Laura Morrison Files for Mayor

On Monday morning, former City Council member Laura Morrison filed documents with the city clerk declaring her intention to run for mayor. In a press release, Morrison said, “I’m running for mayor to reset that path that Austin is on, so that our future enhances the quality of life for the people who live here, rather than diminishes it.”

Morrison’s declaration recalled that she served two terms on Council (2008-2014), and that if elected in November, she would be “the first woman to serve as Austin’s mayor since 1983 and only the second woman to hold the position since the city was founded in 1839.” (The first was Carole Keeton McClellan, first elected in 1977.)

Morrison continued, without naming either incumbent Mayor Steve Adler or the current Council, “I hear from anxious Austinites from every corner of town, from every income level, and across every walk of life. All of them are worried about Austin’s direction. It’s time for a leader whose priority is the people who live here now. It’s time Austin had a mayor for all of us.”

BookPeople CEO Steve Bercu, who will serve as Morrison’s campaign treasurer, said in the release, "I’m stepping up for Laura because she understands the importance of what makes Austin the special place it is, like our homegrown, locally owned businesses and our parkland.” Her campaign manager Ruby Roa added, “Laura’s demonstrated her dedication to affordable housing, displacement of lower income residents and her past voting record on issues concerning the common good, which gives me confidence she will be a good mayor for all Austinites.”

The campaign (lauraformayor.com) is planning a formal kickoff in mid-February. Mayor Adler, who earlier announced his intention to run for re-election, has a kickoff scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 14, 2pm, at Saengerrunde Hall.