[MUSIC].

>> WITH A NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT
TAKING SHAPE AT CITY HALL,

AND EVERY SEAT UP FOR GRABS,
AUSTIN VOTERS ELECTED TWO NEW

CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
ON NOVEMBER 4TH,

AND SENT 16 COUNCIL CANDIDATES,
PLUS TWO VYING FOR AUSTIN MAYOR,

TO RUNOFF ELECTIONS.

TONIGHT, BEYOND THE RHETORIC.

WE ASK THE REMAINING CANDIDATES
WHAT MAKES THEM THE RIGHT PERSON

TO LEAD THEIR
DISTRICT AND 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 WELCOME
TO CIVIC SUMMIT,

CITY COUNCIL RUNOFF
CONVERSATION, DISTRICT 7.

A JOINT PRODUCTION OF KLRU,
LEADERSHIP AUSTIN, KUT,

AND THE ANNETTE STRAUSS
INSTITUTE FOR CIVIC LIFE.

I'M JENNIFER STAYTON WITH KUT.

90.5, AUSTIN'S NPR STATION.

FOR THE NEXT 30 MINUTES, WE'LL
BE TALKING ABOUT LEADERSHIP WITH

THE CANDIDATES FOR DISTRICT
7, JEB BOYT AND LESLIE POOL.

THIS WILL BE SORT OF
LIKE A JOB INTERVIEW,

YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT SKILLS AND
QUALITIES THESE TWO PEOPLE WOULD

BRING TO AUSTIN CITY HALL.

AND WE DO INVITE ALL OF
YOU TO TWEET ALONG WITH US,

USE THE #CIVICSUMMITD7.

DISTRICT 7 IS IN
NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN.

IT RUNS BETWEEN MOPAC AND NORTH
LAMAR STARTING AT 45TH STREET,

IT CROSSES 183 WITH MOST OF ITS
NORTHERN BORDER ALONG HOWARD

LANE.

SMALL PARTS OF THE DISTRICT
HOOK UP DESSAU ROAD TO THE CITY

LIMITS.

SO LET'S GET RIGHT TO
OUR CANDIDATES NOW.

JEB BOYT IS AN ATTORNEY
AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.

AS AN ATTORNEY, HE'S WORKED
IN VARIOUS STATE OFFICES.

JEB HAS ALWAYS
LIVED IN DISTRICT 7,

INCLUDING THE CRESTVIEW AND
BRENTWOOD NEIGHBORHOODS.

HE NOW LIVES IN ALLANDALE.

HE SERVED ON A NUMBER OF
AUSTIN BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

HIS OPPONENT, LESLIE POOL, HAS
LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 34 YEARS,

CURRENTLY LIVING IN ROSEDALE.

SHE HAS SERVED ON AUSTIN
COMMISSION SINCE THE MID 1990S,

AS WELL AS SOME TRAVIS
COUNTY COMMITTEES.

SHE'S A MEMBER OF THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,

AND IS TREASURER
OF LIVABLE CITY.

THANKS TO BOTH OF
YOU FOR BEING HERE.

SO THE FIRST QUESTION, WHICH WAS
SHARED WITH BOTH OF YOU BEFORE

WE GOT TOGETHER THIS EVENING,
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT

YOURSELF OVER THE PAST FOUR
MONTHS OF CAMPAIGNING THAT WILL

HELP YOU GOVERN, AND, JEB, WE'RE
GOING TO START WITH YOU FOR YOUR

ANSWER FIRST.

>> WELL, I'M REALLY COMFORTABLE
ASKING PEOPLE FOR MONEY,

BUT REALLY WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS
THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE

OUT THERE WHO REALLY
CARE ABOUT AUSTIN,

HAVE A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS AND
ENERGY FOR THE CITY THAT THEY'RE

EXCITED ABOUT SHARING.

SO THAT -- WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS
THAT, REALLY, IF YOU GET STUCK,

IF YOU'RE IN A QUESTION, IF
YOU FEEL, YOU KNOW, LOST,

FACED BY A BIG PROBLEM, JUST
START ASKING QUESTIONS AND

ASKING AROUND, AND GETTING
PEOPLE IN THE CONVERSATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, IDEAS ARE
GOING TO MERGE, YOU KNOW.

THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS
GOING TO BE GREAT IDEAS,

OR THE ULTIMATE IDEAS, BUT YOU
AT LEAST GET THE CONVERSATION

GOING.

>> OKAY.

