[MUSIC].
>> AUSTIN'S GOVERNMENT
IS GETTING AN OVERHAUL,
10 NEW SEATS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL AND A NEW MAYOR.
ON ELECTION DAY, VOTERS WHITTLED
THE FIELD OF MAYORAL CANDIDATES
DOWN TO TWO.
STEVE ADLER AND MIKE MARTINEZ.
ONE WILL BECOME THE ONLY PERSON
AT CITY HALL ELECTED BY THE CITY
AS A WHOLE.
TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING BEYOND THE
RHETORIC TO FIND OUT WHY EACH OF
THE REMAINING CANDIDATES SAYS HE
IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO LEAD OUR
CITY.
[MUSIC].
>> SUPPORT FOR CIVIC
SUMMIT COMES FROM GOOGLE,
A GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY LEADER
FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE WAYS
PEOPLE CONNECT WITH INFORMATION.
AND ALSO BY TEXAS
MUTUAL INSURANCE,
PROVIDING WORKERS' COMPENSATION
FOR TEXAS EMPLOYERS.
[MUSIC].
>> HELLO, AND THANKS FOR JOINING
US FOR CIVIC SUMMIT MAYORAL
RUNOFF CONVERSATION, A
JOINT PRODUCTION OF KLRU,
LEADERSHIP AUSTIN, KUT, AND THE
ANNETTE STRAUSS INSTITUTE FOR
CIVIC LIFE.
I'M NATHAN BERNIER WITH KUT
90.5, AUSTIN'S NPR STATION.
AND TONIGHT, I'M SITTING DOWN
WITH THE TWO CANDIDATES STILL
STANDING IN THE RACE TO
BE AUSTIN'S NEXT MAYOR,
STEVE ADLER AND MIKE MARTINEZ.
YOU CAN JOIN IN ON THIS
CONVERSATION BY USING THE
#CIVICSUMMITMAYOR.
NOW, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME
THESE TWO HAVE SAT DOWN FOR A
FORUM, SO WE'RE HOPING TO MAKE
THIS ONE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT
TONIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT LEADERSHIP,
WHY EACH CANDIDATE IS THE RIGHT
PERSON TO LEAD A BRAND-NEW FORUM
OF COUNCIL MADE UP ALMOST
ENTIRELY OF NEW FACES.
SO FIRST, LET ME INTRODUCE
YOU TO EACH OF OUR CANDIDATES.
STEVE ADLER IS AN ATTORNEY
AND PHILANTHROPIST.
HE'S LIVED IN
AUSTIN FOR 36 YEARS.
HE'S ORIGINALLY FROM WASHINGTON,
D.C. HE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF
A NUMBER OF AUSTIN NONPROFITS,
INCLUDING GEN-AUSTIN,
BREAKTHROUGH, THE LONG
CENTER AND BALLET AUSTIN.
HE LIVES IN WEST AUSTIN.
MIKE MARTINEZ IS A CURRENT
AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMEMBER AND
FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM.
HE CHAIRS THE BOARD
OF CAPITOL METRO.
MIKE IS A FORMER AUSTIN
FIREFIGHTER AND FORMER PRESIDENT
OF THE AUSTIN
FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION.
HE LIVES IN EAST AUSTIN.
SO FIRST QUESTION, YOU GUYS,
WHICH WAS SHARED WITH BOTH OF
YOU BEFORE TONIGHT, WHAT HAVE
YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF OVER
THE CAMPAIGN THAT
WILL HELP YOU GOVERN?
WE'LL START WITH YOU, STEVE,
BECAUSE YOU'RE SITTING CLOSER TO
ME.
>> OKAY.
WELL, GREAT, AND I APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND
TO TALK WITH YOU AND WITH MIKE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT THAT
I'VE LEARNED OVER THE COURSE OF
THIS CAMPAIGN.
IN FACT, I TELL A LOT OF THE
FRIENDS AND PEOPLE THAT I --
THAT I TALK TO THAT EVERYBODY
SHOULD DO THIS ONCE.
EVERYBODY SHOULD RUN FOR
MAYOR JUST TO GO THROUGH THIS
EXPERIENCE.
THE PEOPLE THAT YOU GET A CHANCE
TO TALK TO AND GET A CHANCE TO
MEET AND THE SITUATIONS YOU
FIND YOURSELF IN ARE JUST TRULY
EXTRAORDINARY.
BUT I'VE LEARNED A LOT, AND
I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MYSELF.
PICKING ONE THING, I'VE LEARNED
THAT -- THAT I HAVE A FARTHER
WAY TO GO TO BECOME A BETTER
COMMUNICATOR THAN I THOUGHT.
[LAUGHTER].
>> YOU KNOW, I'VE
BEEN IN A COURTROOM,
SO I'VE DONE A LOT OF
COMMUNICATING OVER THE COURSE OF
THE LAST 30 YEARS, BUT
DURING THIS CAMPAIGN,
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEND SOME TIME IN SOME OF THE
EAST AUSTIN CHURCHES WITH SOME
MINISTERS THAT HAVE TAUGHT ME
WHAT IT MEANS TO REALLY
BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE.
THEY SPEAK IN A WAY THAT
INSPIRES AND INFORMS AND -- AND
EDUCATES AND CAPTIVATES.
AND SEEING THAT -- THAT MODEL
HAS RAISED THE BAR FOR ME,
SO I KNOW HOW MUCH
MORE I HAVE TO LEARN.
>> HMM.
OKAY.
WELL, MIKE, WHAT ABOUT YOU?
YOU'VE BEEN CAMPAIGNING
FOUR MONTHS NOW, I THINK,
BOTH OF YOU, RIGHT?
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ON THE
TRAIL THAT MIGHT HELP YOU
GOVERN.
>> I THINK IT'S BEEN
MORE THAN FOUR MONTHS.
>> OKAY. RIGHT.
>> SO...
[LAUGHTER].
>> IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR. IT'S -- IT'S BEEN A GREAT CAMPAIGN.
THANK Y'ALL FOR
BEING HERE TONIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR
ME, HEADING INTO THIS,
MOST OF YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE A TWO-YEAR-OLD.
AND I WAS A SINGLE FATHER WHEN
I RAN THE FIRST TIME IN 2006.
AND IT WAS A COUNCIL RACE, SO
IT WASN'T NEARLY AS INTENSE AS
RUNNING FOR MAYOR.
AND SO I THINK WHAT WE LEARNED
GOING INTO THIS, WE THOUGHT,
YOU KNOW, THIS IS
GOING TO BE TOUGH.
WE'RE GOING TO RUN A CAMPAIGN,
YOU KNOW, A TWO-YEAR-OLD,
A 16-YEAR-OLD, WE HAVE FULL-TIME
CITY COUNCIL DUTIES AND CHAIR OF
THE BOARD AT CAP METRO AND
BEING A HUSBAND AND A FATHER.
WHAT WE LEARNED IS, AS A FAMILY,
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE AS LONG AS
WE STICK TOGETHER, LOVE
EACH OTHER, WORK HARD.
MY WIFE'S HOME TONIGHT RIGHT
HOME TAKING CARE OF DIEGO
WATCHING ONLINE.
AND SO THAT -- I THINK WHAT I
LEARNED IS IN SERVING IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, OUR FAMILY IS
GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER,
STICK TOGETHER,
LOVE ONE ANOTHER,
AND ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
WITH A LOT OF HARD WORK.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, AUSTIN HAS PRETTY
LOW VOTER TURNOUT.
I'LL ASK YOU THIS FIRST, MIKE.
YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO ENGAGE
WITH CITY LEADERS AND CIVIC
POLITICS, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF
PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT WHO ARE
CIVICALLY ACTIVE, BUT OVERALL,
IT'S A PRETTY SMALL PORTION -- I
MEAN, IT COULD BE BIGGER --
PORTION OF THE POPULATION THAT
IS CIVICALLY ACTIVE.
HOW WILL YOU REACH OUT TO PEOPLE
WHOSE VOICES MIGHT NOT OFTEN BE
HEARD AND HOW WILL THEIR
CONCERNS AFFECT YOUR PRIORITIES?
>> I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
WE'VE -- WHAT I HAVE FOCUSED ON
FOR EIGHT YEARS.
I WANT TO BE A COUNCILMEMBER
THAT REPRESENTS FOLKS THAT,
QUITE FRANKLY, ARE WORKING EVERY
DAY AND RAISING THEIR FAMILIES
AND DON'T HAVE TIME TO COME TO
CITY HALL AND MEET WITH COUNCIL
AND DON'T HAVE TIME TO SIT AT A
COUNCIL MEETING FOR HOURS ON END
WAITING FOR THREE
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I THINK THE -- THE AVERAGE
CITIZEN WANTS AN ELECTED
OFFICIAL THAT HAS
WALKED IN THEIR SHOES,
THAT UNDERSTANDS THE ISSUES
THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH,
AND THAT CAN EFFECTIVELY
REPRESENT THEM AND -- AND FIGHT
FOR THEM WHEN, YOU KNOW, YOU
NEED TO STAND UP AND SPEAK FOR
THE VOICELESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> WHAT ABOUT YOU, STEVE?
YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU
GET PEOPLE ENGAGED,
AND THEN HOW -- ONCE
YOU GET THEM ENGAGED,
HOW DO YOU ALLOW THEIR CONCERNS
AND INTERESTS TO AFFECT YOUR
DECISIONS?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK PROBABLY
IN A THOUSAND DIFFERENT WAYS,
AND THAT'S WHAT THE GIFT OF
THIS 10-1 SYSTEM IS ALL ABOUT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE
CITY OF AUSTIN THAT ARE FEELING
UNINVOLVED AND DISENGAGED
BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY,
THEY'VE -- THEY'VE BEEN
UNINVOLVED AND DISENGAGED.
THERE ARE PARTS OF THIS CITY
THAT HAVE NOT BEEN AT THE TABLE.
EVERYBODY ON CITY COUNCIL RIGHT
NOW LIVES NORTH OF THE RIVER AND
SOUTH OF 45TH STREET.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME
WITH THIS 10-1 SYSTEM,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER THE CITY.
AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE
ALREADY BECOMING MORE ENGAGED.
YOU KNOW, IN THESE CAMPAIGNS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED,
PROBABLY EVERYBODY'S HAD
SOMEONE COME TO THEIR DOOR,
TWO OR THREE OR 20 TIMES AT THIS
POINT BECAUSE OF THE MAYOR'S
ELECTION AND BECAUSE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTION.
AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO GET MORE ENGAGED
BECAUSE THEY SEE THIS AS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.
