AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The race to fill the Austin City Council seat being vacated by Greg Casar moved into a new gear Tuesday, with Jose "Chito" Vela officially announcing his candidacy.
Vela, an immigration and criminal defense attorney, has served on the city's Planning Commission, and narrowly lost a 2018 Democratic primary runoff race for the State Representative District 46 seat to Sheryl Cole.
"My number one priority on City Council is that we must make sure that Austin is a welcoming city for working class people, not a playground for the wealthy," said Vela.
"For too long, people have been forced out... you see our writers, our musicians, our actors, creative class - folks that used to come to Austin because it fostered creativity and opportunity for so many people, and they're struggling to remain in the city."
Current District 4 City Council member Greg Casar is opting to run for Congress, aiming to take the seat being vacated by longtime Austin-area Democrat Lloyd Doggett, who is seeking re-election to the newly-created District 37 seat that covers much of west Austin.
Casar's current term ends in 2025; he'll continue to serve on the City Council until his successor has been elected and sworn in. An ordinance calling that special election is on the Council agenda for Nov. 18, with the election tentatively set for Jan. 25, 2022. Early voting would run from Jan. 10 to Jan. 21, and the election results would be canvassed on Feb. 4.
If a runoff election becomes necessary, that election would be held on Mar. 22 with early voting running Mar. 7 to Mar. 18. The new council member would then be sworn in on April 1.