 Council Member-elect conversation. 01:10.137 --> 01:14.675 A joint production of KLRU, Leadership Austin, KUT, 01:14.675 --> 01:17.711 and the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life. 01:17.711 --> 01:22.849 I'm Jennifer Stayton with KUT 90.5, Austin's NPR station. 01:22.849 --> 01:25.886 Our discussion, tonight, is going to focus on leadership. 01:25.886 --> 01:28.455 We want to know what skills and qualities our three 01:28.455 --> 01:31.358 newly-elected Council Members will bring with them to City 01:31.358 --> 01:32.359 Hall. 01:32.359 --> 01:34.361 And we invite all of you to Tweet along with us. 01:34.361 --> 01:35.796 Please use the #civicsummit. 01:35.796 --> 01:39.766 My guests this half hour, won their districts outright, 01:39.766 --> 01:41.702 avoiding a run off. 01:41.702 --> 01:46.640 Delia Garza of District 2, Ann Kitchen of District 5, 01:46.640 --> 01:49.977 which is in South Austin, and Kathie Toe -- co -- Tovo of 01:49.977 --> 01:52.946 District 9, which is downtown and central Austin. 01:52.946 --> 01:56.717 Kathie Tovo is an incumbent City Council Member who was facing a 01:56.717 --> 01:59.086 run off with current councilman, Chris Riley. 01:59.086 --> 02:01.855 Councilman Riley has since conceded that race, 02:01.855 --> 02:03.624 leaving Kathie Tovo the winner. 02:03.624 --> 02:06.693 Thanks to all of you for being here this evening. 02:06.693 --> 02:08.695 Now, the first question we're going to start with, 02:08.695 --> 02:10.697 which you all received ahead of time, 02:10.697 --> 02:13.834 I want to hear what you've learned about yourself over the 02:13.834 --> 02:17.304 past months of campaigning that will help you govern. 02:17.304 --> 02:19.306 And Delia, we'll start with you. 02:19.306 --> 02:20.273 >> Okay. 02:20.273 --> 02:22.275 I thought long and hard about this question. 02:22.275 --> 02:24.911 One of the most challenging jobs I've ever had was as an Austin 02:24.911 --> 02:27.147 firefighter, and I feel like I learned the most about myself 02:27.147 --> 02:29.616 there. 02:29.616 --> 02:33.487 I did learn that I can survive on very little sleep, 02:33.487 --> 02:34.121 [Laughter]. 02:34.121 --> 02:36.523 horrible diet, and little exercise. 02:36.523 --> 02:39.026 And -- but what I learned, in general, 02:39.026 --> 02:42.195 was that this job is more -- is mostly about listening to 02:42.195 --> 02:43.730 people. 02:43.730 --> 02:46.666 You go in here thinking that you have your message straight and 02:46.666 --> 02:48.935 you're going to have these stump speeches and it's -- you walk 02:48.935 --> 02:51.671 into a meeting and you sit down and you shut your mouth and you 02:51.671 --> 02:52.506 listen. 02:52.506 --> 02:55.742 And so I think that will help me on the Council and that -- 02:55.742 --> 02:57.177 that's what this is about. 02:57.177 --> 02:59.513 It's about listening to your constituents and Austinites and 02:59.513 --> 03:02.783 then coming up with ideas to help solve their problems. 03:02.783 --> 03:04.418 >> Ann. 03:04.418 --> 03:07.454 >> Well, thank you -- thank you so much for having us. 03:07.454 --> 03:09.022 I mean, this is so exciting. 03:09.022 --> 03:12.592 I -- when I decided to run -- you know, 03:12.592 --> 03:15.529 I've been in office before and I decided to run because I really 03:15.529 --> 03:17.364 wanted to make a difference. 03:17.364 --> 03:20.434 And so what I learned from talking to people all over the 03:20.434 --> 03:25.605 district is the depth of passion and hope that people have for 03:25.605 --> 03:30.177 this 10-1 system, and that's very exciting because we're not 03:30.177 --> 03:32.179 going to make changes on our own. 03:32.179 --> 03:34.715 We're going to make changes with -- with the people in our 03:34.715 --> 03:38.385 district, together, with all the people across the city. 03:38.385 --> 03:41.121 And so one of the things that was so heartening to me about 03:41.121 --> 03:45.959 the whole campaign process was how engaged people were, how, 03:45.959 --> 03:47.961 you know, how passionate they are, 03:47.961 --> 03:51.298 and how much they want to see change and be part of that. 03:51.298 --> 03:53.300 >> Kathie. 03:53.300 --> 03:56.670 >> Well, I -- I would agree with some of the comments that my new 03:56.670 --> 03:58.739 colleagues made as well. 03:58.739 --> 04:01.675 When I ran in 2011, I had a -- a pretty short race, 04:01.675 --> 04:03.743 all things considering; and this was a much larger, 04:03.743 --> 04:04.745 much longer one. 04:04.745 --> 04:08.715 It was, really, a nine-month race and it was coupled with 04:08.715 --> 04:12.319 serving on Council and it was a lot to balance; 04:12.319 --> 04:14.754 and -- and I was reminded, during the campaign, 04:14.754 --> 04:20.393 of just how important it is to reach out and ask for help, 04:20.393 --> 04:22.629 whether it was asking my family for more help, 04:22.629 --> 04:25.966 from asking my 7 and 8 year old to, you know, 04:25.966 --> 04:29.436 pick up some of the family tasks that needed to get done, 04:29.436 --> 04:32.739 to really reaching out to members of the community and 04:32.739 --> 04:33.874 asking them to volunteer. 