AND THEN I THINK WE MAKE SURE
THAT WE -- WE INSTITUTIONALIZE,
WE BUILD A NEW WAY OF DOING
GOVERNMENT SO THAT IT'S EASIER
FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE.
SO THAT GOVERNMENT COMES TO THEM
AND THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS HAVING TO
GO TO GOVERNMENT; THAT IT IS
BOTH CONVENIENT AND INVITING,
AND THAT OPPORTUNITY
EXISTS AT ALL LEVELS.
>> NOW -- OKAY.
WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO
MORE LEADERSHIP STUFF HERE.
YOU KNOW, THE CITY
HAS A LOT OF BOARDS,
IT HAS A LOT OF COMMISSIONS,
IT HAS A LOT OF TASK FORCES.
HOW WOULD YOU -- AND
WE'LL FLIP IT THIS TIME,
I'LL ASK YOU FIRST, STEVE.
HOW WOULD YOU DELEGATE
AUTHORITY TO CITIZEN BOARDS,
WOULD YOU DELEGATE MORE OR LESS
THAN WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN -- IN
RECENT YEARS?
>> I THINK THAT THE CITIZEN
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WE HAVE
ARE PART OF OUR CULTURE,
IT'S PART OF WHO WE ARE,
IT'S A PART OF HOW WE DO THINGS.
AND WE HAVE A LARGE GROUP OF A
-- VERY INVOLVED CIVIC ACTIVISTS
AND PEOPLE THAT -- THAT WANT
TO PARTICIPATE AND MAKE OUR
GOVERNMENT BETTER BECAUSE
OF THEIR PARTICIPATION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
MAKE IT MORE MEANINGFUL AND MAKE
IT MORE EFFECTIVE.
YOU KNOW, MY HOPE IS, IS
THAT WORKING WITH THE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS, WE CAN -- WE CAN
CHANGE HOW WE DO GOVERNMENT AND
MOVE TO A GREATER
COMMITTEE SYSTEM,
SO THAT WE'RE NOT MEETING AT
3:00 IN THE MORNING MAKING
POLICY DECISION FROM THE DAIS
WITH RESOLUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
FILED THREE AND FOUR DAYS
EARLIER THAT HAVE NEVER REALLY
BEEN VETTED; WHERE THINGS
USUALLY GO THROUGH A COMMITTEE
BEFORE THEY EVER COME
TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND THEN WE CAN HAVE THOSE
COMMITTEES WITH TWO OR THREE OR
FOUR OR FIVE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
ON THEM DEALING WITH SUBSTANTIVE
AREAS AND TAKING
WHAT THE CITY DOES,
AND DIVIDE IT INTO 10 DIFFERENT
AREAS SO THAT EACH OF THE
COUNCILPEOPLE CAN CHAIR
ONE OF THOSE COMMITTEES.
BUT WHAT IT ALSO MEANS, THEN,
IS THERE'S GOING TO BE A CLOSER
CONTACT BETWEEN THE BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS AND CITY COUNCIL
THAT ARE WORKING ON
THOSE SUBSTANTIVE AREAS.
YOU KNOW, I DEAL WITH AND TALK
TO PEOPLE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE
SERVING ON THE BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS,
AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE
DISCOURAGED OR DISHEARTENED WHEN
THE CITY COUNCIL IS -- WILL
QUICKLY MOVE PAST SOMETHING THAT
THEY'VE JUST SPENT WEEKS
DEBATING A NUANCE ON AND THEY'RE
WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THE
COUNCIL REALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT.
BUT BY HAVING MORE ACTIVITY
AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL,
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS -- GIVE
THEM A MORE DIRECT ROLE
AND A MORE MEANINGFUL ROLE.
>> HOW ABOUT YOU, MIKE?
HOW DO YOU DELEGATE
AUTHORITY TO CITIZEN BOARDS,
MORE OR LESS THAN WHAT'S -- WHAT
HAS BEEN DONE IN RECENT YEARS,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE
A GREAT STRUCTURE, ACTUALLY.
IT -- WE DO HAVE A CITIZEN-LED
INITIATIVE IN OUR BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS PROCESS.
WE DO HAVE COUNCIL
SUBCOMMITTEES THAT, YOU KNOW,
VET POLICIES BEFORE THEY
GET TO THE COUNCIL LEVEL.
ULTIMATELY, GOVERNMENT
IS -- YOU KNOW,
IT OPERATES UNDER A
CERTAIN PROCEDURE,
JUST LIKE AT THE LEGISLATURE.
THE LEGISLATURE IS VERY HEAVY
WITH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS.
BUT EVEN AT THE
TEXAS LEGISLATURE,
ONCE A BILL HITS THE HOUSE
FLOOR OR THE SENATE FLOOR,
IT CAN CHANGE, IT
CAN BE FILIBUSTERED,
IT CAN GO ON FOREVER, AS
WE'VE SEEN IN PAST SESSIONS.
WHENEVER YOU HAVE A PROCESS THAT
LEADS TO THE ULTIMATE DECISION
BEING MADE BY THE GOVERNING
BODY, THAT IS DEMOCRACY,
AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES TIME.
SOMETIMES IT MEANS THINGS ARE
GOING TO PASS THAT DIDN'T LOOK
THE SAME AS WHEN THEY CAME
THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE.
HERE'S -- HERE'S WHAT I THINK
IS GOING TO HAPPEN, THOUGH,
AND IT'S -- IT'S GOING TO
TAKE A LITTLE WHILE, THOUGH,
TO KIND OF GET PAST
THIS LEARNING CURVE.
YOU'VE GOT 10 COUNCILMEMBERS
FROM 10 DIFFERENT DISTRICTS,
AND WE HAVE PROBABLY 60
PLUS BOARD AND COMMISSIONS.
SO NOW THAT'S 11 CITIZENS THAT
WE HAVE TO FIND FOR THOSE 60
PLUS, AND SOME OF THOSE BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS ARE MORE THAN
11.
SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO
BE 22 BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT
DEFINITION OF HOW
WE APPOINT CITIZENS.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE,
THOSE DISTRICTED COUNCILMEMBERS,
THEY'RE GOING TO BE PRESSURED TO
APPOINT SOMEONE FROM THEIR
DISTRICT TO REPRESENT THEM ON
THOSE ISSUES.
BUT I -- BUT I WANT THEM TO
UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO LOOK
THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BECAUSE
THERE ARE FOLKS THAT -- ONE,
THAT ARE COMMITTED AND THAT HAVE
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE THAT
CAN SERVE AS WELL.
AND THEY MAY NOT BE
FROM YOUR DISTRICT.
THEY MAY BE FROM A NEIGHBORING
DISTRICT OR THEY MAY BE FROM
ACROSS TOWN.
I DON'T WANT THIS DISTRICT
STRUCTURE TO IMPEDE THE CITIZEN
PROCESS.
I DON'T WANT IT TO BE -- TO
GET BOGGED DOWN AT THE DISTRICT
LEVEL.
I WANT -- YOU KNOW, I WANT TO
HELP OUR COUNCILMEMBERS THINK
BEYOND THAT AND REALLY FIND THE
STRENGTHS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE
THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
SYSTEM WORK MOVING FORWARD WITH
THIS NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
>> WELL, THEN LET ME GIVE YOU
A HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION HERE,
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A
TOTALLY NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
SAY YOU HAVE TWO NORTH AUSTIN
CITY COUNCILMEMBERS AND THEY
WANT TO INCREASE A CITY
SERVICE IN THEIR AREA,
BUT BY ADDING MORE RESOURCES
TO THOSE TWO DISTRICTS,
YOU HAVE TO MAKE CUTS
IN OTHER DISTRICTS.
SO HOW WOULD YOU DECIDE IN THAT
SITUATION WHAT TAKES PRECEDENCE?
HOW WOULD YOU RESOLVE CONFLICT
BETWEEN COUNCILMEMBERS?
IT REALLY -- KIND OF
SPEAKS TO THAT ISSUE.
>> THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS
GOING TO BE THE NEXT, YOU KNOW,
MAYOR'S CHALLENGE
AND ALSO OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
COUNCILMEMBERS FROM A DISTRICT
SYSTEM -- AND BY THE WAY, I
SUPPORTED SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT
SINCE BEFORE GETTING
ON THE COUNCIL.
I THINK IT'S WAY BEYOND TIME
THAT WE MOVE TO A GEOGRAPHIC
FORM OF REPRESENTATION.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE
OF THE BEST CITY COUNCILS WE'VE
EVER SEEN BECAUSE OF
WHAT STEVE MENTIONED.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOLKS
FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY.
THE ISSUES, WHETHER THEY'RE IN
NORTH AUSTIN OR SOUTH AUSTIN,
WHETHER YOU'RE A DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER FROM EAST OR WEST
AUSTIN, YOUR ISSUES ARE
GOING TO BE THE SAME,
YOUR ISSUES ARE GOING TO
BE I WANT SAFE STREETS.
I WANT, YOU KNOW,
SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I WANT MY KIDS TO
HAVE A GOOD EDUCATION.
I WANT GOOD JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
I WANT A GOOD ECONOMY.
THOSE THINGS ARE GOING
TO RISE NOW, I THINK,
TO A MORE COMMON GROUND
LEVEL AMONG THE DISTRICTED
COUNCILMEMBERS.
WHETHER YOU LIVE IN DOVE SPRINGS
OR WHETHER YOU LIVE AT 360 AND
183, THOSE ISSUES RESONATE
WITH THE RESIDENTS.
THEY WANT THEIR CITY
SERVICES ON TIME.
THEY WANT THEIR POOLS OPEN IN
THE HOURS THAT THEY NEED THEM
OPEN.
THEY WANT THEIR
LIBRARIES OPEN, YOU KNOW,
IN THE HOURS THAT THEY WANT.
THOSE ARE GOING TO
RESONATE ACROSS.
AS MAYOR, YOU FIND THAT COMMON
GROUND AND YOU BUILD ON THAT
COMMON GROUND.
YOU DON'T START OUT HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WHERE THE
DIFFERENCES LIE.
YOU START OUT WHERE
YOU HAVE COMMON GROUND.
AND THERE WILL BE TIMES
WHEN THERE IS DISAGREEMENT.
AS MAYOR -- HERE'S
THE OTHER THING,
UNDER ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER,
TECHNICALLY THE MAYOR IS NOT
SUPPOSED TO VOTE.
THE MAYOR IS ONLY SUPPOSED
TO VOTE IN A TIE-BREAKING
SITUATION.
