AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The race for Travis County Judge has drawn a new challenger with community activist and business owner Rupal Chaudhari announcing her campaign Tuesday.
Current Travis County Judge Andy Brown, a Democrat, has not yet indicated if he plans to run for re-election. Chaudhari will run for the Republican nomination.
"Travis County can do much better. And if we want to keep the Austin area from descending into the madness we see in Portland and Seattle, then we must do better," Chaudhari said in a campaign press release. "We face a tough climb ahead, but with your help I know we can not only win this race but create a Travis County government that is more responsive and more transparent."
Chaudhari said Tuesday she was not interested in politics until earlier this year, when she and her husband learned the City of Austin planned to purchase an empty Candlewood Suites hotel in the same parking lot as their family's hotels to use as a bridge shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
Chaudhari went on to form the "Stop Candlewood" group, which aims to fight for better options for Austin's unhoused population. The group has continued to push back against the city's plans for the Candlewood property.
The Republican primary is set for March 2022, with the general election set for November 2022.