04:33.874 --> 04:37.144 It's -- it is something I -- I do, of course, 04:37.144 --> 04:39.146 all the time as a Council Member, 04:39.146 --> 04:41.148 reach out to members of the community and ask them for input 04:41.148 --> 04:43.850 about policies we're considering and working with my colleagues 04:43.850 --> 04:45.018 to shape policies. 04:45.018 --> 04:49.055 But a campaign demands tremendous, 04:49.055 --> 04:52.559 tremendous energy from so many people across the community and 04:52.559 --> 04:55.395 it was really important to be reminded of just how important 04:55.395 --> 04:57.764 it is to have a broad base of support and to have people who 04:57.764 --> 05:01.868 are passionate and as committed to working on city issues as I 05:01.868 --> 05:05.639 am because it takes every single one of them to look -- to run a 05:05.639 --> 05:08.675 successful campaign, and really, to shape the policies of our 05:08.675 --> 05:09.776 city. 05:09.776 --> 05:12.012 >> So Delia, one thing that you said in your answer, 05:12.012 --> 05:15.482 we've heard from several folks who have been on campaigns the 05:15.482 --> 05:18.819 past few months, which is that lack of sleep, being very tired. 05:18.819 --> 05:20.821 That it -- it's a big commitment to campaign. 05:20.821 --> 05:22.823 It takes a lot of time and energy. 05:22.823 --> 05:24.824 I know when you get to governing, 05:24.824 --> 05:26.826 it's not quite -- quite as intense, 05:26.826 --> 05:28.828 but it's still very time consuming. 05:28.828 --> 05:29.829 Takes a lot of energy. 05:29.829 --> 05:31.965 So given that and what you know about what it's like to campaign 05:31.965 --> 05:34.868 and to serve, I want to hear from each of you why you want to 05:34.868 --> 05:36.203 do this? 05:36.203 --> 05:41.308 And Ann, let's start with you for this one. 05:41.308 --> 05:42.909 >> Well, I'm excited about it because I think it's a huge 05:42.909 --> 05:44.978 opportunity for the whole city. 05:44.978 --> 05:50.483 You know, I -- my whole life has been about making -- making 05:50.483 --> 05:53.320 things better for people and helping people improve their 05:53.320 --> 05:56.489 lives, and I think we just have a great opportunity with the 05:56.489 --> 05:58.658 10-1 system to do that. 05:58.658 --> 06:04.965 You know, and so -- and -- so that's -- that fuels my energy. 06:04.965 --> 06:06.266 You know? 06:06.266 --> 06:08.001 And -- and like my colleagues have said, 06:08.001 --> 06:10.003 one of the things you do have to learn is how to take care of 06:10.003 --> 06:12.739 yourself because if you don't take care of yourself, 06:12.739 --> 06:14.741 you can't do the job for people. 06:14.741 --> 06:17.877 So that's another aspect of it. 06:17.877 --> 06:19.045 >> Kathie. 06:19.045 --> 06:22.782 >> Well, I've loved nearly every minute of serving on Council. 06:22.782 --> 06:26.152 It's just been an amazing privilege and an honor and I -- 06:26.152 --> 06:28.888 I love this community and feel that, you know, 06:28.888 --> 06:31.258 we're facing a lot of great opportunities but also some real 06:31.258 --> 06:33.260 challenges, and when I ran in 2011, 06:33.260 --> 06:36.730 I was very committed to working on issues of affordability, 06:36.730 --> 06:40.033 affordable housing, education, and those are still really 06:40.033 --> 06:43.737 pressing challenges, and I felt really compelled to step up and 06:43.737 --> 06:46.673 run for reelection because we still have a great deal of work 06:46.673 --> 06:48.775 to do in all of those areas; and I think, 06:48.775 --> 06:51.177 with a new transition and with a new Council, 06:51.177 --> 06:55.715 we'll have lots of -- lots of ability to collaborate and 06:55.715 --> 06:59.486 really get more areas of the community involved in some of 06:59.486 --> 07:02.689 those pressing questions. 07:02.689 --> 07:03.957 >> Delia. 07:03.957 --> 07:07.193 >> I was on the Charter Vision Committee with Ann and became 07:07.193 --> 07:10.964 very passionate about 10-1 after my service on that committee, 07:10.964 --> 07:16.236 and just talking to people in my neighborhood and the -- the 07:16.236 --> 07:19.773 often expressed they didn't feel like they had a voice when I was 07:19.773 --> 07:21.841 cam -- when I worked for 10-1 trying to get that -- the 07:21.841 --> 07:23.777 Proposition 3 passed. 