LESLIE?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED
WAS THAT I WAS ABLE TO EXIST ON

VERY LITTLE FOOD AND NOT A WHOLE
LOT OF SLEEP WITH THE WORK THAT

WE'VE DONE WITH QUESTIONNAIRES
AND FORMS AND EVERYTHING.

A LOT OF WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT
MYSELF IN THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR

HAS JUST BEEN THE DEPTH TO WHICH
I'M ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE

VOTERS AND HEAR THEM
AND HAVE THEM RESPOND,

AND THERE'S AN ALIGNMENT, A
VISION IN VALUES THAT I'VE BEEN

ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE VOTERS
IN DISTRICT 7 AND TALK ABOUT THE

ISSUES THAT MATTER TO
ME, THAT MATTER TO THEM,

IN A WAY TO -- AS A COLLECTIVE
MOVING FORWARD FOR DISTRICT 7

AND FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO I WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH A
HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION AND GET

YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS.

SO HERE'S THE HYPOTHETICAL.

SO THERE'S PRESSURE ON THE
COUNCIL AS A WHOLE TO INCREASE

THE BUDGET FOR PUBLIC SAFETY,
BECAUSE OF AN INCREASE IN CRIME.

WE'LL SAY IN TWO OF THE 10
NEW CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS.

YOUR DISTRICT HAS
NOT BEEN AFFECTED,

BUT YOU'RE FEELING PRESSURE FROM
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS TO LOBBY FOR

AN INCREASE IN EVENING PATROLS.

SO THIS IS KIND OF
A TWO-PART QUESTION.

SO, FIRST, HOW WOULD YOU
WORK WITH APD TO DECIDE WHICH

DISTRICTS GET MORE OFFICERS?

AND THEN IF THAT MEANT
DELIVERING UNWANTED NEWS BACK TO

YOUR OWN DISTRICT AND
YOUR OWN CONSTITUENTS,

HOW WOULD YOU COMMUNICATE
THAT CHOICE TO THEM.

AND LESLIE, WE'LL
START WITH YOU.

>> SURE.

HAPPY TO KICK OFF ON THAT ONE.

I WORK IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICE CURRENTLY FOR TRAVIS

COUNTY FOR THE CONSTABLE, AND SO
I HAVE SOME ON-THE-JOB INSIGHTS

INTO HOW OFFICERS AND
DEPUTIES ARE DEPLOYED.

SO THE FIRST PART
OF YOUR QUESTION,

I WOULD TALK WITH APD ABOUT
THEIR DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULES,

AND HOW THE OFFICERS ARE
INTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITIES,

AND TALK ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTION
AND WHERE THE HOT SPOTS ARE TO

MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
SUFFICIENT COVERAGE.

THE SECOND PART OF
YOUR QUESTION GOES TO,

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
BOOTS ON THE GROUND,

WHAT DO YOU DO THEN?

WE HAVE REALLY GOOD
COMMUNICATIONS IN DISTRICT 7 ON

ISSUES RELATING TO CRIME, AND A
CRIME WATCH, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH,

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES
WITHIN COMMUNITIES TO BAN

TOGETHER AND AUGMENT THE WORK
THAT OUR -- OUR PUBLIC SAFETY

OFFICERS, THAT THEY DO.

>> JEB?

>> THE -- WELL, FIRST OFF, I
WOULD LOOK TO SEE WHAT THE APD'S

RECOMMENDATION IS TO
ADDRESS THE PROBLEM,

THE SPECIFIC --
SPECIFIC PROBLEM,

AND THE -- AND THEN SEE WHAT
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES MIGHT BE

NEEDED, OR WHERE THE GAP
IS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW,

THE BUDGET AND THE FUNDING AND
THE NEEDS FOR MAKING SURE WE

HAVE THE COVERAGE.

THE SECOND THING ABOUT THIS
QUESTION IS IT TOUCHES ON A

SENSITIVE ISSUE, THAT WE'VE
HEARD SOME CONCERNS FROM FOLKS

IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH IS
PARTICULARLY DURING SOME OF THE

MAJOR EVENTS WHERE POLICE ARE
PULLED OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS

OR COVERAGE IS LIMITED AND
REDUCED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS,

AND, YOU KNOW,
FOLKS ARE, YOU KNOW,

CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING SURE
THERE'S EQUAL COVERAGE.