SO YOU REALLY ARE THE
ARBITER OF THE CONVERSATION,
OF THE DAIS DEBATE
AND DISCUSSION.
THAT IS EXACTLY HOW
WE'LL FUNCTION AS MAYOR.
I WON'T WEDGE MYSELF BETWEEN
DISTRICTED COUNCILMEMBERS.
I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE
FIGHTING FOR THEIR DISTRICTS,
DOING WHAT THEY THINK
THEY NEED TO BE DOING,
BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT WHATEVER
DECISION WE MAKE AS A BODY,
IT AFFECTS ALL OF AUSTIN,
NOT JUST THAT ONE DISTRICT.
>> WHAT ABOUT YOU, STEVE?
YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE
CONFLICTS ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
THERE'S GOING TO BE LIMITED
RESOURCES AND DIFFERENT NUMBERS
FROM DIFFERENT DISTRICTS
SEEKING THE INTERESTS OF THEIR
CONSTITUENTS.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE WHAT TO --
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT TAKES
PRECEDENCE, HOW DO YOU
RESOLVE CONFLICTS BETWEEN
COUNCILMEMBERS?
>> YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE -- HOW DO
YOU RESOLVE CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO
COUNCILMEMBERS?
I THINK THE ANSWER
TO THAT IS CAREFULLY.
[LAUGHTER].
>> AND WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN
COUNCILMEMBERS, AND
THAT'S NOT A BAD THING.
I MEAN, THAT'S A GOOD THING.
WE HAVE ONE CITY HERE, AND WE
EITHER MOVE TOGETHER AS A WHOLE
CITY OR NONE OF US ARE
GOING TO BE MOVING TOGETHER.
THERE'S A LOT OF COMMON GROUND,
AND YOU BEGIN WITH THAT COMMON
GROUND AND YOU BUILD OFF
-- BUILD OFF OF THAT.
YOU ALSO SET UP INSTITUTIONS AND
STRUCTURES IN CITY GOVERNMENT
THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN HOW
CITY GOVERNMENT IS SET UP NOW.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD THAT
COMMITTEE SYSTEM I WAS TALKING
ABOUT A SECOND AGO AND EVERYBODY
ON THE COUNCIL CHAIRED ONE OF
THOSE COMMITTEES, AND EVERY
ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO HAVE A
CITYWIDE RESPONSIBILITY IN
ADDITION TO THEIR DISTRICT
RESPONSIBILITY, EVERY ONE OF
THEM IS GOING TO HAVE TO DEVELOP
AND CULTIVATE A CITYWIDE
CONSTITUENCY IN ADDITION TO
THEIR DISTRICT SO THAT WHEN THEY
GO TO BED AT NIGHT AND THEY PUT
THEIR HEAD ON THEIR PILLOW,
THEY'RE JUST NOT GOING TO BE
THINKING ABOUT THEIR DISTRICT,
THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE
THINKING ABOUT -- ABOUT THAT
SUBSTANTIVE AREA, BUT CITYWIDE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT PART OF
THE MAYOR'S JOB IN THIS COMING
TERM IS TO MAKE ALL 10 OF THE
COUNCILPEOPLE ABSOLUTELY THE
BEST MAYORAL CANDIDATE THAT
EVERY ONE OF THEM CAN BE.
SO I THINK PART OF IT IS
MAINTAINING A FOCUS AND A
PERSPECTIVE THAT LOOKS
AT THE ENTIRE CITY.
RECOGNIZING THAT EVERYBODY
ON COUNCIL IS GOING TO BE AN
ADVOCATE FOR THEIR DISTRICT, AND
THE TWO DISTRICT COUNCILPEOPLE
THAT ARE HAVING THAT DISPUTE
THIS WEEK ARE GOING TO BE THE
TWO DISTRICT PEOPLE THAT ARE
GOING TO BE JOINED TOGETHER IN
TRYING TO BUILD THE
COALITION NEXT WEEK.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE
TO MANAGE AND WORK WITH THOSE
DISAGREEMENTS TO
FIND COMMON GROUND.
YOU'RE ALWAYS NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO FIND IT NECESSARILY,
BUT TO BUILD ON THE -- AND KEEP
OPEN THE SYSTEM SO THAT THE
ABILITY TO REACH
THAT COMPROMISE,
EITHER ON THIS ISSUE
OR ON THE NEXT ISSUE,
IS SOMETHING THAT'S EXPANDED.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT
TO DIG INTO THIS A BIT MORE,
BECAUSE I -- JUST FROM
TALKING TO PEOPLE,
I THINK THERE'S CONCERN THAT
10-1 IS GOING TO CAUSE MAYBE
SOME GRIDLOCK.
SO LET ME ASK YOU, THEN, STEVE,
WHAT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND MAKES
YOU, YOU KNOW, CONFIDENT THAT
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CREATE UNITY
ON THE COUNCIL?
CAN YOU GIVE US SOMETHING ABOUT
YOUR BACKGROUND THAT WOULD GIVE
US CONFIDENCE IN THAT?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT
THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE COME WITH
DIFFERENT SKILLS AND DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT THEY ENJOY DOING.
AND IN MY ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL
CAREER, GOING BACK 34 YEARS,
WHAT I HAVE DONE AT EVERY
STAGE HAS BEEN BRINGING PEOPLE
TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, I GOT TO -- TO UT, IT
WAS THE CHEAPEST LAW SCHOOL IN
THE COUNTRY, AND THEY
GAVE ME A SCHOLARSHIP.
AND I STARTED HERE AND STARTED
MY LEGAL PRACTICE HERE,
SO I'M IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S
DEALING WITH ADVERSARIES,
PEOPLE THAT HAVE WALKED INTO A
SITUATION WITH NO COMMON GROUND
IN SIGHT, AND HAVE BUILT A
CAREER AND A LEGAL CAREER BUILT
ON BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND
FINDING THE CREATIVE SOLUTION OR
THE RESOLUTION THAT ENABLES
PEOPLE TO -- TO PUT ASIDE THE
DISPUTE AND BE ABLE
TO MOVE FORWARD.
I SPENT ALMOST 10 YEARS, FOUR
SESSIONS OVER EIGHT YEARS AS
CHIEF OF STAFF AND GENERAL
COUNSEL IN A STATE SENATOR'S
OFFICE AT THE CAPITOL.
AND IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, AGAIN,
YOU'RE BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER,
YOU'RE FINDING THAT
-- THAT SOLUTION,
THAT CREATIVE SOLUTION THAT
ENABLES YOU TO BE ABLE TO
COMMAND AND BRING TOGETHER A
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE AND HOPEFULLY
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN
A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE.
I WAS IN AN OFFICE WHERE WE WERE
ABLE TO DO THAT WELL ENOUGH THAT
PEOPLE WHO HAD DISPUTES THAT HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR OFFICE
WOULD BRING THEM INTO OUR OFFICE
WITH HOPES THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE
TO HELP THEM FIND
THAT COMMON GROUND.
AND THEN IN 25 YEARS, DEALING
WITH A LOT OF THE LARGE CIVIC
AND INSTITUTIONS THAT
WE HAVE IN THIS CITY,
WITH THE ANTIDEFAMATION LEAGUE
AND ON THE FOUNDING BOARD OF THE
TEXAS TRIBUNE, WITH BREAKTHROUGH
AND GEN-AUSTIN AND ARTS
ORGANIZATIONS IN TOWN, AND ALSO
DEALING WITH SOME OF THE CITY
PROCESSES THAT I'VE
BEEN INVOLVED IN.
I WAS ON THE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
OF CREATE AUSTIN AND FUNCTIONS
WITHIN THE CITY ITSELF.
IT'S SOMETHING
THAT I ENJOY DOING,
IT'S SOMETHING THAT -- THAT I
THINK COMES NATURALLY TO ME,
BEING ABLE TO PULL PEOPLE
TOGETHER TO MAKE THE GROUP
GREATER THAN THE
SUM OF THE PARTS,
TO FIND THAT CREATIVE SOLUTION
THAT PULLS PEOPLE TOGETHER.
>> MIKE, I'VE GOT TO ASK
YOU THE SAME QUESTION.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR
BACKGROUND, YOU KNOW,
MAKES YOU THE RIGHT PERSON TO
CREATE UNITY ON THIS NEW 10-1
COUNCIL?
>> HAVE YOU EVER SAT IN A
FIRE STATION WITH A BUNCH OF
FIREFIGHTERS?
LET ME TELL YOU, THEY COME
FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WITH
DIFFERENT POLITICAL VIEWS,
DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.
NOW TRY LEADING 1,000 OF
THEM IN ONE DIRECTION,
TRY TO GET THEM TO COME TO A
CONSENSUS ON THINGS LIKE A LABOR
AGREEMENT WITH A LOT OF STRIFE
AND DISCUSSIONS THAT'S GONE BACK
AND FORTH WITH THE CITY MANAGER,
WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
YOU KNOW, AS THE PRESIDENT OF
THE FIREFIGHTERS AND AS A LEADER
IN THAT ORGANIZATION, I WAS
ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
FIREFIGHTERS ONE MONTH -- ONE
MONTH AFTER GETTING OFF OF
PROBATION MY ROOKIE
YEAR AS A FIREFIGHTER.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE FOR
22 YEARS IS FIND THAT COMMON
GROUND, NOT BE AFRAID TO HAVE
THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS,
TO TACKLE THE DIFFICULT
CHALLENGES WE FACE,
BUT THEN COMING UP WITH CREATIVE
SOLUTIONS WHEN THERE IS A
STALEMATE, WHEN THERE IS -- WHEN
THERE APPEARS TO BE NO OTHER
DIRECTION TO TURN, FINDING THAT
SOLUTION AND MOVING IT FORWARD.
I THINK THAT MY BACKGROUND AS A
FIREFIGHTER SERVES ME PERFECTLY
WELL FOR ELECTED OFFICE.
IN A SENSE, IT'S VERY SIMILAR.
WHEN SOMEONE CALLS
MY COUNCIL OFFICE,
THAT'S THEIR PROBLEM OF THE DAY,
THAT'S THEIR HIGHEST PRIORITY OF
THE DAY, AND THEY'RE CALLING
THEIR COUNCILMEMBER AND THEY
NEED HELP, AND THEY WANT YOU TO
RESPOND VERY QUICKLY AND SOLVE
THEIR PROBLEM AND NOT
COST THEM ANY MONEY.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO AT
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
YOU CALL 9-1-1, YOU
TELL US YOUR PROBLEM,
WE RESPOND WITHIN THREE MINUTES,
WE TAKE CARE OF IT, WE HUG YOU,
AND WE WALK OUT AND
DON'T CHARGE YOU A DIME.