07:23.777 --> 07:25.845 The one thing I would say that would resonate -- because you 07:25.845 --> 07:27.647 have like two seconds at someone's door. 07:27.647 --> 07:29.482 I mean, they won't -- they're reluctant to open the door to 07:29.482 --> 07:31.017 begin with, and then when they do, 07:31.017 --> 07:32.552 you want to get that one statement in there -- and I 07:32.552 --> 07:34.921 would say, not a single City Council Member lives south of 07:34.921 --> 07:37.924 the river and that would -- and jaws would drop, 07:37.924 --> 07:42.095 and so when -- thankfully, when 10-1 passed, 07:42.095 --> 07:44.064 I thought this was a wonderful opportunity. 07:44.064 --> 07:47.567 I've been to -- I've been in public service my whole life and 07:47.567 --> 07:50.603 I love being an advocate and I thought south -- Southeast 07:50.603 --> 07:53.340 Austin needs a strong voice and this is a wonderful opportunity, 07:53.340 --> 07:56.042 not only to get South Austin a voice, 07:56.042 --> 07:58.611 but to get more minorities on the City Council, 07:58.611 --> 08:02.482 where Hispanics are 36% of the city and the old system, 08:02.482 --> 08:05.785 I really -- there were so many barriers to -- if you weren't 08:05.785 --> 08:09.422 independently wealthy or had the right connections in the 08:09.422 --> 08:11.257 at-large system, there were so many barriers. 08:11.257 --> 08:13.626 And so once 10-1 passed, I thought, 08:13.626 --> 08:17.130 this is -- this is a system that I can, hopefully, succeed in, 08:17.130 --> 08:20.467 and I -- I do -- I absolutely believe I couldn't have done it 08:20.467 --> 08:21.634 in an at-large system. 08:21.634 --> 08:23.002 Some people say, oh, you could have done it. 08:23.002 --> 08:26.806 But that's why I wanted to be a voice and I wanted to make sure 08:26.806 --> 08:29.743 we had more diversity on the City Council. 08:29.743 --> 08:32.846 >> So on the stage tonight, we have a -- about a third of the 08:32.846 --> 08:35.782 new City Council, which means, at least a third of the Council 08:35.782 --> 08:37.350 is going to be women. 08:37.350 --> 08:38.585 It could wind up being more. 08:38.585 --> 08:40.220 We won't know that until December 16th, 08:40.220 --> 08:42.055 possibly into the morning of the 17th. 08:42.055 --> 08:44.924 And I'm just interested to hear from the three of you all, 08:44.924 --> 08:49.996 how do you think that makeup of the Council might impact your 08:49.996 --> 08:51.698 approach to governing, your working with your colleagues 08:51.698 --> 08:54.033 knowing that, you know, there are going to be at least three 08:54.033 --> 08:57.404 women, if not more, and you know you're going to have a mayor 08:57.404 --> 08:58.605 who's a man. 08:58.605 --> 09:01.174 So I'm just interested to hear kind of what your thoughts about 09:01.174 --> 09:03.943 those dynamics; and Kathie, if you want to start that. 09:03.943 --> 09:06.279 >> Well, it will be an interesting -- it will be an 09:06.279 --> 09:08.815 interesting thing to see in the history of the Austin City 09:08.815 --> 09:09.682 Council. 09:09.682 --> 09:12.385 There have only been 16 women to serve on the 16th. 09:12.385 --> 09:15.522 And so, you know, in one election, we will have four, 09:15.522 --> 09:17.023 at least. 09:17.023 --> 09:21.561 Four female Council Members, and so I think it's a real testament 09:21.561 --> 09:24.431 to the changes that are before us and I don't think we know, 09:24.431 --> 09:27.333 yet, how it might shape the dynamics of the policies, 09:27.333 --> 09:29.669 but it is -- it is really important. 09:29.669 --> 09:34.040 When I go -- I try to go talk to as many classes as invite me. 09:34.040 --> 09:36.910 And one of -- I remember talking to a young -- a group of young 09:36.910 --> 09:41.481 -- middle school young women and they were amazed when they heard 09:41.481 --> 09:43.917 that there were only 16 women who had ever served on the 09:43.917 --> 09:47.053 Council and only one woman had ever served as mayor, 09:47.053 --> 09:48.521 their -- their jaws dropped. 09:48.521 --> 09:51.057 They -- it was so inconceivable to them growing up in the 09:51.057 --> 09:53.593 society that -- that there wouldn't have been more women 09:53.593 --> 09:54.594 leaders. 09:54.594 --> 09:58.765 And so it's -- I think it is a very important that Austin have 09:58.765 --> 10:03.203 a Council that reflects -- is more reflective of our society. 10:03.203 --> 10:05.138 >> Delia. 10:05.138 --> 10:08.108 >> I think it's a wonderful thing to have more women that's 10:08.108 --> 10:10.109 -- you know, there's so many glass ceilings that need to be 10:10.109 --> 10:11.244 broken and this is one of them. 10:11.244 --> 10:16.182 We should be 50% of everything, but I -- I -- I had all male 10:16.182 --> 10:18.184 opponents and Ann had all male opponents. 