The Mayor's Race: Shea vs. Leffingwell

On Monday, April 30, early voting begins in city of Austin municipal elections to elect the mayor and City Council places 2, 5, and 6. Early voting ends May 8; election day is Saturday, May 12. A few weeks ago, as the campaigns got rolling in earnest, Chronicle reporters Michael King and Amy Smith sat down separately for one-on-one interviews with incumbent Mayor Lee Leffingwell and challenger (and former council member) Brigid Shea. We covered a range of issues with both candidates, issues raised by the specific campaigns as well as broader questions facing the city at this time.

Included here are the full conversations.

(Note: The state Democratic and Republican primaries take place in a separate election May 29; more on that later.)