A Record on the Issues

Economy

When Max took office in 1987, the economy was bust and the city had plunged into a deep financial crisis. When he left office in 1996, Austin's economy was the strongest in the state. Here's how Max helped to rebuild our economy: Pushed for a new city manager; traveled to New York City to talk to nervous bond agencies about how we were dealing with the crisis; made difficult budget decisions laying off hundreds of employees; served on the committee to develop the City's first financial policies; stopped big expensive projects; started & completed the Convention Center; improved 6th Street; promoted Austin's music industry; was the only elected official to call for moving the airport to Bergstrom; started and chaired the Downtown Committee; promoted the tourism industry; introduced and passed a 10% pay cut for councilmembers.

Environment

When Max took office, the city had just adopted a weak water quality ordinance, the Comprehensive Watersheds Ordinance. When he left in 1996, Austin had the strongest water quality protection in the state. Max was the only Councilmember to support the SOS ordinance. Max's record of defending and supporting the SOS ordinance speaks highly of his concern for the environment. He is the only candidate that has a clear and undeniable position of supporting solid environmental issues. Prior to SOS passing in 1992, Max pushed council to adopt a non-degradation policy in 1990, and directed staff to create a non-degradation ordinance. He provided the money for planting thousands of trees and worked with staff to provide for the separated bike/pedestrian paths on the Drake Bridge. Max created the endangered species issue in Austin, putting an enforcement ordinance on the agenda.

The federal government may soon be changing air quality standards (the Clean Air Act). If they are changed the standards will be more stringent and Austin will not be in compliance. Austin needs to get serious about air quality or it will cost us money!

Max has shown that we can have a clean environment and a strong economy at the same time.

Campaign Finance

Only candidate adhering to suggested limits. Only Councilmember to accomplish campaign finance reform. Max has never spent more then $50,000 on a campaign. Has consistently managed limits on contributions and spending on elections. Often, large contributors drive unnecessary projects and the hiring of consultants costing the city money it did not need to spend.

Electric

His opponents want an independent board to govern the electrical utilities. Max sees this as the first step toward sale of our utilities. The people need to retain direct control of their utility. The proposed appointed board could be made up of political contributors or special interest groups that would not serve the interests of consumers. The utility needs to make cuts and get ready for deregulation (if it happens). Max has the best record on electric utility issues of anyone in the city!!

Transportation and Housing

There are 60,000 jobs downtown. There are approximately 3,000 residents. This contributes to the heavy congestion on the roads going in and out of the city. Not only do we need to move more residents into the downtown area but we also need to make alternative transportation more available (bicycles, pedestrian, light rail, etc.). Max created tax abatement for downtown housing (the only tax abatement he will support!). Using technology we could reduce the traffic by 20% by encouraging business to allow their employees to use on-line services to work at home at least once a week. Max favors repealing the bicycle helmet laws for cyclist over the age of 16.

Child Care

An important issue to Max. In the past year 2 children have died in unlicensed care facilities. Max was the first city Councilmember to use CD Block Grants for Child Care (Montessori Escuela and Ebenezer Baptist Church). There is a real need for Austinites to have affordable child care that they can rely on and feel comfortable leaving their children.

Emergency Services

Max has been very supportive of providing personnel and equipment to our police, fire, and emergency services. The libraries and parks are another vital service that Max feels strongly about. Max feels that the money we save by NOT paying back big money political contributors with unnecessary projects and consultants will free up money to place in these areas.

Arts

Max supports the arts in Austin, providing the funds for art in the Convention Center and the new airport. He put money in the budget for arts programming at the Doughtery Arts Center. He appointed people to the Arts Commission who ended the destructive 'Arts Wars'. Bolstered funding for arts by building the tourism industry and passed an ordinance that created sidewalk cafes in Austin. He worked with the Vaughan family to place the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue on Auditorium Shores.

A Record of Achievement

Just a few of Max's accomplishments during his tenure as City Councilmember:

• Convention Center.
• Moving airport to Bergstrom.
• Chaired downtown telecommunications committee.
• Strengthened the music business and tourism trade.
• Created financial support for licensed child care facilities.
• Improved the water and air quality.
• Put local endangered species ordinance on the agenda.
• Supported the SOS ordinance.
• Stopped the trash burner and began city-wide recycling.
• Created Pedestrian Nites at the Christmas "Trail of Lights" in Zilker Park.

Max's return to the political arena was prompted by a concern about too much corruption and too little service in the City of Austin. Max is the only candidate running who has agreed to campaign finance reform, contribution and expenditure limits. His record on our environment, our economy and our electric utility demonstrates his effectiveness as a community leader.