Alvarez to Run for ACC Board

A familiar name in Austin politics will be back on May's municipal ballot: Former City Council Member Raul Alvarez announced Monday that he is running for Place 5 on the Austin Community College board of trustees.

Alvarez served on the City Council from 2000 to 2006. Since June 2007, he has been Grassroots Community Coordinator for the Office of Redesign of the Austin Independent School District. “Austin Community College is a pivotal part of our educational system, and its importance will only be magnified as the region’s economy and the demand for a highly educated workforce continues to grow,” Alvarez said in a statement. “My work with AISD has heightened my understanding of the broad range of educational needs in our community, and I believe that by serving on the ACC Board I can use my knowledge of our community’s diverse needs and my experience in public service to help make the community college branch of our educational system even stronger!”

Place 5 was vacated last year by trustee Rafael Quintanilla, who moved away from Austin. Whoever wins the Place 5 race will only serve the remainder of Quintanilla's term, which expires in 2010.

EDIT: Former Chronicle city editor Mike Clark-Madison points out that I forgot the most interesting part of Alvarez's candidacy: "Alvarez, who won his council seat in 2000 by beating Quintanilla by 201 votes — the closest margin in a council race since 1963 — is now seeking to replace him on the board of trustees."