YOU KNOW, THAT PREPARED ME WELL
FOR THE CONSTANT FIRE DRILLS,
IF YOU WILL, AT CITY HALL.
YOU KNOW, THE -- WE HAVE
A DELIBERATIVE PROCESS,
WE HAVE COUNCIL MEETINGS WHERE
WE ENGAGE WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO
STOP THAT -- THAT INSTANTANEOUS
RESPONSE THAT CITIZENS WANT FROM
YOU.
WHEN THEIR TRASH DIDN'T
GET PICKED UP THIS MORNING,
WHY DIDN'T THEY COME?
I'M CALLING YOU, YOU'RE
MY COUNCILMEMBER,
HELP ME FIGURE THIS OUT.
YOU HAVE TO STAY CALM, YOU HAVE
TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR THEM,
YOU HAVE TO ASSURE THEM THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THROUGH,
AND THEN YOU HAVE
TO FOLLOW THROUGH.
AND -- AND IF YOU
MADE A MISTAKE,
IF WE AS A CITY OR I AS A
COUNCILMEMBER MADE A MISTAKE,
YOU APOLOGIZE FOR THAT MISTAKE
AND YOU TELL THEM YOU'RE GOING
TO LEARN FROM IT AND TRY
NOT TO REPEAT THAT MISTAKE.
IT'S BEING STRAIGHTFORWARD
AND HONEST,
IT'S NOT PLACATING OUR CITIZENS,
IT'S TELLING THEM EXACTLY WHERE
YOU LIE ON AN ISSUE.
BUT HERE'S -- HERE'S, I GUESS,
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK
MAKES -- DISTINGUISHES ME
FROM A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES,
AND I THINK FROM
STEVE A LITTLE BIT,
HE'S NEVER SERVED IN OFFICE.
I CAN'T SAY THAT IT'S
A CLEAR DISTINCTION,
BUT I'M NOT AFRAID TO TAKE ON
VERY DIFFICULT ISSUES THAT I
THINK ARE IMPORTANT
FOR ALL OF AUSTIN.
AND WE'VE DONE THAT.
I'VE DONE THAT AS
A COUNCILMEMBER.
WHEN YOU -- WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
TAKING 18 MONTHS TO REWRITE OUR
ECONOMIC INCENTIVE POLICIES SO
THAT IT PAYS $11 AN HOUR MINIMUM
WAGE AND PAYS PREVAILING WAGES
TO CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND
HEALTHCARE BENEFITS AND
DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS,
WE WERE FIGHTING
-- MY OFFICE, ME,
WE WERE FIGHTING EVERYONE
ELSE AGAINST US: THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY, THE
CHAMBER, THE MAYOR.
FOLKS THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO
KILL JOB CREATION IN AUSTIN.
IT TOOK US 19 MONTHS, WE PASSED
IT THROUGH THE COUNCIL WITH A 6
TO 1 VOTE.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT WORK.
WASN'T AFRAID TO
TAKE ON THAT ISSUE,
AND EVERY COMPANY THAT'S COME
HERE SINCE THEN HAS AGREED 100%
TO THAT ENTIRE POLICY.
THAT, I THINK, CLEARLY
DEMONSTRATES THE ABILITY TO
LEAD, TAKE ON VERY
DIFFICULT ISSUES,
AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET
ADOPTED AND HAVE A HUGE IMPACT
ON OUR CITIZENS.
>> WELL, MY TRASH DOESN'T
GET PICKED UP, I CALL 3-1-1,
I DON'T CALL MY
CITY COUNCILMEMBER.
AND IT WORKS.
IT'S REALLY EFFECTIVE.
[LAUGHTER].
>> YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT TO GIVE
YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT,
STEVE, BECAUSE HE
SAID THAT -- YOU KNOW,
THAT'S -- HE'S TRYING TO SET
HIMSELF -- DO YOU HAVE ANY
RESPONSE TO -- TO WHAT
HE SAID IN THAT REGARD?
>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE
-- BEING MAYOR MEANS YOU TACKLE
DIFFICULT ISSUES.
AND IT ALSO MEANS YOU FIND NEW
DIRECTION AND RESOLUTION FOR THE
DIFFICULT ISSUES.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO
THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY
DONE SUCCESSFULLY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU -- WHEN WE
TACKLE AFFORDABILITY ISSUES,
WE NEED TO MAKE THE
CITY LESS EXPENSIVE.
WHEN WE TACKLE
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES,
WE ACTUALLY NEED TO MOVE SO THAT
THE CITY IS LESS CONGESTED THAN
MORE CONGESTED.
AND WE NEED TO -- WE NEED TO
TACKLE THE HARD ISSUES AND WE
NEED TO RESOLVE THEM AS WELL.
>> OKAY.
LET ME ASK YOU THIS: AND,
AGAIN, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON
LEADERSHIP QUESTIONS HERE.
SO -- BECAUSE WE -- I KNOW
WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME,
EVEN WITH ME, WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
ISSUES LIKE TRANSPORTATION,
ROADS AND WATER.
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DIG INTO
YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE HERE.
SO I WANT TO ASK
YOU, STEVE, YOU KNOW,
OUTSIDE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
WHO DO YOU ADMIRE FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP QUALITIES AND WHY?
>> OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT
AND LEADERSHIP QUALITIES?
THERE ARE SOME EXECUTIVE
DIRECTORS OF NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS CITY
THAT I THINK ARE DOING AN
EXTRAORDINARY JOB.
AND TWO COME TO MIND:
COOKIE RUIZ AND JULIA CUBA.
BOTH RUN NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS CITY,
AND I THINK THEY'RE
BOTH AMAZING.
THE CHALLENGE IS THAT NONPROFITS
HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANYWHERE ARE
PRETTY EXTENSIVE, BECAUSE
RESOURCES ARE LIMITED AND
THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION
FOR -- FOR ATTENTION.
BUT BOTH OF THESE WOMEN ARE
STRONG AND BOTH OF THESE WOMEN
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RUN NONPROFITS
IN A WAY THAT BOTH IS FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE, BUT ALSO TO DEVELOP
CUTTING-EDGE PROGRAMS TO DELIVER
THE SERVICES OR THE PRODUCT THAT
THEIR ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING.
COOKIE RUIZ WITH BALLET AUSTIN,
WHICH HAS BECOME A NATIONAL
LEADER IN THAT ART FIELD,
AND NOT ONLY HAS GREAT ART,
BUT HAS BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP
A PROGRAM WHICH IS SOCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE AND USES ART AS
A -- A CONVENER FOR COMMUNITY
CONVERSATION.
SHE'S DONE JUST AN AMAZING JOB.
AND JULIA CUBA, WHO HAS DONE
SEVERAL DIFFERENT NONPROFITS,
THE GIRL SCOUTS AND THE
GIRLS EMPOWERMENT NETWORK,
PROVIDING INCREDIBLE SERVICE
FOR GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
MORE IN THE TRENCHES WITH
A SMALLER ORGANIZATION,
IT'S BATTLING THOSE KINDS OF
CHALLENGES THAT ORGANIZATIONS
THAT SIZE DELIVER, BUT BOTH
OF THEM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE
ORGANIZATIONS FORWARD IN WAYS
THAT ARE EXCITING TO WATCH AND
INSPIRATIONAL.
>> OKAY.
AND WHAT ABOUT YOU, MIKE?
YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE
OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
ROLE MODEL FOR LEADERSHIP,
SOMEONE WHOSE LEADERSHIP
QUALITIES YOU ADMIRE?
>> I ADMIRE MY MOM MORE
THAN ANYONE ON THIS PLANET.
MY MOM IS THE MOST AMAZING HUMAN
BEING THAT'S EVER WALKED THIS
EARTH.
SHE WAS A SINGLE MOTHER WITH
TWO KIDS, MY SISTER AND I.
SHE MADE $3 AN HOUR AS A
SECRETARY AT KELLER ALUMINUM
CHAIRS IN CALDWELL, TEXAS.
SHE BROUGHT HOME HER
PAYCHECK AND WAS SO PROUD,
SHE HAD BROKE THE
$100 A WEEK PAY SCALE.
IT WAS $101 FOR
40 HOURS OF WORK,
THAT WAS HER TAKE-HOME PAY.
SHE BUSSED TABLES AT
A RESTAURANT AT NIGHT.
AND SO WE DIDN'T
-- IT'S SMALL TOWN.
CALDWELL, TEXAS,
IS -- BACK THEN,
IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN
EVEN 1,000 PEOPLE.
I THINK WE HAD ONE -- IT
WASN'T EVEN A STOPLIGHT,
IT WAS ONE FLASHING
LIGHT WAS IN THE TOWN.
BUT IT'S WHERE MY FAMILY
SETTLED FROM MEXICO,
IT'S WHERE MY GRANDFATHER AND
HIS UNCLE SETTLED IN 1910,
BUT -- SO MOM, SHE DIDN'T WANT
US HANGING OUT WITH GRANDMA ALL
DAY, YOU KNOW,
DURING THE SUMMER.
WE DIDN'T HAVE DAY CARE.
SHE COULDN'T AFFORD DAY CARE,
COULDN'T PAY FOR A BABY-SITTER.
SO MOM PUT US IN SWIMMING
LESSONS WHEN I WAS IN -- I WAS
FIVE AND ANTOINETTE,
MY SISTER, WAS SIX.
AND SO WE TOOK SWIMMING
LESSONS FROM 10:00 A.M.
TO NOON.
AND THEN THE POOL, THE
CITY SWIMMING POOL,
OPENED UP AT NOON.
AND WE WOULD STAY AFTER SWIMMING
LESSONS AND SWIM UNTIL 4:00,
5:00, THEN WE'D GO
MEET MOM AT HOME.
WE'D WALK HOME AND
MOM WOULD BE THERE.
SO THE FIRST SUMMER WAS FINE,
WE PAID FOR SWIMMING LESSONS,
NO BIG DEAL.
THE SECOND SUMMER
THEY SAID, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE KIND OF
CHANGING THE RULES.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO BUY A MEMBERSHIP.
WE'VE CHANGED FROM A PUBLIC
POOL TO A PRIVATE NONPROFIT.
WE NEED YOU TO PAY
FOR A MEMBERSHIP.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY.
SHE BORROWED IT FROM
HER FAMILY MEMBERS,
RAISED THE MONEY AND
PAID THE MEMBERSHIP.
