More than anything else, I am deeply humbled by the confidence you have shown in me to help lead our city through these challenging times. Thank you for your overwhelming support in this election, and for caring so much about the future of our city.

As I prepare to take office, there are so many people to thank for joining me in this journey to move Austin forward.

Thank you to my supporters for your enthusiasm, energy, and investment in my campaign. Together, you hosted a collective forty-one campaign events, knocked on thousands of doors, and pitched in time and again to give me the ability to share my record of results with the people of Austin.

Thank you to my partner Denise Brady, and my family, my parents Eva and Peter, siblings Ken, Joan, Michael, Ginny, and all of my nieces and nephews. You have been an unending source of support to me throughout this process.

Thank you to those who played an integral role in propelling my campaign. Thanks to my treasurer and long-time friend Catherine Mauzy, and my tireless campaign staff, Katherine Haenschen, Michael Litt, Bahman Wadia, Garrett Hall, Ishanee Parikh, Philip Shea, Veronica Puryear, Leland Beatty, Susan Harry, and Holly Davenport, as well as all the volunteers who helped out in countless ways.

Thank you to my long-time friends who have not only encouraged me in this campaign effort, but also worked with me over many years on efforts to help Austin live up to our expectations. Thank you to all of the new folks I’ve met along the campaign trail, who show such evident enthusiasm for helping Austin rise to the challenges we’re facing. I’m eager to dig in on finding practical solutions to these challenges, and welcome the input of folks already making progress on issues in our community.

Finally, my thanks goes to Perla Cavazos for running a spirited campaign, and remaining focused on the issues facing Austin. I know our city will be stronger for her continued involvement. To Perla’s supporters, I promise to work hard to address your concerns as well, and urge you to contact me with your thoughts and input. My door is always open to you, and I ask that you not hesitate to get in touch with me.

Throughout my campaign, I’ve said time and again that my hope for the future lies in the people of Austin. We’re blessed with the most creative, intelligent, environmentally-responsible citizens anywhere. I’m looking forward to harnessing the energy of our fellow Austinites to make progress on the challenges we’re facing.

My immediate focus as your next Place 1 council member will be on turning our economy around, and balancing our city’s budget. Austin is facing tremendous job losses, as well as declines in sales-tax revenues. I’m ready to work as hard as I can to address these issues in a way that reflects the values we share as a city. As I tackle these issues, I’ll be seeking the input of folks from across our city to make sure we find solutions that embrace all of the people who make Austin the city we love.

I’ll have some more news for you all soon as I prepare to take office. Today, however, know that I am filled with immense gratitude for everyone who helped in my successful campaign.

One last thing — please recycle your yard signs! The plastic sign can be put in single-stream, and the wire frame can be taken to Ecology Action.

We’ll have more news and a statement from the council member-elect shortly, but in the meantime here are some links to results and coverage of election night. To those of you who came out to Scholz, thanks for sharing in the celebration!

Results:
Travis County Clerk
Burnt Orange Report

News Coverage:
The Austin Chronicle: Riley Up 2-1
Austin American-Statesman: Riley wins big; Martinez, Cole cruise to re-election as Spelman returns
Austin American-Statesman: City Council appears to take shape
News 8 Austin: Riley leads Cavazos for Austin’s Place 1 seat
KEYE: Austin City Council: incumbents retain seats, Riley picks up place 1
Fox: Chris Riley Wins Austin City Council Seat

The Austin Chronicle writes:

… voters must make a choice, and our endorsement goes to Chris Riley as the more broadly experienced candidate with extensive, specific knowledge of city programs, as well as applied progressive credentials that he can bring to the council on his first day. Riley has worked on urban planning, environmental protection, mass transit, affordable housing, and a host of other city programs, and on the stump he has articulated general or specific knowledge of virtually every city program and most city neighborhoods, through his neighborhood association and boards and commissions experience. We believe that he’ll be a great addition to the council on a whole range of issues and that his experience at working with a wide range of city groups demonstrates he can collaborate to get things done.

The Statesman agrees:

Riley is an Austin native and graduate of Harvard University and the University of Texas Law School. He has been involved in numerous city commissions and task forces and helped found Austin CarShare. … Riley has more experience and we believe is ready for the City Council.

The Daily Texan concurs:

An Austin native, Riley’s long record of service includes chairing the Austin Planning Commission, serving on the Austin Parks Foundation board of directors and co-founding both the Alliance for Public Transit and Austin CarShare, Inc. We believe that Riley’s priorities — the economy, the environment and transportation — are appropriate for the times, and his plan to combine economic recovery with environmentally friendly initiatives is both innovative and plausible.

They join other local media outlets NOKOA The Observer, The Villager, and Burnt Orange Report in endorsing Chris Riley for Place 1, as the more experienced, knowledgeable candidate for City Council.

We hope you’ll join them—as well as an overwhelming number of local organizations and community leaders—in supporting Chris Riley for Place 1. Election Day is tomorrow, Saturday, May 9th, and we’d appreciate your vote.

Election Night With Chris Riley Get Out the Vote, Then Get Over to Scholz! Polls Close and Party Starts at 7:00 p.m. Scholz Garten Back Patio 1607 San Jacinto Austin, Texas 78701 With Music By Local Bands The Melancholy Ramblers and Peel

Party starts when the polls close!

Join your Zilker neighbors in supporting Chris Riley for Place 1!