AND SO I WOULD WANT TO
MAKE SURE TO WORK WITH APD,

THE CHIEF AND APD AS A WHOLE,
TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S ADEQUATE

COVERAGE, AND SPECIFICALLY TO
WORK WITH THE SECTOR COMMANDS

AND THE FOLKS COVERING THE
NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT 7 TO

MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS
FULL COVERAGE, YOU KNOW,

THROUGH THERE.

AND CERTAINLY, COMMUNICATE ALL
THIS OUT AS TRANSPARENTLY AS

POSSIBLE TO THE FOLKS
IN THE DISTRICT.

COMMUNICATION -- YOU KNOW,
THE COMMUNICATIONS AND

ACCOUNTABILITY ARE A KEY PART OF
WHAT THESE -- I THINK PEOPLE ARE

EXPECTING AS PART OF
THE NEW 10-1 SYSTEM.

>> SO I WANT TO ZERO IN ON THE
SECOND PART OF THIS QUESTION.

I KNOW THIS WAS A
LONG HYPOTHETICAL,

SO LET'S KIND OF GENERALIZE
THE SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION

THEN.

IF YOU HAD TO DELIVER NEWS TO
YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU KNOW

THEY MIGHT NOT WANT TO HEAR OR
NEWS THAT MAYBE COUNTER TO THE

OPINIONS THAT THEY'VE EXPRESSED
TO YOU THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO

SEE DONE, HOW WOULD
YOU -- YOU KNOW,

SETTING ASIDE THE HYPOTHETICAL,
BUT JUST IN GENERAL,

WHAT SKILLS WOULD YOU BRING
TO BEAR TO WORK WITH THEM WHEN

YOU'VE GOT TO DELIVER NEWS THAT
IS MAYBE NOT WHAT THEY WANT TO

HEAR.

AND, JEB, WE'LL START
WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

>> SURE.

SURE.

WELL, AS AN ATTORNEY, I'VE HAD
TO DELIVER, YOU KNOW, BAD NEWS.

I'VE HAD TO TELL CLIENTS
SOMETIMES WHEN THEY'VE LOST OR

SOMETIMES WHEN WHAT THEY WANT TO
DO IS JUST NOT QUITE POSSIBLE.

SO I HAVE SOME
EXPERIENCE IN DOING THAT,

BUT -- AND THEN IN THIS
SITUATION, THE KEY THING IS,

YOU KNOW, IDENTIFYING
THE KEY PEOPLE, YOU KNOW,

THE FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS
WHO HAVE THE MOST CONCERNS --

THE GREATEST CONCERNS,
THE GREATEST INTERESTS AND

EXPERIENCE ON THE ISSUE,
AND MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW,

THAT THEY HAVE --
HAVE -- GET THE NEWS,

HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS
AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON,

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TRY TO
DISSEMINATE THE NEWS MORE WIDELY

BEYOND THERE.

>> LESLIE?

>> WELL, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS
THIS PROBABLY ISN'T LIKE A

ONE-OFF SITUATION.

IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING
THAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE,

SO I WOULD HOPE THAT IN ADVANCE,
WE WOULD BE HAVING THESE

CONVERSATIONS TO PLAN
FOR IF THERE WERE,

LIKE AN ACL OR A SOUTH BY, WHERE
THE POLICE WERE HAVING -- BEING

MOVED TO AREAS WHERE
THEY'RE NEEDED MORE GREATLY,

THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FILL WITH
ADDITIONAL PATROLS, YOU KNOW,

HAVE THE COVERAGE, AND WE HAVE
THE NEIGHBORHOOD EYES ON THE

STREET.

AND -- AND FOR ME, IT'S A
MATTER OF COMMUNICATION,

IT'S A MATTER OF PLANNING,
AND IT'S A MATTER OF PEOPLE

UNDERSTANDING WHAT -- WHAT TO
EXPECT, AND THEN HOW CAN WE,

AS A COMMUNITY, FILL IN AND
ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE.

AND I WILL ALSO SAY THAT JUST
BECAUSE THE POLICE MAY BE

ELSEWHERE, WE DO STILL HAVE
OUR FIRE AND OUR EMS FOLKS,

AND IF THERE ARE ISSUES
OF GREAT CONCERN,

THEY WOULD BE DISPATCHED
TO THOSE AREAS.

NO ONE IN AUSTIN WOULD BE
LEFT INJURED OR SOMETHING.

OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WOULD
BE RIGHT ON IT RIGHT OFF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO WE KNOW THE NUMBERS TELL
US THAT THERE ARE MANY,

MANY AUSTINITES WHO DON'T
VOTE IN CITY ELECTIONS,

AND THEY'RE KIND OF HAPPY WITH
THE WAY THINGS ARE AND THEY'RE

NOT -- NOT TERRIBLY ENGAGED.

SO HOW WOULD YOU EXPLAIN TO A
NONVOTER WHY THEY SHOULD CARE

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AT CITY HALL?

AND, LESLIE, IF YOU WANT
TO TAKE THAT ONE FIRST.

>> YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGE WOULD
BE CRAFTED POSSIBLY DIFFERENTLY,

DEPENDING ON IF -- IF WE'RE
TALKING TO A NEW VOTER,

MAYBE A STUDENT WHO LIVES IN
ANOTHER TOWN AND IS AT UT,

MAYBE A NEW HOMEOWNER OR A NEW
RENTER OR SOMEONE WHO HAS COME

FROM ANOTHER STATE, OR SOMEONE
WHO'S LIVED HERE A LONG TIME AND

JUST HAS NEVER ENGAGED.

I THINK YOU CAN FIND THE POINTS
OF ENGAGEMENT WITH PEOPLE

THROUGH CONVERSATION.

I THINK YOU FIND WHERE --
WHERE THEIR VALUES ARE,

THE THINGS IN THEIR COMMUNITY
THAT THEY CARE ABOUT,

AND HAVE THAT -- AND START THE
DIALOGUE ON HOW IS IT -- YOU

KNOW, IS THERE SOMETHING LIKE
STREETLIGHTS, FOR INSTANCE,

JUST PICK SOMETHING OR A
TRAFFIC-CALMING SITUATION,

AND TRY TO WORK IN ADVANCE TO
GET THE PROCESSES IN PLACE TO

HAVE AN OPEN DOOR AND JUST AN
OPEN CONVERSATION AND MAKE SURE

THERE'S NO JUDGMENT, THAT THE
PUBLIC SERVICES THAT PEOPLE WANT

ARE THERE AVAILABLE FOR THEM,
AND WE NEED TO MATCH THEM UP

MORE APPROPRIATELY.

THEN YOU HAVE A SENSE OF BUY-IN
AND -- WHICH BONDS A COMMUNITY

TOGETHER, AND YOU COMMUNICATE
THE MESSAGE THAT THIS IS A VERY

SPECIAL THING THAT WE HAVE
IN A DEMOCRACY, VOTING.

IT CARRIES GREAT IMPORT, AND THE
RESULTS OF THE ACCUMULATION OF

THAT VOTE, THAT HUGE
COMMUNITY EFFORT,

IS A VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE SPEAK TOGETHER AS
VOTERS AND WE HAVE AN OUTCOME,

SOMETIMES WE'RE HAPPIER
WITH THEM THAN NOT,

BUT IT IS STILL A
COMMUNITY ACTIVITY.

>> AND JEB?

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE
-- UNFORTUNATELY,

SOME OF THOSE FOLKS
ARE ACTUALLY HAPPY,

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE NOT VOTING.

I THINK SOME OF THOSE FOLKS
ARE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW,

PRETTY AGGRAVATED
AND DISSOCIATED,

BASED ON SOME OF THE PEOPLE
I'VE RUN INTO IN TALKING -- AND

TALKED TO.

IN FACT, MANY OF THE PEOPLE I'VE
MET IN GOING AROUND AND KNOCKING

ON DOORS IN THE
DISTRICT HAVE, YOU KNOW,

EXPRESSED SURPRISE THAT --
ACTUALLY MEETING SOMEONE,

THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE
MET CANDIDATES AT ALL.

SO, YOU KNOW, REACHING OUT TO
ENGAGE PEOPLE IS A KEY PART,

A KEY ASPECT OF THE
PROMISE, CERTAINLY,

OF THE 10-1 SYSTEM THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE,

AND TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
VOTE, IT'S, IN MANY CASES,

FOLKS ARE NOT CLEAR
WHAT THE CITY DOES.

WHAT DOES THE CITY COUNCIL DO?

AND IT GOES -- THOSE
FUNDAMENTAL, YOU KNOW,

THINGS ON YOUR BLOCK, IT'S
TAKING -- PICKING UP YOUR

GARBAGE, IT'S REPAIRING THE
POTHOLES, IT'S -- YOU KNOW,

MAKING SURE -- DO YOU HAVE
SIDEWALKS TO GET FROM YOUR HOUSE

TO THE BUS TO THE
STORE TO THE LIBRARY?