10:18.184 --> 10:22.155 I don't -- I don't know how much that affected too much, 10:22.155 --> 10:24.657 but there -- I think -- I don't want to do any man bashing, 10:24.657 --> 10:25.658 here, [Laughter]. 10:25.658 --> 10:29.629 but I think women are -- are more willing to collaborate and 10:29.629 --> 10:33.299 compromise, and I think it's a wonderful thing that -- for 10:33.299 --> 10:35.602 young girls to see women up there, women leaders. 10:35.602 --> 10:38.771 There's never been a Hispanic city -- female Hispanic City 10:38.771 --> 10:43.710 Council Member, and so, I mean, I'm very humbled by having that. 10:43.710 --> 10:45.712 There were so many people that came before me that blazed this 10:45.712 --> 10:49.415 trail and so I'm excited about the little Latinos growing up 10:49.415 --> 10:53.720 and seeing somebody that looks like them on the City Council. 10:53.720 --> 10:54.921 >> Ann. 10:54.921 --> 10:57.624 >> Well -- well, you know, I've -- I've been fighting for women 10:57.624 --> 10:59.592 in elected office for a long time. 10:59.592 --> 11:01.628 First, with the women's political caucus, and then, 11:01.628 --> 11:03.396 I was co-founder of Annie's List, 11:03.396 --> 11:06.432 and I -- I believe -- and also from my experience at the 11:06.432 --> 11:09.402 capitol, I really think that women approach things 11:09.402 --> 11:13.239 differently; and of course, that's a generalization and it's 11:13.239 --> 11:15.608 not true of all men, but in general, 11:15.608 --> 11:19.779 I would say that the women are more collaborative, 11:19.779 --> 11:26.185 women are focused on solutions, women tend to be less -- less -- 11:26.185 --> 11:29.255 less focused on status, and so I think -- and that the new 11:29.255 --> 11:31.991 Council, it's got to be collaborative. 11:31.991 --> 11:35.061 This is going to be very challenging with all of us, 11:35.061 --> 11:37.597 you know, almost all of us being new, not all of us, 11:37.597 --> 11:40.934 but almost all of us being new, it's going to be very important 11:40.934 --> 11:44.204 that we take a collaborative approach to bring the whole city 11:44.204 --> 11:45.538 together. 11:45.538 --> 11:48.408 >> So this will be new Council, new arrangement, 11:48.408 --> 11:51.411 the 10-1 system, and what that means is that some of you will 11:51.411 --> 11:54.714 draw two-year Council terms, and I think, 11:54.714 --> 11:56.916 most people would say that that two-year term might be a 11:56.916 --> 11:59.219 disadvantage just because it's such a short period of time, 11:59.219 --> 12:04.490 but I'm wondering if you can think of any positives to having 12:04.490 --> 12:10.396 just the two-year term and -- I think we're at Delia who's 12:10.396 --> 12:11.397 first? 12:11.397 --> 12:12.398 >> Yeah. 12:12.398 --> 12:13.399 That's right. 12:13.399 --> 12:16.002 I think a positive, if you're on the two-year term, 12:16.002 --> 12:18.504 is you're really going to start to work really hard [Laughter]. 12:18.504 --> 12:21.074 fast, frankly. 12:21.074 --> 12:25.144 Not that I wasn't going to do that anyway. 12:25.144 --> 12:28.748 But -- especially as -- as a new -- I'm not an incumbent. 12:28.748 --> 12:34.921 I need to get out there and -- I -- I can't think of another positive honestly. 12:34.921 --> 12:36.589 [Laughter]. 12:36.589 --> 12:38.224 >> Ann. 12:38.224 --> 12:42.095 >> Well, you know, I -- I -- I think, you know, 12:42.095 --> 12:45.098 a positive is that they'll have -- it'll have that kind of 12:45.098 --> 12:49.235 conversation that you have in an election sooner with the public. 12:49.235 --> 12:52.605 Now, all of us are -- are -- are going to create those 12:52.605 --> 12:54.507 conversations with our districts. 12:54.507 --> 12:56.909 That's one of the beauties of the 10-1, 12:56.909 --> 13:00.046 but when you do an election, it's really holding you more 13:00.046 --> 13:03.483 accountable; and so from the public's perspective, 13:03.483 --> 13:07.553 I think that that can be an advantage. 13:07.553 --> 13:08.988 >> Kathie. 13:08.988 --> 13:10.490 >> Well, I think that's an interesting point, 13:10.490 --> 13:12.125 from the public's perspective. 13:12.125 --> 13:14.494 You know, two years is a very short period of time, 13:14.494 --> 13:17.430 especially when you look at how -- how soon a campaign really 13:17.430 --> 13:19.799 needs to begin to be successful. 13:19.799 --> 13:22.268 That would really mean the coun -- the Council Members who have 13:22.268 --> 13:25.004 two-year terms or draw two-year terms are beginning to think 13:25.004 --> 13:28.474 about running for reelection in about a year, and so, you know, 13:28.474 --> 13:30.076 that's -- that's challenging. 13:30.076 --> 13:33.246 I guess one positive is that if they save their yard signs, they will have -- 13:33.246 --> 13:35.081 [Laughter]. 