LinkedIn

Carmen was born and raised in Central and East Austin and graduated from LBJ High School. She holds a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from the University of Chicago. 

Carmen currently works as an Executive Director at Go Austin. She previously worked as a wellness team program manager & community organizing consultant at a nonprofit, Marathon Kids, and as a research analyst and a community organizer at People Organized in Defense of Earth and Her Resources (PODER). 

Carmen D. Llanes-Pulido currently serves as an Inaugural Independent Citizens Redistricting Commissioner. She also served as a commissioner of the City Planning Commission and chaired the City’s Latino Quality of Life Commission. 

Candidate website

kxan, One-on-one with Austin mayoral candidate Carmen Llanes Pulido 

Supports advocating for child care providers and working families.

Supported allowing child care providers to work during COVID. 

Supports the establishment of Resilience Hubs and emergency cooling and warming shelters.

Wants to help City Resilience Hubs and emergency cooling and warming shelters by working with city staff and residents affected by extreme weather. 

Plans to invest in infrastructure and basic services to enhance quality of life.

Plans to work with citizens to reduce citizen costs and invest in city infrastructure and basic services to enhance quality of life for city residents. 

Believes city government should be more accessible and beneficial to all residents.

Said, "I am running for Mayor of Austin because I believe that our city government should work for all of us."

Believes in the need for "new, responsible, community-informed leadership" at Austin City Hall.

Believes there is a need for "new, responsible, community-informed leadership" in Austin City Hall.

Promises to protect communities from displacement, disaster, and state-overreach.

Plans to work with citizens as mayor to "protect our communities from displacement, disaster, and state-overreach."

- Supported allowing child care providers to work during COVID. 
- Wants to help City Resilience Hubs and emergency cooling and warming shelters by working with city staff and residents affected by extreme weather. 
- Plans to work with citizens to reduce citizen costs and invest in city infrastructure and basic services to enhance quality of life for city residents. 
- Supports lowering taxes.
- Said, "I am running for Mayor of Austin because I believe that our city government should work for all of us."
- Believes there is a need for "new, responsible, community-informed leadership" in Austin City Hall.
- Plans to work with citizens as mayor to "protect our communities from displacement, disaster, and state-overreach."

Public Services

Believes in lowering crime rates by enhancing parks, lighting, and police-community relationships.

Wants to reduce crime rates by improving parks, lighting, Police relationships with the public. 

Said "I will not relent in protecting our local control."

Wants to address public safety, including homelessness.

- Wants to reduce crime rates by improving parks, lighting, Police relationships with the public. 
- Said "I will not relent in protecting our local control."
- Wants to address public safety, including homelessness.

Public Safety

Supports climate resiliency and sustainability.

Plans to use his degrees in Environmental Studies and Macroeconomics to find new funding opportunities and develop sustainable solutions to help the city become more climate resilient.

Plans to identify strategies and leverage "new funding opportunities" to develop sustainable solutions to improve climate resiliency in Austin. 

Plans to seek funds to improve infrastructure and systems to better prepare for and respond to flooding, heat, freezes, and other environmental shocks and stressors.

Plans to seek federal funds to improve infrastructure and systems to better prepare for and respond to flooding, heat, freezes, and other environmental shocks and stressors.

Plans to consult community members to ensure resources are spent wisely and equitably, so that "Austinites who are disproportionately affected by climate change and severe weather benefit from these investments."

Plans to consult community members to ensure resources are spent wisely and equitably, so city residents "who are disproportionately affected by climate change and severe weather benefit from these investments."

Believes climate change and self-serving politicians have created "dangerous circumstances" for Austinites.

Believes "Climate disaster paired with politicians who put power before people" have created "dangerous circumstances" for Austinites.

- Supports climate resiliency and sustainability.
- Plans to identify strategies and leverage "new funding opportunities" to develop sustainable solutions to improve climate resiliency in Austin. 
- Plans to seek federal funds to improve infrastructure and systems to better prepare for and respond to flooding, heat, freezes, and other environmental shocks and stressors.
- Plans to consult community members to ensure resources are spent wisely and equitably, so city residents "who are disproportionately affected by climate change and severe weather benefit from these investments."
- Believes "Climate disaster paired with politicians who put power before people" have created "dangerous circumstances" for Austinites.