THEY SAID, WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY
PER PERSON, IT'S NOT PER FAMILY.
SO IT WAS 150 PER PERSON,
THEN IT WENT TO -- I MEAN,
150 FOR A FAMILY, THEN IT
WENT TO 150 PER PERSON.
THE BOTTOM LINE WAS,
LONG STORY SHORT,
THEY DIDN'T WANT US GOING
SWIMMING IN THE PUBLIC SWIMMING
POOL IN CALDWELL,
TEXAS, BACK THEN.
AND MOM STOOD UP TO THEM.
AND WE CALLED HER ONE
DAY, WE SAID, MOM,
THEY KICKED US OUT OF THE POOL.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T GO IN THERE.
SHE WALKED -- SHE WENT BACK TO
THE POOL AND SHE STOOD THERE
WITH HER ARMS CROSSED, AND SHE
SAID, YOU TWO GET IN THE POOL.
AND EVERYBODY CLEARED OUT.
AND WE WERE CRYING.
WE WERE LIKE, MOM,
DON'T MAKE US DO THIS.
SHE SAID, GET IN THAT WATER.
AND SHE STOOD THERE AT THE FRONT
OF THE SWIMMING POOL WITH HER
ARMS CROSSED AND WATCHED
HER KIDS GET IN THE WATER.
AND, OF COURSE, THE LIFE
GUARD JUST -- YOU KNOW,
HE RAN THE POOL, AND HE SAID,
YOU HAVE -- MS. MARTINEZ,
YOU HAVE TO GO.
YOU HAVE TO STOP.
YOU JUST NEED TO STOP.
AND SO SHE BEGAN CALLING
THE MAYOR AND SAYING,
WHAT'S -- THIS IS A PUBLIC POOL.
WE ALL PAY TAXES, HOW CAN MY
KIDS NOT SWIM IN THE PUBLIC
POOL, YOU KNOW.
PRIVATE NONPROFIT NOW, WE'VE
KIND OF SWITCHED GEARS.
SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.
SHE'S ALWAYS, ALWAYS LOOKED
OUT FOR FOLKS THAT ARE BEING
MISTREATED.
SHE TAUGHT ME THAT
AT A SUPER EARLY AGE.
WE ENDED UP HAVING -- WE
MOVED AWAY, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO.
WE ENDED UP MOVING AWAY FROM
CALDWELL, TEXAS, AND I REMEMBER,
SHE WAS CRYING THAT DAY.
IT WAS HER HOMETOWN.
SHE WAS LEAVING.
AND FOR WHATEVER REASON I
SAID THIS TO HER -- YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN -- WE'D BEEN
TRYING TO MEET WITH THE MAYOR.
I SAID, MOM, IT'S OKAY.
SOME DAY I'LL BE THE MAYOR AND
I WON'T TREAT YOU OR ANYONE ELSE
LIKE YOU'VE BEEN TREATED.
AND THAT'S WHY I
ADMIRE HER THE MOST.
SHE'S NEVER STOPPED HELPING
PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST,
INCLUDING HER OWN KIDS.
SHE SET AN INCREDIBLE
EXAMPLE FOR BOTH OF US,
AND FOR MANY FOLKS.
SHE'S STILL, TO THIS DAY,
HELPING PEOPLE EACH AND EVERY
DAY, VOLUNTEERING
AT CHURCH EVERY DAY.
SHE'S AN AMAZING WOMAN.
>> WELL, THEN, IN THE SPIRIT
OF YOUR MOM'S KIND HEART,
I WANT TO ASK YOU
GUYS A TOUGH QUESTION.
THIS IS SORT OF A KUMBUYA
MOMENT, BUT, YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY EASY.
CAN YOU TELL -- TELL US
SOMETHING -- AND YOU GO FIRST,
MIKE, BECAUSE I ASKED STEVE
THE LAST QUESTION FIRST.
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR
OPPONENT'S EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD
MAKE THEM A GOOD
LEADER FOR OUR CITY.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO
ENDORSE THE ADLER CAMPAIGN.
[LAUGHTER].
>> WHAT -- WHAT DO YOU --
>> BUT THAT WOULD BE OKAY.
>> YEAH.
[LAUGHTER].
>> LET'S NOT PRECLUDE THAT.
>> BUT, I MEAN, WHEN -- COME
ON, BOTH YOU GUYS ARE -- ARE
CIVICALLY ACTIVE, YOU
CARE ABOUT YOUR CITY.
WHAT DO YOU SEE IN STEVE THAT
-- THAT COULD MAKE HIM A GOOD
LEADER FOR OUR CITY?
>> FROM WHAT I KNOW, HE IS AN
INCREDIBLE ATTORNEY, EXTREMELY,
EXTREMELY SMART, AND I THINK
THAT WAS -- THAT'S GOING TO
SERVE HIM VERY WELL SHOULD
HE WIN THIS ELECTION.
HE HAS, YOU KNOW -- AND, AGAIN,
I DON'T KNOW STEVE VERY WELL.
I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW HIM ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL, BUT TRUST ME,
I HEAR FOLKS THAT KNOW STEVE
AND WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT HIM.
AND THEY ADMIRE HIM A GREAT
DEAL FOR HIS INTELLECT,
FOR HIS ABILITY TO
NEGOTIATE EXTREMELY,
EXTREMELY SCENARIOS
AND SITUATIONS.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO SERVE
HIM VERY WELL AS AN ELECTED
OFFICIAL.
>> STEVE, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT MIKE
MARTINEZ'S EXPERIENCE THAT YOU
THINK MIGHT MAKE
HIM A GOOD LEADER.
>> I THINK HE'S A FIGHTER.
YOU KNOW, AND NOT ONLY LITERALLY
IN TERMS OF COMING FROM A
BACKGROUND WHERE YOU SERVED
THE CITY AS A -- AS PART OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE,
BUT THERE'S -- THERE'S A
RESOLVE THAT YOU HAVE AND A
DETERMINATION AND A GRIT.
AND -- AND I THINK THAT THAT
FIGHTING CHARACTERISTIC IS
SOMETHING THAT HAS SERVED
YOU AND THE COMMUNITY WELL.
>> DON'T YOU GUYS FEEL GREAT?
[LAUGHTER].
>> OKAY.
>> CAN'T WE JUST BE COMAYORS?
[LAUGHTER].
>> NO, WE CAN'T HAVE THAT.
>> COME ON, IF WE'RE GOING
TO BLOW GOVERNMENT UP HERE IN
AUSTIN, CHANGE IT, LET'S
JUST CHANGE IT ALTOGETHER.
[LAUGHTER].
>> WELL, LET'S BLOW IT UP
HERE A LITTLE BIT MORE HERE,
JUST THEORETICALLY.
I'VE GOT ANOTHER
QUESTION FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW, FOR YOU, STEVE, FIRST.
THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION
ABOUT A STRONG MAYOR FORM OF
GOVERNMENT.
THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER DRAMATIC
LEADERSHIP CHANGE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
IS THAT EVER ON YOUR MIND?
AND IF YOU HAD EXECUTIVE
AUTHORITY TO DO -- TO DO
ANYTHING IN AUSTIN, YOU KNOW,
WHAT -- WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH
THAT POWER?
>> YOU KNOW, WE -- WE DO HAVE
WHAT THEY SAY IS A STRONG CITY
MANAGER/WEAK MAYOR
FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT
OTHER CITIES NATIONALLY,
THE TREND IS TO MOVE TOWARD
STRONG MAYOR GOVERNMENTS,
AND IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME AT
ALL IF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DIDN'T
FOLLOW THAT SAME COURSE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S THE KIND
OF THING THAT THIS NEW COUNCIL
SHOULD PICK UP
EARLY IN ITS TERM.
WE -- WE NEED TO SET UP THE
INSTITUTIONS AND STRUCTURE OF
GOVERNMENT SO THAT
WE CAN OPERATE WELL,
AND SO I THINK WE NEED
TO FOCUS THERE INSTEAD.
BUT THE MAYOR HAS PRETTY
EXTRAORDINARY POWERS AS IT IS.
THE MAYOR HAS THE
POWER TO CONVENE.
THE MAYOR HAS THE POWER
OF THE BULLY PULPIT.
AND -- AND IF YOU USE THOSE
POWERS AND USE THOSE POWERS
WELL, I'M NOT SURE THERE ARE --
THERE ARE GREATER POWERS IN THIS
COMMUNITY THAN --
THAN THOSE TWO.
AND I THINK THAT
-- THAT AS MAYOR,
I WOULD USE THOSE POWERS TO BE
ABLE TO CONVENE PEOPLE AND TO
HELP SET AND RALLY THE COMMUNITY
SO THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH THE
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
>> WHAT ABOUT YOU, MIKE?
STRONG MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT,
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK
ABOUT?
AND IF YOU HAD THAT
EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY,
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT?
>> YOU KNOW, IT -- OBVIOUSLY
HAVING BEEN A CITY EMPLOYEE AND
BEEN A PUBLIC
SERVANT FOR 22 YEARS,
I'VE HEARD THIS
CONVERSATION FOR 22 YEARS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY
ABOUT LEADERSHIP STYLE.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT WHO'S
IN THOSE POSITIONS.
WHEN PEOPLE LIKE
THE CITY MANAGER,
THEY'RE FINE WITH THIS
FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
WHEN THEY DON'T LIKE
THE CITY MANAGER,
THEY START TALK ABOUT STRONG
MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
WHEN THEY DON'T LIKE THE MAYOR,
THEY START TALK ABOUT COUNCIL
MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT
LEADERSHIP STYLE.
I THINK STEVE IS RIGHT, THOUGH,
I THINK MOST LARGE CITIES ARE
MOVING TOWARDS OR TENDING TO
TREND TOWARDS A STRONG MAYOR
FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
IT JUST -- YOU KNOW, I CAN'T
ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHAT
WOULD I DO WITH THOSE POWERS,
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE
POWERS WOULD BE.
WE'D HAVE TO DRAFT THAT CHARTER
AMENDMENT UP, AND ULTIMATELY,
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PASSED
BY THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN.
I THINK YOU CAN BE A VERY
EFFECTIVE LEADER IN THIS FORM OF
GOVERNMENT.
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT SOME
OF OUR PREVIOUS MAYORS,
KIRK WATSON AND JESUS GARZA
WHO SERVED AS CITY MANAGER AND
MAYOR, I BET PEOPLE WOULD THINK
WE HAD A STRONG MAYOR FORM OF
GOVERNMENT AT THAT TIME, BECAUSE
THOSE TWO LEADERS WERE EXTREMELY
DYNAMIC AND COMPLIMENTARY OF
ONE ANOTHER AND LED VERY WELL IN
THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS.