DO YOU HAVE A LIBRARY NEARBY?

THOSE KEYS -- THOSE MUNICIPAL
SERVICES THAT THE CITY PROVIDES

THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE
ARE NOT CLEAR ABOUT.

ENGAGING THEM IN THEM, YOU KNOW,
ASKING THEM ABOUT WHAT OF THEIR

NEEDS ARE -- ARE BEING
MET, ARE NOT BEING MET,

WHERE THEY HAVE CONCERNS, AND
GETTING THEM ENGAGED IN THE

CONVERSATION IS HOW YOU -- I
THINK YOU EVENTUALLY GET THEM --

LEAD THEM INTO THE VOTING BOOTH.

>> SO THAT'S AN
INTERESTING POINT, JEB,

THAT -- THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT
CLEAR ON WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL

EXACTLY DOES.

SO YOU MENTIONED SOME SPECIFICS,
SOME KIND OF VERY SPECIFIC

THINGS, BUT I'M INTERESTED TO
HEAR FROM BOTH OF YOU, THEN,

SORT OF A LITTLE
BIT BIGGER PICTURE,

SORT OF WHAT YOU SEE THE ROLE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL IS IN THE LIFE

AND HEALTH OF THE CITY.

WE KNOW THERE'S SOME VERY
SPECIFIC POINTS THAT THE COUNCIL

HAS TO DO AND THAT
MUST DO EVERY YEAR,

BUT KIND OF STEP BACK FROM THOSE
SPECIFICS AND TELL PEOPLE WHAT

SORT OF YOU SEE THE ROLE OF THE
COUNCIL IN THE HEALTH AND LIFE

OF THE CITY.

AND, JEB, IF YOU WANT TO
GO WITH THAT ONE FIRST.

>> YEAH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THE BASE -- THE
KEY THING THAT THE COUNCIL DOES,

THE BASIC SPECIFICS
IS THE BUDGET.

YOU KNOW, WE -- THE COUNCIL
SETS THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY,

FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENTS
AND ALL THE SERVICES,

AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND
EVERYTHING THAT WE -- THAT IS

PROVIDED.

BUT THEN BEYOND THAT, YOU KNOW,
AS LESLIE WAS ALLUDED TO A

MOMENT AGO, THE COUNCIL IS THE
VOICE OF, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S THE CHANCE -- IT
IS THE REPRESENTED BODY THAT,

YOU KNOW, GETS TOGETHER AND
MAKES THE DECISIONS UPON,

YOU KNOW, THE OPERATION
OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT,

THE PROVIDING OF ALL THE
SERVICES THAT WE DO IN BUILDING

INFRASTRUCTURE,
MAINTAINING THE HEALTH,

SAFETY AND WELFARE OF AUSTIN,
AND MAKING SURE IT REMAINS SUCH

A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE,
AS WE ALL ENJOY IT.

IT IS WHERE WE HAVE
THESE CONVERSATIONS.

AND NOT JUST TO TALK ABOUT THEM,
BUT TO ACTUALLY MAKE SOMETHING

HAPPEN, AND HOPEFULLY CONTINUE
TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A

GREAT CITY.

>> AND LESLIE?

>> WELL, SIMPLY BUILDING
ON WHAT JEB SAID SO WELL,

OF COURSE THE BUDGET BEING THE
POLICY DOCUMENT WHERE WE LAY OUT

OUR PRIORITIES
FOR THE COMMUNITY,

AND THEN ON A LARGER STAGE, I
SEE THE COUNCIL AS LEADERS IN

MOVING THE CITY FORWARD AND
TOWARD IMPROVEMENTS IN THE

QUALITY OF THE SERVICES
THAT WE PROVIDE.

REACHING MORE OF THE VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE

SO MANY OF THAT WE DIDN'T TALK
ABOUT THEM VERY MUCH ON THE

CAMPAIGN TRAIL PREVIOUSLY,
MAKING SURE THAT OUR

INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS -- THAT
IS FAILING IN SOME PLACES IS

REPAIRED AND REPLACED, THAT WE
LOOK TOWARD OUR WATER, OUR RARE,

PRECIOUS -- OUR RARE, PRECIOUS
DEPLETING WATER SUPPLY AND

MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE
TO PROVIDE ENOUGH WATER FOR THE

CITY TO GROW AND TO MANAGE THE
GROWTH IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE

DON'T OVERRUN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
AND OUR ABILITY THROUGH OUR

NATURAL RESOURCES TO PROVIDE
THE NECESSARY ELEMENTS FOR

DAY-TO-DAY LIVING.