Energy & the Environment

Supports Project Connect, which is a new mass transit plan which would add new light rail lines, four new CapMetro Rapid lines among other city services.

Wants to reevaluate and see how city residents are equitably going use transit services across and effectively commute, saying Project Connnect will not "take cars off the road...help commuters...[or] make anything more affordable."

- Supports Project Connect, which is a new mass transit plan which would add new light rail lines, four new CapMetro Rapid lines among other city services.
- Wants to reevaluate and see how city residents are equitably going use transit services across and effectively commute, saying Project Connnect will not "take cars off the road...help commuters...[or] make anything more affordable."

Transportation & Infrastructure

Plans to prioritize stabilizing city housing prices.

Aims to create more affordable and mixed-income housing by engaging the public in land use discussions and expanding Community Land Trusts.

Wants to create more affordable and mixed-income housing developments by engaging the public in discussions about land use discussions with community developers and scaling Community Land Trusts. 

Supports protecting residents from displacement by expanding renter protections, opposing policies that worsen the rent gap, and seeking more investments in anti-displacement efforts.

Plans to make efforts to prevent residents from being displaced by expanding renter protections, targeting policies that worsen rent gaps, and seeking more investments in anti-displacement efforts.

Believes working and middle-class households have been priced out of Austin due to rising rents and taxes, and opposes giving "billions of dollars in entitlements away to large investors for company headquarters and developments on our public lands."

Believes working and middle-class households have been priced out of Austin due to rising rents and taxes. 

Believes the current administration has prioritized deals with developers and corporations over investing in affordable housing, infrastructure, and basic services.

Believes the current administration has prioritized "making deals" with developers and corporations over investing in affordable housing, infrastructure, and basic services.

Plans to preserve over 5,000 affordable housing units by implementing policies to prevent loss and expanding tax incentives.

Plans to preserve "over 5,000 units of existing affordable housing" by implementing policies to prevent losing affordable housing and expanding tax incentives.

- Plans to prioritize stabilizing city housing prices.
- Wants to create more affordable and mixed-income housing developments by engaging the public in discussions about land use discussions with community developers and scaling Community Land Trusts. 
- Plans to make efforts to prevent residents from being displaced by expanding renter protections, targeting policies that worsen rent gaps, and seeking more investments in anti-displacement efforts.
- Believes working and middle-class households have been priced out of Austin due to rising rents and taxes. 
- Believes the current administration has prioritized "making deals" with developers and corporations over investing in affordable housing, infrastructure, and basic services.
- Plans to preserve "over 5,000 units of existing affordable housing" by implementing policies to prevent losing affordable housing and expanding tax incentives.

Housing & Urban Development

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Carmen D. Llanes-Pulido

Douglas is from Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Brown University, a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University, and a master's degree in creative writing from the University of Southern California. 

Douglas has worked as an executive director and the Chief of Staff to State Rep. Gina Hinojosa. He was also a teacher. 

Ballotpedia

Douglas Greco's campaign for mayor in the city of Austin is his first run for public office. 

Wants to increase funding of public schools.

- Wants to increase funding of public schools.

KXAN, One-on-one with Austin mayoral candidate Doug Greco

Opposes Texas governor's plan to send troopers from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to neighborhoods.

Plans to make the Austin police force more representative of the local population in racial background to promote "race equity."

Believes in paying public safety officers well.

- Opposes Texas governor's plan to send troopers from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to neighborhoods.
- Plans to make the Austin police force more representative of the local population in racial background to promote "race equity."
- Believes in paying public safety officers well.

As of June 6, 2025, Douglas Greco’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Pledges to improve Austin infrastructure in a way that still accounts for the environment and local quality of life.

- Pledges to improve Austin infrastructure in a way that still accounts for the environment and local quality of life.

Supports updating the land use code to increase housing supply at various income levels, including accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and to decrease minimum lot size requirements.

Wants to update the land use code to increase housing supply at various income levels.

