Early voting results confirmed what everyone assumed in Place 1 – that Chris Riley would handily cruise to re-election. The scene then at Zocalo Cafe was jubilant, if mildly tapered by the difficult news for fellow incumbent Randi Shade, whose party was right down the street.
“The economy is still at the top of the list,” Riley said when asked what priorities he’d have for his first full term. “We’re still coming out of a recession,” he said, emphasizing work on job creation and workforce development.
“Transportation also looks very big for all Austinites,” he continued, “and obviously the council has a lot to do if were gonna be presenting a proposal to the voters in November 2012 on urban rail.”
This article appears in May 13 • 2011.