SO IF THE COMMUNITY WANTS
TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION,
THAT IS CERTAINLY THEIR RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE
FOR ME AS A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR
TO SAY WE SHOULD OR SHOULD
NOT GO TOWARDS THAT FORM OF
GOVERNMENT.
>> OKAY.
WELL, THE CITY HAS
DEFINITELY SEEN, YOU KNOW,
A BIG CHANGE IN DEMOGRAPHICS,
AGE AND ETHNICITY OVER THE LAST
10 YEARS.
SO IF YOU WERE MAYOR, MIKE, HOW
WOULD YOU ADDRESS THESE CHANGING
DEMOGRAPHICS?
AND SPECIFICALLY, LET'S
TAKE A LOOK AT A FEW GROUPS.
RISING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, THE
GROWING PRE-SENIOR DEMOGRAPHIC,
AND WE'VE ALSO HAD A GROWTH IN
INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTS AND A
DECLINE IN AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
THAT'S A LOT THERE.
BUT JUST GIVE ME AN IDEA,
YOU KNOW, BROADLY SPEAKING,
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE
CHALLENGES WITH THE DEMOGRAPHIC
SHIFTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE
CITY AND HOW YOU WOULD -- YOU
WOULD ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES?
>> OBVIOUSLY, THE CHALLENGES ARE
THINGS LIKE GENTRIFICATION IN
HISTORICALLY MINORITY AND
ETHNIC COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN,
EAST AUSTIN.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EAST AUSTIN.
WE HAVE WORKED ON -- WITH STATE
REPRESENTATIVE EDDIE RODRIGUEZ
ON THE HOMESTEAD
PRESERVATION DISTRICT.
TO ME, THIS IS A POLICY THAT
REALLY DOES SPEAK DIRECTLY TO
WHAT IS HAPPENING
IN EAST AUSTIN.
NEW RESIDENTS ARE MOVING IN, NEW
RESIDENTS ARE EITHER REMODELING
OR REBUILDING HOMES, CAUSING
PROPERTY VALUES TO GO UP.
AN OLDER, LONG-TERM RESIDENT
NEXT DOOR WHO'S BEEN THERE 30,
40 YEARS, NOW SEES THEIR VALUE
START TO GO UP AND THEY'RE ON A
FIXED INCOME AND THEY GET
PUSHED OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE HOMESTEAD PRESERVATION
DISTRICT WOULD STEM THAT TIDE OF
GENTRIFICATION.
IT'S NOT THE ONLY POLICY
THAT WE SHOULD WORK ON,
AND IT'S NOT THE SOLUTION
TO ALL OF THOSE ISSUES,
BUT IT CERTAINLY IS ONE AREA
WHERE THE NEW CAN CONTINUE TO
COME INTO AUSTIN WITHOUT HAVING
THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF PUSHING
THE LONG-TERM RESIDENTS
OUT OF EAST AUSTIN.
IT WOULD ALLOW THEM
TO STAY IN THEIR HOME,
IT WOULD ALLOW THE NEW RESIDENTS
WHO ARE PAYING THAT HIGHER
PROPERTY VALUE AND HIGHER
PROPERTY TAX BILL TO USE A
PORTION OF THAT TO OFFSET THE
RISING PROPERTY TAX BILLS FOR
THE OLDER, LONG-TERM RESIDENTS.
IT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO
STAY IN THEIR HOMES LONGER.
SO TODAY, IF YOU SELL YOUR
HOME IN EAST AUSTIN, YOU KNOW,
DEPENDING ON ITS
CONDITION AND AGE,
IT'S A FEW HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS.
BUT WHAT IF YOU COULD STAY
THERE ANOTHER 10 TO 15 YEARS?
THE VALUE OF THAT HOME
WOULD BE EXPONENTIALLY MORE.
SO THOSE LONG-TERM RESIDENTS
WOULD BE ABLE TO STAY THERE,
NOT BE PRICED OUT BECAUSE
OF RISING PROPERTY TAXES,
AND THEN SELL FOR A MUCH GREATER
VALUE IN THE LONG RUN WHENEVER
IT IS THEY DETERMINE THEY
WANT TO SELL THEIR HOME.
THAT'S ONE ISSUE.
>> UH-HUH.
>> YOU KNOW, THE YOUNG
DEMOGRAPHIC THAT YOU TALKED
ABOUT, WE HAVE TO GET
THEM MORE ENGAGED.
THEY -- THEY ARE ENGAGED
TO A LARGE EXTENT,
BUT LIKE MANY GROUPS,
IT'S A CERTAIN FEW.
WE NEED THIS YOUNG PROFESSIONAL
COMMUNITY THAT IS GOING TO BE
THE FUTURE LEADERS, IF NOT -- IF
THEY AREN'T ALREADY LEADERS IN
THEIR OWN RIGHT, TO GET MORE
ACTIVELY ENGAGED, MORE INVOLVED,
SERVING ON BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS,
PARTICIPATING IN
THE CIVIC PROCESS.
WE HEAR FROM MANY
OF THEM, YOU KNOW,
VIA TWITTER AND THROUGH
SOCIAL MEDIA FORMS.
TONIGHT, I'M SURE YOU'RE GETTING
A LOT OF HASHTAG QUESTIONS AND
THINGS COMING IN, BUT
IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
YOU HAVE -- YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE
TO ROLL YOUR SLEEVES UP AND GET
INVOLVED.
WITH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
POPULATION,
WE HAVE TO HAVE POLICIES THAT
ARE CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND
UNDERSTAND THE OFFSETTING
EFFECTS THAT THEY'RE HAVING,
SUCH AS ON THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EAST
11TH STREET CORRIDOR,
THE AUSTIN REVITALIZATION
AUTHORITY CORRIDOR,
THAT PROJECT WAS SPECIFIC TO
REVITALIZING AN AREA THAT WAS
HISTORICALLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
AND, IN FACT, IT'S WHERE OUR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE
DISTRICT IS AS WELL.
WE WENT IN, WE SPENT TENS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS REVITALIZING
IT.
THERE ARE NO AFRICAN-AMERICAN
BUSINESSES THERE BUT ONE,
AND THAT'S VICTORY GRILL.
THERE ARE HARDLY ANY
AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESIDENTS
LIVING IN THAT DISTRICT,
THEY'RE BEING PUSHED OUT.
IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT
ISSUE TO ADDRESS.
WE FACED IT IN THE
HOLLY NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN 2008, SOME HOLLY RESIDENTS
CAME TO ME AND SAID,
WHY AREN'T YOU SPENDING MONEY IN
FIESTA GARDENS LIKE YOU GUYS DO
IN ZILKER PARK?
THEY HAVE GREAT PLAYSCAPES,
THEY HAVE ALL THESE AMENITIES.
I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU'RE RIGHT.
LET'S DO IT.
WE SPENT $350,000 PLANNING ON
HOW TO REBUILD FIESTA GARDENS.
NOW THEY'RE SAYING DON'T DO
ANYTHING BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST
GOING TO ATTRACT PEOPLE
THAT WE DON'T WANT HERE.
>> OKAY.
I WANT TO LET STEVE JUMP IN
ON THIS QUESTION AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, CHANGING
DEMOGRAPHICS, STEVE.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE
OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS HERE IN
AUSTIN.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU
SEE AS -- AS THE CHALLENGES THAT
POSES TO CITY GOVERNMENT AND
HOW MIGHT YOU ADDRESS THOSE?
>> YOU KNOW, AUSTIN
IS A MAGICAL PLACE.
THERE IS A SPIRIT AND SOUL
TO THIS CITY THAT'S UNIQUE.
YOU GO ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY
AND SAY YOU'RE FROM AUSTIN,
TEXAS, AND IT MEANS
SOMETHING TO -- TO PEOPLE.
BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS
CITY FOR THOSE CHALLENGES.
I THINK AUSTIN IS
AT A TIPPING POINT.
WE HAVE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE NOT
GETTING OUT IN FRONT OF THEM,
AND A LOT OF THEM ARISE FROM THE
CHANGES IN THE DEMOGRAPHICS.
THERE ARE -- PEOPLE SAY THAT
THERE ARE 110 PEOPLE MOVING TO
AUSTIN EVERY DAY, AND -- AND
THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT NUMBER.
THAT'S A NET NUMBER, AND YOU CAN
HIDE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE NET
NUMBER.
THERE ARE REALLY 150 PEOPLE
MOVING TO AUSTIN EVERY DAY,
AND THERE ARE 40 PEOPLE
THAT ARE LEAVING.
AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING,
AND WE DON'T TALK AS MUCH ABOUT
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LEAVING.
WE NEED TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT BOTH,
IF WE'RE GOING TO
UNDERSTAND THE CITY.
WE ARE LOSING COMMUNITIES AND
LOSING PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S TOO
EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE.
WE'VE GONE FROM BEING ONE OF THE
MOST AFFORDABLE BIG CITIES TO
ONE OF THE MOST
EXPENSIVE BIG CITIES.
WE HAVE A GROWING POPULATION,
ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING
POPULATIONS OF 55- TO
60-YEAR-OLDS IN THE COUNTRY IN
OUR CITY RIGHT NOW.
AND A LOT OF THEM ARE ON FIXED
INCOMES AND THEY'RE WATCHING
HOME PRICES GO UP THREE AND A
HALF TIMES FASTER THAN -- THAN
INCOMES ARE GOING UP, THAT
ARE RELATIVELY STAGNANT.
WE HAVE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
KIDS IN THIS CITY UNDER 18,
53% OF THEM LIVING IN POVERTY
AND 45% OF HISPANIC KIDS UNDER
18 LIVING IN
POVERTY IN OUR CITY.
SO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE,
AND WE HAVE TO PROVIDE GREATER
OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO START WITH HELPING,
LIKE MAYOR CASTRO DID IN SAN
ANTONIO, MOVING TOWARD UNIVERSAL
PREK FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND
FOUR-YEAR-OLDS SO THAT PEOPLE --
KIDS START SCHOOL IN THE RIGHT
WAY.
WE NEED TO INCREASE THE TRAINING
FOR MIDDLE-CLASS JOBS SO THAT
THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO -- TO MOVE UP
THE ECONOMIC LADDER.
