Austin Leaders Clash Over Term Lengths
- Austin City Council members met in a special session to draw lots for their terms of office, assigning either two-year or three-year lengths to each position.
- Several council members expressed strong opposition to the new system of staggered terms, calling it discriminatory and linking it to the debate over single-member districts.
- Councilmember Charles Urdy notably refused to participate in the drawing, stating his intent to appeal the system to the Justice Department, but was assigned a three-year term regardless.
- Mayor Pro Tem John Treviño, Jr. also voiced his opposition but affirmed his commitment to comply with the voter-approved system, while reserving the right to appeal to the Justice Department.
Full Transcript
City Council Frank C. Cooksey Mayor John Treviño, Jr. Mayor Pro Tem Council Members Mark Rose Smoot Carl-Mitchell Sally Shipman George Humphrey Charles E. Urdy Jorge Carrasco City Manager Elden Aldridge ty Clerk FOUNDED 3834 Austin City Council MINUTES For SPECIAL CALLED MEETING - SEPTEMBER 3, 1985 Council Chambers, 307 West Second Street, Austin, Texas Memorandum To: - 1:00 Ρ.Μ. Mayor Cooksey called to order the meeting of the Council, noting the presence of all Councilmembers. He announced the purpose of the meeting was to hold a drawing by City Councilmembers for terms of office. Councilmember Urdy stated, in his opinion, staggered terms are discriminatory. He said he plans to appeal to the Justice Department and said he would not draw for his term. The results of the drawings, done in the order of the Councilmembers place are as follows: Councilmember Rose - two years Councilmember Carl-Mitchell - three years Councilmember Shipman two years Councilmember Humphrey two years Mayor Pro Tem Trevino - three years Councilmember Urdy, who did not draw, received a term of three years Mayor Pro Tem Trevino stated, "We had envisioned that this would go along with single member districts, but it was approved by voters and I will comply with that decision. At the appropriate time I will voice my opinion with the Justice Department." ADJOURNMENT Council adjourned its meeting at 5:30 p.m.