13:35.081 --> 13:37.383 -- you'll spend less money in their reelection campaign. 13:37.383 --> 13:43.823 >> So I'm imagining that you all met a lot of people when you 13:43.823 --> 13:45.892 were campaigning for your seats, and then, 13:45.892 --> 13:48.461 I'd like each of you to -- to share a story about maybe a 13:48.461 --> 13:51.230 person that you met on the campaign who really made an 13:51.230 --> 13:53.766 impression on you or really had a story that was compelling to 13:53.766 --> 13:56.669 you or really struck you in some way. 13:56.669 --> 13:58.371 Ann, if you want to start with that one. 13:58.371 --> 14:01.007 >> Well, I have, you know, lots of stories, 14:01.007 --> 14:04.844 but -- but one of them that really sticks with me is, 14:04.844 --> 14:06.345 is a woman that I talked to, actually, 14:06.345 --> 14:08.448 at the polls on election day. 14:08.448 --> 14:11.984 And she had ridden her bike over there and was cold and wet, 14:11.984 --> 14:13.886 you know? 14:13.886 --> 14:15.922 But the story she had to tell me was about what had happened with 14:15.922 --> 14:17.623 her. 14:17.623 --> 14:20.660 She had been working in, really, a job that was not great, 14:20.660 --> 14:23.629 you know, in terms of its wages and then she got laid off. 14:23.629 --> 14:26.833 And so she was having to deal with all these kinds of issues. 14:26.833 --> 14:30.002 She lost her car so she was riding her bike. 14:30.002 --> 14:32.672 She had to worry about where she was going to get food from, 14:32.672 --> 14:36.109 from day one to day -- you know, from one day to the next. 14:36.109 --> 14:40.079 And it just -- it really, really struck me because it's -- it's, 14:40.079 --> 14:46.152 you know, it's something I'm very well aware of and -- and 14:46.152 --> 14:47.320 affordability is very important to me, 14:47.320 --> 14:49.622 my -- my background in social service, 14:49.622 --> 14:52.658 but talking with her really put a fine point on it. 14:53.593 --> 14:57.563 You know, we have -- you know, we have got to do everything we 14:57.563 --> 15:02.635 can to make sure that everybody in our city has a fair chance to 15:02.635 --> 15:04.170 -- to live. 15:04.170 --> 15:09.842 So I really appreciated her sharing her story with me. 15:09.842 --> 15:11.477 >> And Kathie. 15:11.477 --> 15:14.480 >> Well, the story that jumped into my mind when I was knocking 15:14.480 --> 15:16.716 on doors in one of the central city neighborhoods, 15:16.716 --> 15:21.721 I heard lots of concerns along -- along these lines, 15:21.721 --> 15:25.191 but I talked to one woman who had a teenage daughter. 15:25.191 --> 15:27.860 She was a single mother -- is a single mother and she said she 15:27.860 --> 15:31.764 had bought her house probably 15 years ago. 15:31.764 --> 15:34.066 She is a professional and she said, you know, 15:34.066 --> 15:36.736 I look at my finances and I look at our increases in property 15:36.736 --> 15:40.573 taxes from month to month and I know I can't stay here more than 15:40.573 --> 15:43.709 another year or two and there aren't any other options within 15:43.709 --> 15:48.381 the central city where I can -- where I can live and be able to 15:48.381 --> 15:51.450 afford my taxes, and it was a -- it was the kind of concern I 15:51.450 --> 15:55.755 heard, really, at everyone's door about the escalating costs, 15:55.755 --> 15:57.790 whether I was talking to renters who were talking about the -- 15:57.790 --> 16:01.761 the ways their rents had increased so dramatically over 16:01.761 --> 16:04.096 the last few years or property owners who are struggling with 16:04.096 --> 16:09.235 their taxes; but that woman was so clear about how it was -- how 16:09.235 --> 16:13.072 it was going to impact the next year or two of her -- of her 16:13.072 --> 16:18.010 family and their ability to stay in Austin. 16:18.010 --> 16:19.078 >> Delia. 16:19.078 --> 16:21.247 >> I -- I had similar experiences with the similar 16:21.247 --> 16:24.250 stories of affordability, basically, 16:24.250 --> 16:27.887 and District 2 has retired teachers, retired firefighters, 16:27.887 --> 16:30.556 and they live in these fringes of the city because the other 16:30.556 --> 16:32.258 parts of the city have become too expensive. 16:32.258 --> 16:35.661 So those are the stories and -- and it's not something that I 16:35.661 --> 16:38.764 didn't know, but hearing it from people and putting a face to it 16:38.764 --> 16:40.166 and seeing that. 16:40.166 --> 16:41.701 I mean, when I bought my home ten years ago, 16:41.701 --> 16:44.003 I had to decide -- it's when I was a firefighter, 16:44.003 --> 16:47.073 decide whether to get a second job or to get a roommate and so 16:47.073 --> 16:49.809 -- and that's just me as a single person. 