WE NEED TO REVISE THE PROPERTY
TAX SYSTEM IN WAYS THAT STATE
LAW ALLOWS US TO DO IT SO THAT
PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO STAY IN
THEIR HOMES.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE'RE
DOING UTILITY BILLS AND FEES IN
THIS CITY, SOME OF WHICH THAT
RENTERS PAY THAT ARE ILLEGAL AT
THIS POINT.
SO THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION
IN TERMS OF DEMOGRAPHICS ARE A
LOT OF POLICY ANSWERS.
>> YEAH, I KNOW
IT'S A BIG QUESTION.
BUT LET ME -- SO HERE'S
SORT OF A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT,
AND I'M JUST CURIOUS, BECAUSE
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE
DIFFERENT GROUPS IN
THE CITY AND AS MAYOR,
YOU HAVE TO REPRESENT
ALL OF THEM, RIGHT?
HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT SEEKING
OUT, LISTENING TO DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES AND OPINIONS ON
AN ISSUE TO SORT OF WIDEN AND
BROADEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S THE KEY,
AND YOU ALMOST DEFINE THE ROLE
OF THE MAYOR AND THE JOB
DESCRIPTION FOR THE MAYOR,
BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
THAT OFFICE TO BE A PLACE WHERE
EVERYONE FEELS THAT THEY CAN
GO TO AND, ONE, HAVE ACCESS;
AND GO TO AND BE HEARD; AND
GO TO AND BE UNDERSTOOD.
YOU KNOW, AS YOU GO AROUND THE
CITY IN A CAMPAIGN LIKE THIS,
YOU BEGIN
TO SEE AT A 60,000-FOOT
LEVEL TRENDS AND
PATTERNS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE
SEEN BEFORE, BECAUSE THERE'S SO
MUCH INFORMATION COMING TO YOU
AND SO MANY PEOPLE
COMING TO YOU AT ONCE.
YOU BEGIN TO SEE EFFICIENCIES
THAT MIGHT EXIST,
YOU SEE COMMON -- COMMON GOALS,
YOU SEE COMMON HARDSHIPS AND
COMMON PROBLEMS.
I THINK THAT AS MAYOR, YOU
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE
ACCESSIBLE, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN
REACH YOU AND REACH YOU EASILY.
IT MEANS YOU GO OUT TO PEOPLE,
SO THAT -- THAT CONTACT IS
SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENS VERY EASILY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU -- YOU
DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO
LISTEN, NOT ONLY BY LISTENING
BUT BY THE ACTIONS THAT YOU TAKE
FOLLOWING CONVERSATIONS
AND INFORMATION.
AND THEN IT'S A QUESTION OF
ASSIMILATING THAT INFORMATION
FROM LOTS OF DIFFERENT PLACES,
AND THEN TRYING TO FIND, AGAIN,
THE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS,
THE NEXT STEPS,
THE CUTTING-EDGE APPROACHES.
IT'S REACHING OUT AND LOOKING AT
WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING SO
THAT WE'RE NOT ALWAYS TRYING TO
REINVENT THE WHEEL OURSELVES,
BUT FINDING THOSE
BEST PRACTICES,
IT'S MAKING FOR A VERY BIG TENT.
AND -- AND TRYING TO HARVEST THE
TALENTS THAT COME FROM A VERY
WIDE COMMUNITY.
>> SAME QUESTION TO YOU, MIKE.
HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT FINDING
AND LISTENING TO DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES AND
OPINIONS ON AN ISSUE?
>> YOU KNOW, YOU FINISH YOUR
PREVIOUS COMMENTS BY SAYING AS
MAYOR, YOU HAVE TO
REPRESENT EVERYONE.
>> YEAH.
>> AND I WOULD SAY
AS A COUNCILMEMBER,
YOU HAVE TO REPRESENT
EVERYONE AS WELL.
WE MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THAT.
THAT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF
THE JOBS THAT THE MAYOR HAS TO
IMPART UPON THIS NEXT COUNCIL
IS, YES, YOU'RE IN A DISTRICT,
AND, YES, YOU HAVE
A CONSTITUENT BASE,
BUT YOU REPRESENT ALL OF AUSTIN.
I USED TO -- I USED TO TEACH
-- I WAS THE ONLY CULTURAL
DIVERSITY TRAINING FOR THE
AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT,
BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
AND I TRAINED ALL
1,000 FIREFIGHTERS.
AND THERE'S A COMPONENT IN
THAT TRAINING THAT I THINK IS
EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE WHEN
IT COMES TO LEADERSHIP.
YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO LISTEN
TO HEAR AS OPPOSED TO LEARNING
HOW TO LISTEN SO YOU CAN SPEAK.
AND THAT IS VERY SIGNIFICANT
WHEN YOU'RE IN A LEADERSHIP
ROLE, SUCH AS A
COUNCILMEMBER OR MAYOR.
WHAT YOU'RE LISTENING FOR IS
THAT PERSON'S TRUE -- WHAT WE
CALLED IN THE TRAINING, YOU'RE
LISTENING FOR THEIR TRUE OUCH.
WHAT IS -- BECAUSE IT
REALLY IS SPECIFIC.
THEY MAY BE VERY FRUSTRATED AND
GIVE YOU ALL KINDS OF REASONS AS
TO WHY THINGS ARE NOT WORKING
THE WAY THEY WANT THEM TO WORK.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
CRITICALLY LISTEN TO WHAT
THEY'RE SAYING AND FIGURE OUT
WHAT IS IT THAT I CAN DO TO HELP
YOU TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM
THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO US.
I THINK THAT IS A SKILL SET
THAT IS SORELY NEEDED BY MOST,
IF NOT ALL, ELECTED OFFICIALS.
IT'S THAT LISTENING
COMPONENT THAT, YOU KNOW,
YOU HEAR ABOUT POLITICIANS AND
ELECTED OFFICIALS AND, WOW,
THEY SPEAK SO WELL.
THEY'RE SUCH A GOOD SPEAKER AND
THEY'RE SUCH A GOOD MOTIVATOR.
YOU HAVE TO BE A BETTER LISTENER
THAN YOU ARE A BETTER SPEAKER.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SHIFT GEARS HERE
FOR A QUICK SECOND.
I WANT TO THROW OUT THE KEEP
AUSTIN WEIRD MANTRA FOR A MOMENT
AND I WANT TO THROW OUT THE
LIVE MUSIC CAPITOL OF THE WORLD.
CREATE A MOTTO FOR AUSTIN TO
CARRY US THROUGH THE NEXT 20
YEARS.
I KNOW I'M PUTTING YOU ON THE
SPOT HERE, BUT -- SO, YOU KNOW,
WE'LL GIVE YOU EXTRA POINTS,
THE FASTER YOU ANSWER.
[LAUGHTER].
>> YOU'RE FIRST, MIKE.
CAN YOU THINK OF A
-- I MEAN --
>> OH, YOU KNOW THE KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD THING IS FUN, AND IT WORKS.
IT'S A GREAT LITTLE BRAND.
>> I'M NOT TRASHING
"KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD".
I'M JUST SAYING IF YOU WERE TO
COME UP WITH A MOTTO --
>> I'M NOT EITHER, I JUST WISH IT WAS BETTER THAN
"KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD", BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO END UP EXPLAINING IT TO FOLKS A LOT OF TIMES.
WHAT IS "KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD"?
>> SURE.
>> UH-HUH.
>> WHAT SHOULD THE
CITY'S MOTTO BE, THOUGH?
I MEAN, WHAT -- HOW WOULD YOU
ENCAPSULATE AUSTIN IN JUST A FEW
WORDS?
>> I USED TO HAVE A
BUMPER STICKER THAT SAID,
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN AUSTIN.
[LAUGHTER].
>> UNPACK THAT FOR
US A LITTLE BIT.
>> IT'S SAID THAT THIS IS IT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE PLACE.
THIS IS WHY THOSE 150 PEOPLE
ARE MOVING HERE A DAY.
THERE'S SOMETHING
SPECIAL ABOUT AUSTIN.
THERE'S SOMETHING --
THERE'S OPPORTUNITY,
THERE'S -- YOU CAN
MAKE IT AS A MUSICIAN,
YOU CAN MAKE IT AS
A BUSINESS LEADER.
I MOVED HERE IN 1988 AS A
19-YEAR-OLD WIDE-EYED KID WITH
$50 AND A TRUMPET BECAUSE I JUST
FELT THE MAGIC OF AUSTIN AND I
WANTED TO MAKE MY LIFE HERE.
AND IT'S -- IT'S
BEEN INCREDIBLE.
AND I THINK SO MANY FOLKS IN
OUR COMMUNITY CAN SAY THAT.
NOT EVERYONE.
NOW, WE'RE NOT
WITHOUT OUR PROBLEMS.
PLEASE DON'T GET ME WRONG.
BUT IT'S A PRETTY SPECIAL PLACE.
AND SO I KEPT THAT BUMPER
STICKER ON MY SAME LITTLE CHEVY
PICKUP TRUCK THAT I DROVE
FROM AGE 19 TO AGE 38,
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN AUSTIN.
>> STEVE, CAN YOU CREATE A MOTTO
FOR AUSTIN THAT MIGHT FIT ON A
BUMPER STICKER AS WELL?
[LAUGHTER].
>> I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU'RE KIDDING HERE,
BUT MY MOTTO WOULD BE,
AUSTIN, A NEW WAY FORWARD.
[LAUGHTER].
>> BUT LET ME TELL YOU
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT.
THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE
IN THIS CITY ARE NOT UNIQUE TO
AUSTIN.
YOU KNOW, GENTRIFICATION, THE
DIVERSITY, DISPARITY AND WEALTH,
THE -- THE ATROPHYING OF THE
MIDDLE CLASS ARE NOT PROBLEMS
THAT ARE UNIQUE TO AUSTIN, BUT
AUSTIN IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO
BE ABLE TO BE THE CITY THAT CAN
ACTUALLY GET AHEAD OF THOSE AND
SOLVE THOSE, AND THE REASON FOR
THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A
STRONG AND VIBRANT ECONOMY.
I MEAN, WE ARE NOT ONE OF THE
CITIES THAT YOU READ ABOUT THAT
-- THAT IS CHALLENGED IN WAYS
THAT PREVENT THEM FROM BEING
ABLE TO -- TO REACH THOSE GOALS.
I WOULD LOVE FOR AUSTIN TO BE
KNOWN AS THE CITY WHERE THOSE
KINDS OF SOCIAL IMPACT IDEAS
WERE BORN AND CREATED AND SHOWN
THAT THEY COULD, IN FACT,
ACHIEVE -- ACHIEVE RESULTS.
AND I THINK WE CAN DO THAT.