Supports investments in affordable housing, mortgage and rental assistance, permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness, and anti-displacement measures.

Supports investing in affordable housing, mortgage and rental assistance, and permanent housing for the homeless.

- Wants to update the land use code to increase housing supply at various income levels.
- Supports investing in affordable housing, mortgage and rental assistance, and permanent housing for the homeless.

Douglas Greco

Jeffery holds both a degree in construction sciences and a degree in teaching from the Community College of the Air Force and a bachelor's degree in management and human resources from Park University. He is married to his wife, Luann, with whom he has 2 children and 2 grandchildren. He currently lives in Maple Run in Southwest Austin. 

Jeffery currently works as a construction manager at Habidad Condominium. He also owns a construction services company, Jeffery L Bowen & Associates. He previously worked as a project manager at Half Blind Farm, LLC. He served in the US Air Force for 13 years. 

Ballotpedia, Jeffery Bowen

Jeffery L. Bowen's campaign for Mayor of Austin is his first run for public office. 

Said "We need to get the city budget..under control rather than continue to allow council members to ADD more to the budget."

- Said "We need to get the city budget..under control rather than continue to allow council members to ADD more to the budget."

Believes in ensuring adequate staffing for police, firefighters, emergency medical services, and call center employees to respond to citizens' needs during emergency situations.

Believes in ensuring adequate staffing for police, firefighters, emergency medical services, and call center employees to respond to citizen emergencies.

- Believes in ensuring adequate staffing for police, firefighters, emergency medical services, and call center employees to respond to citizen emergencies.

As of June 6, 2025, Jeffery L. Bowen’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to make housing costs in Austin more affordable.

Believes in the need for "sustainable growth" and plans to "streamline the process of development" and make it "responsible."

Wants to change city development to "make it responsible."

Supports an independent audit of the city to ensure transparency and clarity in housing and urban development practices.

Wants an independent audit of the city to provide "transparency and clarity" on how city funds are being used. 

Believes in returning to "the basics of running a city" to address housing and urban development issues.

Wants to return to "the basics of running a city" to address housing and urban development issues.

Believes in "sustainable growth-not out of control growth with unintended consequences."

Wants to make the process of obtaining housing permits easier to navigate.

- Wants to make housing costs in Austin more affordable.
- Wants to change city development to "make it responsible."
- Wants an independent audit of the city to provide "transparency and clarity" on how city funds are being used. 
- Wants to return to "the basics of running a city" to address housing and urban development issues.
- Believes in "sustainable growth-not out of control growth with unintended consequences."
- Wants to make the process of obtaining housing permits easier to navigate.

Jeffery L. Bowen

Kathryne lives in Austin, Texas. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and American studies from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. and a doctorate in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a mom to 2 children.

Kathryne is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Texas.

Spectrum News, Former Austin City Council member announces run for mayor

Kathryne Beth Tovo previously served as mayor pro tem from 2015 to 2019. She served in the Austin City Council from 2011 to 2015 and again 2019 to 2023.

Supports efforts to stabilize and expand access to high-quality, affordable childcare.

Believes in creating a safe, affordable, and resilient community to enhance the social and economic well-being of all residents.

As a leader, Kathie spearheaded a program that partnered with local restaurants to provide over 1 million free meals to parents and caregivers of area students.

Led a program that partnered with local restaurants to provide over 1 million free meals to parents and caregivers of area students.

As a council member, ensured the professional soccer team in Austin would provide development academies for local youth and distribute free tickets to underserved kids in the city.

- Supports efforts to stabilize and expand access to high-quality, affordable childcare.
- Believes in creating a safe, affordable, and resilient community to enhance the social and economic well-being of all residents.
- Led a program that partnered with local restaurants to provide over 1 million free meals to parents and caregivers of area students.
- As a council member, ensured the professional soccer team in Austin would provide development academies for local youth and distribute free tickets to underserved kids in the city.

As mayor, led the creation of the Sobering Center, which provides a safe place for individuals to sober up and connect to supportive services.

As mayor pro tem, led the creation of the Sobering Center, which provides a safe place for individuals to sober up and connect to supportive services.