>> SO IT WAS A VERY BUSY,
FALL ELECTION SEASON.

I DON'T HAVE TO
TELL YOU ALL THAT.

THERE WERE A LOT OF DEBATES, A
LOT OF FORMS, A LOT OF PANELS.

YOU ALL SPENT A LOT OF TIME
TOGETHER TALKING AND ANSWERING

QUESTIONS, SO I'M CURIOUS TO
HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU SOMETHING

THAT YOU LEARNED FROM YOUR
OPPONENT IN THE GENERAL

CAMPAIGN.

LESLIE, IF YOU WANT TO GO FIRST.

>> OH, YES.

ALL SEVEN OF THE FOLKS WHO WERE
RUNNING WITH ME IN DISTRICT 7

ARE SO SMART AND SO GRACIOUS
AND GIVING OF THE KNOWLEDGE THAT

THEY HAVE OF THE CITY
AND THEIR EXPERIENCES.

I'VE JUST LEARNED A LOT ABOUT
THE PEOPLE I WAS RUNNING WITH,

OR AGAINST.

ALL THE OTHER CANDIDATES
IN DISTRICT 7.

I LEARNED TO SPEAK REALLY
SUCCINCTLY IN A MINUTE,

I THINK WE ALL DID.

[LAUGHTER].

>> AND I ACTUALLY FOUND MYSELF
IN A FORUM WHERE I WAS GIVEN

MORE TIME, KIND OF LIKE THIS,
AND AND IT WAS LIKE, OKAY,

I GET TO ACTUALLY EXPAND A
LITTLE BIT MORE ON MY ANSWERS

AND MAYBE RELAX A LITTLE BIT.

BUT I WAS UNIFORMLY IMPRESSED
WITH THE QUALITY OF THE DIALOGUE

THAT ALL OF THE CANDIDATES
IN DISTRICT 7 RACE BROUGHT --

BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

>> JEB?

>> YEAH.

WELL, I -- YOU KNOW, THE
QUALITY OF THE DIALOGUE,

THE QUALITY -- YOU KNOW,
AND THE OVERALL COMMITMENT.

IT WAS REALLY GREAT, THE EIGHT
FOLKS THAT WERE RUNNING IN THIS

RACE ALL REALLY
CARE ABOUT AUSTIN,

THEY ALL REALLY WANT
THE CITY TO SUCCEED,

THEY WANT IT TO
BE A GREAT PLACE.

YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO REALLY
TAKE ON AND ADDRESS THE

CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING US,
PARTICULARLY AFFORDABILITY AND

TRANSPORTATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS
-- THAT WAS REALLY GREAT.

AND EVERYONE CAME FROM
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE,

AND IT WAS -- AND BROUGHT
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW,

INTO THE CONVERSATION
IN WORKING THIS,

AND IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

>> SO DISTRICT 7 HAS -- I THINK
WE CAN DESCRIBE AS A PRETTY

LARGE SOCIOECONOMIC DIVIDE, AND
SEEING MANY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES

WITH CHILDREN LEAVE THAT
AREA AND MOVE TO COMMUNITIES,

PFLUGERVILLE, HUTTO,
MANOR AND OTHERS.

THE DISTRICT ALSO STRUGGLES
WITH TRAFFIC, AS MANY DO.

NEITHER ISSUE -- NEITHER OF
THOSE ISSUES IS UNIQUE TO

DIFFERENT 7, SO I WANT TO HEAR
HOW YOU WOULD WORK WITH OTHER

COUNCILMEMBERS TO DEAL WITH
CITYWIDE ISSUES IN A WAY THAT

ENSURES THE SOLUTION WORKS FOR
YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT 7.

JEB, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> SURE.

WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S CERTAINLY
GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIG

CHALLENGES, AND, YOU KNOW,
COLLABORATING WORKING WITH OTHER

COUNCILMEMBERS, AND AS YOU
SAID, ON CITYWIDE ISSUES.