>> I'VE GOT TO ASK
YOU, THOUGH, I MEAN,
THIS 10-1 FORM OF GOVERNMENT,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBABLY
SOME GROWING PAINS, RIGHT?
WHAT -- WHAT ARE YOUR
EXPECTATIONS FOR WHAT WE COULD
ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH, AND SHOULD
WE BE LOWERING OUR EXPECTATIONS
UNDER 10-1?
>> NO.
>> ANY EXPECTATIONS --
>> ESPECIALLY FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE?
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT
OF NEW PEOPLE ON COUNCIL?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THERE IS PROMISE AND POTENTIAL
IN THIS 10-1 THAT IS HUGE.
AND WHEN THE PEOPLE OF THIS
CITY VOTED TO ADOPT 10-1,
THEY DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE
THEY EXPECTED IT TO SIT BACK AND
GO THROUGH GROWING PAINS FOR A
YEAR OR TWO OR THREE OR FOUR.
THEY -- THEY ADOPTED THIS
BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT AND
BELIEVED AND WILL INSIST THAT
THIS IS A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT
THAT ENABLES US TO --
TO ACHIEVE RESULTS.
SO I THINK THE PROMISE IS
INCREDIBLE COMING FROM THAT
GROUP.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE RUNNING,
THE THREE THAT HAVE
ALREADY BEEN ELECTED,
THE POOL THAT -- FROM -- FROM
WHICH THE FINAL SEVEN WILL BE
SELECTED AS COUNCILPEOPLE.
THIS IS A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE
AND THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE
NOT GOING TO BE SITTING
BACK AND WAITING.
THIS IS A GROUP THAT'S GOING TO
COME TOGETHER, AND I BELIEVE,
ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS.
SO -- SO I, FOR THE RECORD, WILL
SAY THAT I EXPECT EXPECTATIONS
TO BE HIGH.
>> HOW ABOUT YOU, MIKE?
SHOULD PEOPLE -- YOU KNOW, ARE
WE GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME
GROWING PAINS?
SHOULD WE EXPECT THAT?
SHOULD WE CUT THE NEW COUNCIL
SOME SLACK FOR THE FIRST LITTLE
BIT?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO -- I THINK PEOPLE --
CITIZENS WILL WATCH AND MAYBE
MAKE JUDGMENTS THAT THAT
PERSON'S GOING
THROUGH GROWING PAINS.
THOSE COUNCILMEMBERS
-- YOU KNOW,
STEVE IS AFRAID OF
MEETINGS PAST MIDNIGHT,
WE BETTER CREATE SOME STRUCTURE,
BECAUSE THESE NEW COUNCILMEMBERS
ARE COMING IN WITH MANDATES.
THEY -- THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE
COMING TO CHANGE SOME THINGS AT
CITY HALL.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT
SOME STRUCTURE IN PLACE SO THAT
YOU DON'T HAVE AN AGENDA THAT
HAS 400 ITEMS ON IT EACH AND
EVERY WEEK, BECAUSE THEY'RE
GOING TO WANT TO GET SOME THINGS
DONE.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WANT
TO SIT AND TALK ABOUT IT.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WANT
TO SIT AND PROCESS IT.
THIS IS THE NEW DAY FOR AUSTIN,
AND THEY'RE THE FIRST NEW
COUNCIL UNDER THIS NEW
FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
AND I SAY THEY'RE GOING TO COME
IN GUNS A'BLAZING AND WANT TO
PUT SO MANY THINGS ON THAT
AGENDA TO AFFECT THEIR DISTRICT,
TO AFFECT AUSTIN, TO
MAKE THINGS BETTER.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'VE
BEEN HEARING EVERY DAY ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL, THE
ISSUES OF AFFORDABILITY,
THE ISSUES OF UTILITY
PRICES GOING UP,
THE ISSUE OF PRESERVING THE
CHARACTERS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS,
ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN
BROUGHT UP EVERY SINGLE DAY
DURING THIS CAMPAIGN.
AND THESE COUNCILMEMBERS KNOW
WHAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE
EXPECTING OF THEM, SO, NO, I --
IT WILL NOT BE SLOW-MOVING AT
CITY HALL AT ALL.
JANUARY 6TH, THEY'LL
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
AND STEVE, I ASSUME YOU WOULD
DISAGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENT
THAT YOU'RE AFRAID OF
MEETINGS AFTER MIDNIGHT, OR --
[LAUGHTER].
>> I'VE GOT TO GIVE YOU
A CHANCE TO RESPOND.
>> YOU DON'T WANT THEM
TO GO PAST MIDNIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO
WAIT UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT.
>> HE DIDN'T SAY HE
WAS AFRAID OF IT.
>> I WAS TRYING TO BE FAIR.
>> THOSE ARE HIS
WORDS, WHEN HE SAYS IT,
HE SAYS I'M AFRAID OF COUNCIL
WHEN I SEE THEM MEETING SO LATE.
AND I GET THAT.
>> WHAT I SAID, IT SCARES ME.
>> OKAY.
>> AND IT DOES.
[LAUGHTER].
>> TRUST ME, I DON'T WANT TO
BE THERE PAST 10:00 EITHER.
>> AND PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE THERE AT
MIDNIGHT OR 1:00 OR 2:00 OR 3:00
IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BE HEARD.
>> POINT TAKEN.
>> AND THAT'S WHAT I MEANT.
>> OKAY.
SO LAST QUESTION FOR
YOU GUYS, ALL RIGHT.
AT THE END OF YOUR TERM, AND --
WHO DID I ASK FIRST LAST TIME?
IT WAS -- IT WAS YOU?
>> YEAH.
>> SO AT THE END
OF YOUR TERM, MIKE,
HOW WILL YOUR CONSTITUENTS
DESCRIBE YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS
AND QUALITIES?
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE -- YOU
KNOW, IF YOU'RE ELECTED MAYOR,
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE
TO BE REMEMBERED?
>> WOW.
YOU KNOW, WE -- I AM SO PROUD OF
THE WORK THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS
DONE AND THE COUNCILS
THAT I'VE SERVED WITH.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO
BE A COUNCILMEMBER.
AND BEING MAYOR WILL BE JUST
A TREMENDOUS -- EVEN A HIGHER
HONOR.
I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW
THAT -- YOU KNOW,
THAT MIKE MARTINEZ PUT SOME
POLICIES IN PLACE THAT AFFECTED
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A GOOD
WAY FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE
FIGHTING FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS
AND RAISING THE BAR ON MINIMUM
WAGE AND FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
THOSE ARE ALL NATIONAL ISSUES,
BUT WHAT -- WHAT I WOULD SAY TO
THIS NEW COUNCIL COMING IN,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT ON THE
LEGISLATURE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO
WAIT ON CONGRESS TO GET THINGS
DONE.
YOU CAN START AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
AND IT CAN GROW UP ORGANICALLY
FROM HERE.
AND THAT IS WHAT I'M PROUD OF
THAT WE'VE DONE SO MUCH OF HERE
IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
WE PUSHED THE BAR FORWARD.
WE PUSHED THE BAR HIGHER AS IT
RELATES TO INITIATIVES THAT WE
TAKE UPON OURSELVES.
SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE LISTENED
TO KLBJ AM TODAY TALKING ABOUT
RAINBOW CROSSWALKS AND HOW --
WHY ARE WE WASTING TIME ON THAT.
IT'S NOT A WASTE OF TIME.
IT'S ABOUT YOUR
COMMUNITY'S VALUES,
IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MIKE.
AND SAME QUESTION TO YOU, STEVE.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE ELECTED
MAYOR AT THE END OF YOUR TERM,
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE CONSTITUENTS
TO DESCRIBE YOUR LEADERSHIP
SKILLS AND POLICIES?
>> I AGREE.
PROBABLY IF THEY WOULD SAY
THAT I HAD BEEN EFFECTIVE,
BECAUSE I THINK BOTTOM LINE,
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT FROM A
LEADER.
YOU KNOW, I -- I GREW UP IN WASHINGTON, D.C., MY BROTHER AND
I WERE THE FIRST IN OUR FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE.
I COULD ONLY GO BECAUSE
THEY GAVE ME A SCHOLARSHIP.
AND I WENT TO
PRINCETON THAT WAY.
I CAME, AS I SAID EARLIER, TO
LAW SCHOOL HERE IN TEXAS BECAUSE
IT WAS THE CHEAPEST LAW SCHOOL,
AND THEY GAVE ME A SCHOLARSHIP.
MY FATHER DIED WHEN I WAS 21 AND
MY MOTHER FOLLOWED HIM SIX YEARS
LATER.
SO I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
GET SUPPORT AND HELP AND HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES OPENED FOR YOU.
AND I HAVE SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE
AND CAREER TRYING TO WEDGE MY
FOOT AND SHOULDER IN THAT DOOR
TO ENSURE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE
THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT
YOU WANT GOVERNMENT TO DO.
YOU WANT EVERYONE, WHEREVER
THEY ARE IN THIS CITY,
TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE AN EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY, THAT THEY, TOO,
HAVE A CHANCE TO SUCCEED AND --
AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES
AND IMPROVE THEIR
STATION IN LIFE.
THERE ARE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT
ARE HAPPENING IN THIS CITY,
AND WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THOSE,
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT'S SHARED BY EVERYBODY.
AND IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AND
-- AND PEOPLE WOULD SAY, HEY,
STEVE WAS EFFECTIVE
AT GETTING THAT DONE,
THAT WOULD BE WHERE I
WOULD LIKE TO BEGET.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT,
SO THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU GUYS,
STEVE ADLER AND MIKE MARTINEZ.
AND THIS CONVERSATION WILL BE
AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE AND ON KLRU
TV.
EARLY VOTING IN THE RUNOFF
ELECTION STARTS DECEMBER 1ST.
ELECTION DAY IS DECEMBER 16.
SO WRITE THOSE DATES DOWN.
FOR KLRU, LEADERSHIP AUSTIN, THE
ANNETTE STRAUSS INSTITUTE FOR
CIVIC LIFE AND KUT 90.5,
I'M NATHAN BERNIER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
[MUSIC].
[APPLAUSE].
[www.captionsource.com]
>> SUPPORT FOR CIVIC
SUMMIT COMES FROM GOOGLE,
A GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY LEADER
FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE WAYS
PEOPLE CONNECT WITH INFORMATION,
AND ALSO BY TEXAS MUTUAL
INSURANCE, PROVIDING WORKERS'
COMPENSATION FOR TEXAS
EMPLOYERS.
[MUSIC].