- As mayor pro tem, led the creation of the Sobering Center, which provides a safe place for individuals to sober up and connect to supportive services.

Supports implementing the Climate Equity Plan to prepare communities for climate shocks.

- Supports implementing the Climate Equity Plan to prepare communities for climate shocks.

Advocates for creating neighborhood resilience hubs to serve as emergency shelters during extreme weather events or disasters.

Believes there is "much more to do" in improving transportation and infrastructure to prepare for future challenges.

- Advocates for creating neighborhood resilience hubs to serve as emergency shelters during extreme weather events or disasters.
- Believes there is "much more to do" in improving transportation and infrastructure to prepare for future challenges.

Advocated for including childcare centers in all newly constructed city buildings.

Supports policies that aim to reduce homelessness and increase affordable housing.

Believes the RState 35 expansion project negatively impacts businesses and homeowners.

Believes the  I-35 between U.S. 290 expansion project negatively impacts businesses and homeowners.

As a city council member, worked to create policies that helped keep people housed and fed and supported local arts and music communities during the pandemic.

As a City Council member, supported housing policies that benefit women, workers, immigrants, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Supported housing policies that benefit women, workers, immigrants, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Helped pass new city code to bar unregistered short-term rentals from operating in the city. 

- Advocated for including childcare centers in all newly constructed city buildings.
- Supports policies that aim to reduce homelessness and increase affordable housing.
- Believes the  I-35 between U.S. 290 expansion project negatively impacts businesses and homeowners.
- As a city council member, worked to create policies that helped keep people housed and fed and supported local arts and music communities during the pandemic.
- Supported housing policies that benefit women, workers, immigrants, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Helped pass new city code to bar unregistered short-term rentals from operating in the city. 

Kathryne Beth Tovo

Kirk earned a bachelor's degree from Baylor University and a law degree from Baylor Law School, where he graduated first in his class. He and his wife of 45 years, Liz, have 2 adult children and 2 grandchildren. Kirk is a cancer survivor.

Kirk P. Watson is the current mayor of Austin, having returned to office in January 2023 after previously serving as mayor starting in 1997. He also served more than 13 years in the Texas Senate.

Supports preserving local culture and community values.

Supports the Austin Hindu community, saying: "The welcomeness, compassion, and dedication to service taught [at the Austin Hindu Temple] is a model for what all of Austin should be.

- Supports preserving local culture and community values.
- Supports the Austin Hindu community, saying: "The welcomeness, compassion, and dedication to service taught [at the Austin Hindu Temple] is a model for what all of Austin should be.

Supports better pay and improvements to help Austin's police department.

Believes in improving public safety by addressing the staffing crisis at the 911 call center.

- Supports better pay and improvements to help Austin's police department.
- Believes in improving public safety by addressing the staffing crisis at the 911 call center.

Plans to implement strategies to address climate change, including shutting down the coal-powered Fayette Power Plant by 2029.

- Plans to implement strategies to address climate change, including shutting down the coal-powered Fayette Power Plant by 2029.

Supports building a construction workforce to improve infrastructure.

Supports infrastructure improvements such as revitalizing downtown Austin, opening Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and preserving open spaces.

Supports the long-term protection of Austin’s water supply and the launch of the Office of the Police Monitor.

Supports the long-term protection of Austin’s water supply.

- Supports building a construction workforce to improve infrastructure.
- Supports infrastructure improvements such as revitalizing downtown Austin, opening Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and preserving open spaces.
- Supports the long-term protection of Austin’s water supply.

Wants to make Austin more affordable to help address homelessness.

Believes Austin has improved its efforts to shelter homeless individuals during cold weather, saying "this year is different."

- Wants to make Austin more affordable to help address homelessness.
- Believes Austin has improved its efforts to shelter homeless individuals during cold weather, saying "this year is different."

Kirk P. Watson

- The role of a mayor in Texas is to preside over council meetings, represent the city, and facilitate communication between officials. 
- Cities may grant the mayor additional power or roles. 
- Mayors can also appoint members of citizen advisory boards and commissions.
- Mayors represent the city in intergovernmental relationships.
- Term limits, length of office, and salaries vary across cities or townships.