16:49.809 --> 16:52.345 So I can see the -- the issues that working families are 16:52.345 --> 16:55.114 facing; and these are people who have committed their careers to 16:55.114 --> 16:58.451 investing in this community and they can no longer afford -- two 16:58.451 --> 17:02.822 retired teachers living -- a couple that was their concern is 17:02.822 --> 17:05.258 that -- I -- you know, I was a teacher for 20 years. 17:05.258 --> 17:06.959 My partner was a teacher for 20 years, 17:06.959 --> 17:09.662 and now we're in this situation where we might not be able to 17:09.662 --> 17:12.365 live in Austin, Texas, anymore, this -- this beautiful community 17:12.365 --> 17:14.100 that we -- we chose to be our home. 17:14.100 --> 17:17.970 And so that was a -- and it's good to hear that it's across 17:17.970 --> 17:20.606 the city, the same -- the same theme, basically, 17:20.606 --> 17:22.708 of working families wanting to stay in Austin, 17:22.708 --> 17:25.311 but not being able to. 17:25.311 --> 17:27.079 >> So we -- we've been learning about you all, 17:27.079 --> 17:29.282 tonight and during the campaign, and learning about some of these 17:29.282 --> 17:31.217 issues that -- that are across all the districts, 17:31.217 --> 17:34.554 and I want to hear a little bit about your districts, now. 17:34.554 --> 17:37.123 If -- if you were going to create a walking tour on a 17:37.123 --> 17:39.892 district and sort of take -- take us on a tour, name, 17:39.892 --> 17:42.895 you know, a couple of places that would be kind of must-see 17:42.895 --> 17:45.364 stops on that walking tour of your districts. 17:45.364 --> 17:48.301 Kathie, if you want to take that one, first. 17:48.301 --> 17:51.304 >> Gosh, well, District 9 is -- is really an interesting one 17:51.304 --> 17:54.640 because it is in the central city and there are some spots 17:54.640 --> 17:58.010 that are just very -- are very different from one another. 17:58.010 --> 18:01.714 You have Austin's Master Plan Community of Miller, 18:01.714 --> 18:03.950 and so that would certainly be on my -- on my tour. 18:03.950 --> 18:07.119 You have downtown, which is one of our most dense areas and the 18:07.119 --> 18:11.090 economic center of the city. 18:11.090 --> 18:14.927 The university area, and then we have -- and then -- the central 18:14.927 --> 18:18.331 city -- the District 9 is really bracketed by older, 18:18.331 --> 18:21.100 more traditional neighborhoods south and north, 18:21.100 --> 18:25.237 and so if we were limited in -- in our ability to go on our 18:25.237 --> 18:29.208 tour, I would probably pick one -- one older neighborhood north, 18:29.208 --> 18:31.177 maybe Hyde Park and then one older neighborhood south, 18:31.177 --> 18:35.114 Bouldin Creek, so that you could see the downtown, 18:35.114 --> 18:37.416 our Master Plan Community of Miller, 18:37.416 --> 18:41.387 west campus and then an older neighborhood on either side of 18:41.387 --> 18:42.388 the district. 18:42.388 --> 18:44.390 But it is -- you get a sense of how diverse it is. 18:44.390 --> 18:48.160 We have lots of students, seniors, families with children, 18:48.160 --> 18:50.162 older professionals without children, 18:50.162 --> 18:52.865 so it's a very -- it's a very broad mix of households and 18:52.865 --> 18:55.668 housing types. 18:55.668 --> 18:56.335 >> Delia. 18:56.335 --> 18:59.405 >> Well, I -- a tour would start at my house. 18:59.405 --> 19:00.640 [Laughter]. 19:00.640 --> 19:04.543 And we'd go west, down Stassney and then you would -- I think 19:04.543 --> 19:07.980 I'd go down Emerald Forest and pass by Odom Elementary, 19:07.980 --> 19:10.249 and then across William Cannon. 19:10.249 --> 19:13.586 Dittmar Rec Center is in the -- a gorgeous rec center is in the 19:13.586 --> 19:15.454 district. 19:15.454 --> 19:17.923 You'd go south on Palace Parkway and then Slaughter -- everything 19:17.923 --> 19:20.826 north of Slaughter, and then you go to the southeast side and the 19:20.826 --> 19:27.733 -- the most known neighborhood there is Dove Springs area. 19:27.733 --> 19:31.404 The Dove -- Dove Springs Rec Center is a gorgeous rec center 19:31.404 --> 19:32.538 and I'm -- I'm very privileged to serve on the Advisory Board 19:32.538 --> 19:33.305 there. 19:33.305 --> 19:34.507 They have such wonderful programs. 19:34.507 --> 19:37.510 I've seen how these free programs help the families in 19:37.510 --> 19:40.179 that area participate in things that they probably couldn't 19:40.179 --> 19:42.148 participate if they had to pay for such programs. 19:42.148 --> 19:46.619 And then there's the industrial area in Burleson, 19:46.619 --> 19:48.154 south of -- south of Ben White, 19:48.154 --> 19:49.822 big industrial area, which I think is ripe for 19:49.822 --> 19:51.357 economic development. 