SO MANY OF THE VOTES AND THINGS
THAT THE COUNCILS DO REALLY ARE

CITYWIDE MATTERS AND CONCERNS,
BUT PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU GET

INTO THE -- YOU KNOW, THE
SOCIAL EQUITY QUESTIONS,

GETTING INTO THE QUESTIONS
THAT CONCERN, YOU KNOW,

AFFORDABILITY AND MAKING SURE
FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW,

GOOD JOBS, SAFE ROUTES
TO SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW,

LIBRARIES AND OTHER
PUBLIC SERVICES.

SOME OF THAT IS, YOU KNOW, BROAD
CITYWIDE MATTERS THAT HOPEFULLY

WE CAN FIND AGREEMENT ON AND
CERTAINLY GO OUT AND, YOU KNOW,

HAVE THE CHANCE TO TALK
WITH OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS,

HEAR HOW THOSE CONCERNS ARE
MANIFESTING PERHAPS DIFFERENTLY

IN THEIR DISTRICTS THAN IN
DISTRICT 7, AND, YOU KNOW,

MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN PUT
PROGRAMS TOGETHER THAT ARE GOING

TO WORK CITYWIDE TO BENEFIT
-- BENEFIT EVERYONE.

TOUGHER CHALLENGE IS GOING
TO BE WHEN WE HAVE TO -- WITH

LIBRARIES AND PARKS AND OTHER
FACILITIES WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY

BUILDING THINGS AND SPENDING
MONEY IN THE DIFFERENT

DISTRICTS, AND THERE WILL HAVE
TO BE SOME BALANCING IN THE

HORSE TRADING THERE, I THINK.

>> AND LESLIE?

>> YEAH, I GUESS WHAT I
WOULD SAY IS THE DISTRICT

REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE THE
UNIQUE VOICE TO ARTICULATE WHAT

THE NEEDS ARE OF THE SPECIFIC
DISTRICT TO THE LARGER BODY OF

THE COUNCIL, AND TO
THAT -- TO THAT END,

WOULD NEED TO PERSUADE
AND SELL SOME IDEAS,

AND WE WOULD NEED TO
LOOK AT PRIORITIES.

AND IT COULD BE THAT, JUST TO
TAKE A LIBRARY AS AN EXAMPLE,

THERE MAY BE ONE LIBRARY THAT IS
IN WORSE SHAPE THAN ANOTHER ONE

AND THE BUDGET IS ONLY GOING TO
ALLOW REPAIRS TO ONE OF THEM,

AND SO IT WOULD BE -- I WOULD
HOPE THERE WOULD BE CONSENSUS

THAT WE REALLY ARE LOOKING
AT THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

AND WHILE WE SUPPORT WHAT OUR
DISTRICTS NEED INDIVIDUALLY,

WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GET THE SERVICES AND

IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE NEED AND
WHEN YOU DO A PRIORITIZATION,

THAT IS INCUMBENT IN THAT
PROCESS, THAT, YOU KNOW,

WE MAY BE MOVING FORWARD HERE
IN DISTRICT 7 ON THIS ONE ITEM

WHILE WE'RE HELPING DISTRICT
4 ON THIS ITEM OVER HERE.

AND JUST ONE WORD ON -- I
MENTIONED VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES

TO ME EARLIER, THAT, TO ME, IS
A VERY KEY ELEMENT OF WHAT THE

CITY DOES.

AND THAT -- THAT, TO ME,
IS A CONCERN FOR THE ENTIRE

COMMUNITY, THAT EVERYONE WHO
LIVES HERE AS ACCESS TO SAFE

HOUSING AND A GOOD
EDUCATION AND IS HEALTHY,

AND THAT ALL LEADS TO A GOOD
HEALTHY WORKFORCE AND IT

SUPPORTS OUR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

SO THOSE LARGER
OVERARCHING ISSUES,

ALONG WITH AFFORDABILITY
AND TRANSPORTATION,

ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I WANT YOU TO EACH
IMAGINE IT'S RUSH HOUR,

YOU'RE STARTING NORTH
AND YOU'RE HEADING SOUTH,

SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE
IN THE CAR FOR A WHILE.

I WANT YOU TO TELL ME IF YOU
COULD PUT THREE PEOPLE IN THAT

CAR WITH YOU AND BE STUCK WITH
THEM IN THE CAR DURING RUSH HOUR

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, WHO WOULD
THOSE THREE PEOPLE BE AND WHAT

WOULD YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT
WITH THEM ON YOUR RIDE?

>> OKAY.

LARRY DAVID, JERRY
SEINFIELD -- [LAUGHTER].

>> -- AND WHO'S A
GOOD WOMAN COMIC?

