Leffingwell's (Yawn) Re-Election Announcement

In a move surprising no one, City Council Member Lee Leffingwell's campaign team issues a press release announcing his re-election intentions for 2008.

Leffingwell joins Jennifer Kim in being the second council member to make the formal announcement, but while Kim's facing opponents, Leffingwell hasn't drawn any competition yet – hence the laissez-faire nature of the announcement. ("Yeah, we'll have a kickoff – or something – in January, if we don't space it.")

Consultant Mark Nathan will be heading up campaign with former Leffingwell aide Andy Mormon, due back from Ghana any day now. Below the fold, the full release.

Austin, Texas –­ Austin City Council Member Lee Leffingwell confirmed today that he will seek re-election to his Place 1 seat in 2008. The election is Saturday, May 10, 2008.

"It's been my great privilege to serve the citizens of Austin over the past 2 1/2 years, and I hope they will support my campaign to continue working on their behalf," said Leffingwell. "I'm looking forward to running again, and sharing my vision and views about Austin's future with the voters."

Native Austinite Leffingwell, a retired airline pilot and U.S. Navy veteran, served as Chairman of the city¹s Environmental Board for almost five years before being elected to serve on the City Council in 2005, earning 62% of the vote.

Some of Leffingwell¹s major environmental accomplishments as a Council member include development of a comprehensive water conservation plan for Austin; introduction of a first-in-the-nation ban on coal-tar surface sealants, a major source of water pollution; and the recent passage of an ordinance to improve water quality over the Edwards Aquifer. Leffingwell has also been a leader in the effort to locate environmentally suitable site for Water Treatment Plant 4.

Leffingwell's service on the Council has also focused on social services, public safety, economic development, infrastructure investments, and on improving transparency and accountability at City Hall.

Leffingwell will kick off his 2008 re-election campaign with an event in early January.

ABOUT LEE LEFFINGWELL

Austin City Council member Lee Leffingwell is an Austin native and a retired airline pilot. An alumnus of UT with a degree in mechanical engineering, Leffingwell joined the U.S. Navy in 1962 and attended aviation officer training school, flying transport aircraft during the Vietnam War. In 1967, Leffingwell left active military duty, joined the Naval reserves, and became a commercial airline pilot at Delta Air Lines. He retired from the reserves in 1982 with the rank of Commander, and from Delta in 1999 as a Captain flying MD-11 aircraft. That year Leffingwell was appointed to the city¹s Environmental Board, where he served as Chair for almost five years until stepping down to run for Place 1 on the Austin City Council in 2005. He was elected with more than 62% of the vote. Leffingwell is the father of two and grandfather of five. He is a regular runner and hiker, and an accredited soccer referee.