19:51.357 --> 19:54.727 And so those are the main areas of -- of -- that I would hit on 19:54.727 --> 19:56.028 the tour. 19:56.028 --> 19:57.596 >> Ann. 19:57.596 --> 20:02.668 >> Well, I describe District 5 as a long narrow -- sometimes I 20:02.668 --> 20:07.373 talk about it as a boot because it -- it goes along south Lamar 20:07.373 --> 20:10.209 and South Manchaca all the way south of Slaughter. 20:10.209 --> 20:14.713 So I would say, you know, that it -- there's lot of wonderful 20:14.713 --> 20:17.083 places in District 5. 20:17.083 --> 20:20.052 So Onion Creek would be in the central place, 20:20.052 --> 20:23.255 to visit the neighborhoods in Onion Creek and then along 20:23.255 --> 20:30.463 Slaughter and up -- you know, going north along Manchaca, 20:30.463 --> 20:32.498 the neighborhoods between Stassney and -- and Slaughter, 20:32.498 --> 20:34.800 between William Cannon and Slaughter, 20:34.800 --> 20:36.235 lots of old neighborhoods. 20:36.235 --> 20:39.171 People have been there for -- for awhile. 20:39.171 --> 20:47.480 Very, you know -- I was privileged to go to a July 4th picnic there. 20:47.480 --> 20:49.348 And anyway, it's -- it's a wonderful area. 20:49.348 --> 20:51.817 And then of course, you head north of -- of Ben White 20:51.817 --> 20:54.120 [Laughter]. 20:54.120 --> 21:01.026 which is a -- along -- along Manchaca. 21:01.026 --> 21:05.331 And -- and then north and stop at the Broken Spoke, of course. 21:05.331 --> 21:07.500 And then head up to the lake area. 21:07.500 --> 21:09.769 So it's a -- it's a -- it's a great neighborhood. 21:09.769 --> 21:13.272 It's a great district in South Austin, 21:13.272 --> 21:15.307 and one of the nice things that's been happening as part of 21:15.307 --> 21:17.877 all of this is the neighbors have been getting to know them 21:17.877 --> 21:20.546 -- to know each other. 21:20.546 --> 21:23.415 The folks in the north part, the middle part, 21:23.415 --> 21:25.284 and the south part of the district. 21:25.284 --> 21:28.821 So I -- I'm planning on continuing that, 21:28.821 --> 21:30.823 encouraging that. 21:30.823 --> 21:33.759 >> So when you all were out in your districts campaigning, 21:33.759 --> 21:36.896 I want to hear from each of you, what surprised you the most when 21:36.896 --> 21:40.666 you were out on the campaign trail in this campaign? 21:40.666 --> 21:43.068 Delia, we'll start with you. 21:43.068 --> 21:47.706 >> What surprised me the most was continually educating voters 21:47.706 --> 21:49.775 on the 10-1 system. 21:49.775 --> 21:52.578 Many people did not know what district they lived in. 21:52.578 --> 21:57.082 They were a little familiar with the new districts but they 21:57.082 --> 21:59.185 didn't know what district that they lived in, 21:59.185 --> 22:03.155 and I -- there was a Statesman story about that, 22:03.155 --> 22:06.992 that -- that I was interview for and I think the response from 22:06.992 --> 22:09.828 the city was that, well, we have 78 candidates, 22:09.828 --> 22:12.431 we'll let 78 candidates educate the people, 22:12.431 --> 22:14.466 and I just -- I thought that was a poor decision. 22:14.466 --> 22:17.336 I think there should have been more help in educating the 22:17.336 --> 22:20.839 public on this -- I mean this is a historic change. 22:20.839 --> 22:23.642 So that was -- that was the most surprising is that a lot of 22:23.642 --> 22:26.345 people did not know -- towards the very end I start -- and -- 22:26.345 --> 22:28.614 but there again, you're knocking on the same doors, a lot. 22:28.614 --> 22:30.950 So I'm sure they were, oh, it's her again. 22:30.950 --> 22:32.218 [Laughter]. 22:32.218 --> 22:34.353 But then they knew they were in District 2. 22:34.353 --> 22:35.654 But that was surprising in the beginning. 22:35.654 --> 22:37.890 >> Ann. 22:37.890 --> 22:43.629 >> Well, you know, what struck me the most was how engaged 22:43.629 --> 22:45.331 people were -- were. 22:45.331 --> 22:46.799 How engaged people are, you know, 22:46.799 --> 22:49.268 and their -- their hope for change and their passion about 22:49.268 --> 22:50.603 change. 22:50.603 --> 22:53.706 I mean, the voter turnout in District 5 was very high, 22:53.706 --> 22:58.110 and a lot of the precincts, and people really wanted to be part 22:58.110 --> 23:03.883 of this; and so it really struck me as I talked to people all 23:03.883 --> 23:07.052 across the district, how they wanted to -- they wanted to talk 23:07.052 --> 23:11.290 about what needed to happen for South Austin and that people in 23:11.290 --> 23:14.526 South Austin had -- had felt like they had not been 23:14.526 --> 23:18.197 represented, and this was an opportunity to change that. 23:18.197 --> 23:20.165 So that really struck me throughout the whole entire 23:20.165 --> 23:22.334 campaign. 