I'M JUST BLANKING,
BUT YOU GET THE POINT.

>> SARAH SILVERMAN.

>> YES.

EXACTLY.

SARAH SILVERMAN, THANK YOU.

>> YEAH.

>> SO WOULD YOU TALK CITY ISSUES
OR JUST HAVE THEM TELL JOKES?

>> I -- YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK
BOTH THINGS WOULD HAPPEN.

I THINK IT WOULD BE HUGELY
ENLIGHTENING AND I JUST LOVE

LARRY DAVID'S TOTAL WRY SENSE
OF HUMOR, AND THE THING IS,

I'M NOT SURE WHO
WOULD BE DRIVING.

>> OH, GOOD POINT.

[LAUGHTER].

>> GOOD POINT.

GOOD POINT.

AND JEB?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY
HAVE KUT ON IN THE CAR,

SO -- [LAUGHTER].

>> -- BUT THE -- YEAH, THAT'S A
-- THREE PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND

GOING THAT ROUTE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK I'D PROBABLY,
AS LONG AS WE'RE COMMUTING TO DO

THAT LIKE THAT, I'D LIKE TO
HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT

TRANSPORTATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGES
ABOUT -- GETTING AROUND IN THE

CITY AND GOING NORTH TO SOUTH.

SO IN THAT REGARD, I WOULD
PROBABLY LIKE TO HAVE THE MAYOR,

WHO THAT MAY BE, COUNTY JUDGE,
WHO -- AND LIKELY CHAIR OF THE

CAPILLARY METROPOLITAN PLANNING
ORGANIZATION, SARAH ECKHART,

AND LINDA WATSON, THE CAPITOL
METRO CHAIR -- OR PRESIDENT,

I'M SORRY, E.D.

AND TO HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION
ABOUT, LIKE, YOU KNOW,

SO THIS IS WHAT IT'S
LIKE ON THE STREETS,

THESE ARE THE CONFLICTS WE'RE
ALL DEALING WITH AND WHAT CAN WE

DO TO MAKE IT BETTER.

>> WELL, OUR TIME HAS GONE BY
MORE QUICKLY THAN A DRIVE FROM

NORTH TO SOUTH AUSTIN.

I THINK WE'RE AT THE END OF OUR
TIME, JUST A FINAL QUESTION,

IF I CAN JUST GET A VERY BRIEF,
MAYBE ONE-SENTENCE ANSWER FROM

EACH OF YOU.

AT THE END OF YOUR TERM, WHAT IS
THE BIGGEST MARK YOU WOULD LIKE

TO LEAVE ON THE DISTRICT.

AND, JEB, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO
LOOK AT THE AREA IN THE BURNET

GATEWAY AREA FROM THE ACC
NORTH RIDGE TO THE DOMAIN,

THE KRAMER LANE
STATION, THE ARBORETUM,

REALLY IMPROVE
PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE ACCESS --

IN-TRANSIT ACCESS THROUGH THAT
AREA SO THE FOLKS UP THERE ARE

REALLY ABLE TO EASILY MOVE
THROUGH THE AREA AND HAVE REAL

TRANSPORTATION CHOICES UP -- AS
THEY GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY TRIPS.

>> AND LESLIE?

>> AND FOR ME, YEAH, I'D LIKE
TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO PARKS,

POOLS AND LIBRARIES,
PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA NORTH

OF THE BURNET GATEWAY
INTERSECTION AND ALL THE WAY

ACROSS FROM BALCONES
WOODS OVER TO I-35.

FOLKS OUT THERE DESPERATELY
NEED ADDITIONAL GREEN SPACE AND

ADDITIONAL CITY SERVICES
ALONG THOSE LINES,

AND I'M COMMITTED TO
MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S -- THAT'S THE
MARK I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE.

>> WELL, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU,
JEB BOYT AND LESLIE POOL.

ALL OF THE RUNOFF CONVERSATIONS
AND OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE

NEWLY ELECTED CANDIDATES
FOR DISTRICTS 2,

5 AND 9 WILL BE
AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE.

EARLY VOTING IN THE RUNOFF
ELECTION WILL START DECEMBER 1.

ELECTION DAY IS DECEMBER 16.

FOR KLRU, LEADERSHIP AUSTIN, THE
ANNETTE STRAUSS INSTITUTE FOR

CIVIC LIFE, AND KUT,
I'M JENNIFER STAYTON,

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

[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