23:22.334 --> 23:23.269 >> And Kathie. 23:23.269 --> 23:25.070 >> I would say the same. 23:25.070 --> 23:28.073 Really, the level of engagement was very, 23:28.073 --> 23:31.043 very high and that was a really welcome surprise. 23:31.043 --> 23:34.546 You know, I campaigned in 2011 and -- and did some -- you know, 23:34.546 --> 23:36.382 as much as I was able to in two months, 23:36.382 --> 23:39.218 some door-to-door knocking, and people, certainly, 23:39.218 --> 23:41.954 were interested in the issues, but it was nothing compared to 23:41.954 --> 23:43.022 this cycle. 23:43.022 --> 23:45.991 People -- neighborhood associations held forums and 23:45.991 --> 23:48.427 debates and smaller organizations did as well. 23:48.427 --> 23:50.663 And just throughout the neighborhoods, 23:50.663 --> 23:53.032 it was really clear that people were so excited and engaged, 23:53.032 --> 23:56.302 not just with the -- with the race and the candidates who were 23:56.302 --> 23:58.237 running, but also the issues themselves, 23:58.237 --> 24:01.307 and it was -- and it -- and it -- it is a really unusual time 24:01.307 --> 24:05.044 because you did have groups forming around the district and 24:05.044 --> 24:09.648 so -- individuals from the Cherry Wood Neighborhood 24:09.648 --> 24:12.751 Association were talking to the Hyde Park Neighborhood 24:12.751 --> 24:13.919 Association and Bouldin Creek Neighborhood, 24:13.919 --> 24:16.622 and so you had people from -- from across the area who maybe 24:16.622 --> 24:19.158 hadn't met together as a group, talking about local issues and 24:19.158 --> 24:22.194 what is important to them and finding that they had a lot of 24:22.194 --> 24:24.430 similarities even though their neighborhoods might look very 24:24.430 --> 24:28.100 different and be in different geographic areas of -- of 24:28.100 --> 24:29.368 District 9. 24:29.368 --> 24:32.871 And so I -- I believe it really signifies a whole new level of 24:32.871 --> 24:34.573 public engagement going forward, too. 24:34.573 --> 24:36.975 A lot of those alliances will hold, 24:36.975 --> 24:40.346 and that level of engagement will -- will remain strong, 24:40.346 --> 24:43.115 I believe, and we'll have even more public participation down 24:43.115 --> 24:45.250 at City Hall, which is a very good thing. 24:45.250 --> 24:47.486 >> Well, we thank you for your participation, here, tonight. 24:47.486 --> 24:49.188 We've come to the end of our time, already, 24:49.188 --> 24:50.723 but we have a final question. 24:50.723 --> 24:52.791 We're short on time so one sentence each. 24:52.791 --> 24:56.028 At the end of your term, what is the biggest mark that you would 24:56.028 --> 24:58.130 like to leave on your district? 24:58.130 --> 25:00.766 Ann, we'll start with you, one sentence from each. 25:00.766 --> 25:04.603 >> I would like -- the biggest accomplishment would be that the 25:04.603 --> 25:09.208 people of South Austin feel like they're represented and that 25:09.208 --> 25:13.178 they have hope and engagement with their city. 25:13.178 --> 25:15.114 >> Kathie. 25:15.114 --> 25:18.050 >> I would like to see that we've really made progress on 25:18.050 --> 25:20.486 some of the big issues that we've been talking about as a 25:20.486 --> 25:22.521 community: affordability education, 25:22.521 --> 25:24.556 environmental sustainability, that we've really made 25:24.556 --> 25:28.560 measurable steps in all of those areas. 25:28.560 --> 25:29.795 >> And Delia. 25:29.795 --> 25:33.732 >> And I would love to be able to say that not a single working 25:33.732 --> 25:36.802 class family has to leave Austin again so that would be a big 25:36.802 --> 25:39.004 accomplishment. 25:39.004 --> 25:41.206 >> Well, we are out of time for tonight, 25:41.206 --> 25:44.042 but thanks to all of you, Delia Garza, Ann Kitchen, 25:44.042 --> 25:45.411 and Kathie Tovo. 25:45.411 --> 25:47.146 All of the run-off conversations, 25:47.146 --> 25:50.082 including the conversation with candidates for Austin mayor will 25:50.082 --> 25:54.253 be available on YouTube and KLRU.TV. 25:54.253 --> 25:57.790 For KLRU, Leadership Austin, the Annette Strauss Institute for 25:57.790 --> 26:01.126 Civic Life and KUT, I'm Jennifer Stayton, 26:01.126 --> 26:05.898 thanks so much for watching. 26:05.898 --> 26:07.332 [Music]. 26:07.332 --> 26:08.534 [Applause]. 26:08.534 --> 26:09.868 [www.captionsource.com] 26:35.060 --> 26:37.696 >> Support for Civic Summit comes from Google, 26:37.696 --> 26:40.332 a global technology leader focused on improving the ways 26:40.332 --> 26:42.868 people connect with information, and also by Texas Mutual 26:42.868 --> 26:45.771 Insurance, providing workers' compensation for Texas 26:45.771 --> 26:47.673 employers.