Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

City Council Member, District 3

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

City of Austin
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked5-way race
Eduardo “Lalito” RomeroNonpartisan
Brock SkinnerNonpartisan
José VelásquezJosé VelásquezNonpartisan Incumbent
Gavin Fernandez Jr.Nonpartisan
Neha ShahNeha ShahNonpartisan
On ballot as
Eduardo “Lalito” Romero
Brock Skinner
José Velásquez
Gavin Fernandez Jr.
Neha Shah
Current role
Tech analyst
Business development (per his Community Impact Q&A)
Austin City Council Member, District 3 (elected in a December 2022 runoff; term Jan. 6, 2023 through Jan. 6, 2027)
Retired
Product Manager, Expedia Group
Background
  • Daily rail user (per candidate)
  • Career in sales, marketing and business development (per campaign)
  • Born and raised in Dallas (per campaign)
  • Moved to Austin twelve years ago to attend school (per campaign)
  • Attended Metz Elementary, Martin, Austin High and Huston-Tillotson (per his City of Austin biography)
  • Has served on boards and commissions including the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Latinitas Austin
  • Has also served on: East Austin Conservancy; the city's Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Commission
  • Raised in East Austin (per his City of Austin biography)
  • Born and raised in Austin (per KUT)
  • More than 50 years of civic engagement through the neighborhood association El Concilio (per candidate)
  • Studied at Mount Holyoke College (per campaign)
  • MBA, George Washington University (per campaign)
  • Tech startup founder (per campaign)
  • Published bilingual Hindi-English children's book author (per campaign)
  • Born in New Delhi, India (per campaign)
  • Naturalized U.S. citizen (2018) (per campaign)
Experience
  • Ran for Austin City Council, District 4 (2024) (per Community Impact)
Not found
  • Chair, council's Public Safety Committee
  • Member, Public Health and Economic Opportunity committees
  • Ran for Travis County Commissioner, Precinct 4 (2026 Democratic primary); lost (per Community Impact)
  • 20 years in tech product management (per candidate)
  • Volunteer deputy registrar (since 2018) (per candidate)
Top priorities
  • "Affordability, affordability, affordability."
  • Calls for "multi-million-dollar investments in high-quality city-owned public housing for struggling young professionals"
  • "I'd pursue progressive revenue strategies rather than regressive fees or indiscriminate cuts"
  • Says he would "expand affordable micro mobility, and better connect transit with bike and pedestrian infrastructure"
  • "My top priority is making Austin safer and more affordable by restoring accountability and ensuring taxpayer dollars deliver measurable results."
  • "Oppose city tax-rate increases that outpace inflation and wage growth"
  • "Fully enforce the voter-approved camping ban while expanding shelter beds and mental-health outreach"
  • "Commission an independent audit of major city departments and contracts"
  • "Require routine maintenance budgets before any new capital project is approved"
  • "Affordability is still the defining challenge of our time."
  • Says four more years means "Delivering even more affordable housing"
  • "Deepening community engagement—not scaling it back"
  • "Expanding investments in families, youth, and public safety"
  • Describes himself as "the Democratic Socialist Candidate in this race"
  • "we need to do a complete Audit of every department spending"
  • "I would increase funding for mental health care for young famlies and Homeless Teenagers."
  • "We need to do better planning" for traffic, citing increased density
  • "My priority is transparency: no secrets on spending, voting, or who's really influencing City Hall."
  • "I'd freeze the APD budget, audit existing bonds before new ones, and hold Project Connect and the Convention Center accountable to taxpayers."
  • "I'd move homelessness services under Austin Housing"
  • "We need stronger east-west connections, safer trains and buses, and microtransit to fill gaps."
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A, says he would "pursue progressive revenue strategies rather than regressive fees or indiscriminate cuts that disproportionately burden working families"
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A, says he would "expand affordable micro mobility, and better connect transit with bike and pedestrian infrastructure"
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: In a Community Impact Q&A, supports "empowering APD to enforce laws against violence, theft, and dangerous public behavior"
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A: "I would oppose unnecessary tax increases, review city spending position by position, prioritize essential services, and require measurable outcomes for taxpayer funded programs."
  • Growth and infrastructure: Campaign site: "New development must bring the infrastructure and services our neighborhoods need"
  • Flooding and drainage: Campaign site: "Prioritize road resurfacing, drainage, and sidewalk repair in the oldest neighborhoods first"
  • Public safety: Campaign site: "Our police and fire departments must be fully staffed, competitively paid, and equipped with the resources they need to protect District 3."
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: Campaign site: "Too many families are being priced out of the communities they helped build."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: Campaign site lists among results: "Secured funding for community violence intervention and non-traditional community-centered public safety."
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A: "we need to do a complete Audit of every department spending"
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Increased Density has contributed to increase in traffic in our barrios."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A: "I'd freeze the APD budget, audit existing bonds before new ones, and hold Project Connect and the Convention Center accountable to taxpayers."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "We need stronger east-west connections, safer trains and buses, and microtransit to fill gaps."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
None found in our research
  • Austin Central Labor Council
  • Austin Mayor Kirk Watson (listed by campaign)
  • Mayor Pro-Tem Chito Vela (listed by campaign)
  • Austin City Councilmember Ryan Alter (listed by campaign)
  • Austin City Councilmember Paige Ellis (listed by campaign)
Show all 39
  • Austin City Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes (listed by campaign)
  • Austin City Councilmember Natasha Harper-Madison (listed by campaign)
  • Austin City Councilmember Krista Laine (listed by campaign)
  • Austin City Councilmember Zo Qadri (listed by campaign)
  • Austin City Councilmember Mike Siegel (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Candace Hunter (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee LaRessa Quintana (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Lynn Boswell (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Fernando Lucas de Urioste (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Kevin Foster (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Andrew Gonzales (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee David Kauffman (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Arati Singh (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Kathryn Whitley Chu (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Judge Andy Brown (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Commissioner George Morales (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Constable Gabe Padilla (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Constable Stacy Suits (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Constable Tonya Nixon (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Constable Adan Ballesteros (listed by campaign)
  • Texas HD Democratic Nominee Pooja Sethi (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Rep. Lulu Flores (listed by campaign)
  • Texas HD Democratic Nominee Montserrat Garibay (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Rep. Sheryl Cole (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Rep. Donna Howard (listed by campaign)
  • Texas HD Democratic Nominee Samantha Lopez-Resendez (listed by campaign)
  • County Attorney Delia Garza (listed by campaign)
  • District Attorney Jose Garza (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Tax Assessor Celia Israel (listed by campaign)
  • Congressman Joaquin Castro (listed by campaign)
  • Congressman Greg Casar (listed by campaign)
  • US Democratic Congressional Nominee Bobby Pulido (listed by campaign)
None found in our research
  • Forward Texas (listed by campaign)
  • Zilker Neighborhood Association (listed by campaign)
  • Austin Environmental Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • League of Independent Voters of Texas (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
Not found
vote4brock.com
joseforatx.com
Not found
nehaforatx.com

Eduardo “Lalito” Romero

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Eduardo “Lalito” Romero
Current role
Tech analyst
Background
  • Daily rail user (per candidate)
Experience
  • Ran for Austin City Council, District 4 (2024) (per Community Impact)
Top priorities
  • "Affordability, affordability, affordability."
  • Calls for "multi-million-dollar investments in high-quality city-owned public housing for struggling young professionals"
  • "I'd pursue progressive revenue strategies rather than regressive fees or indiscriminate cuts"
  • Says he would "expand affordable micro mobility, and better connect transit with bike and pedestrian infrastructure"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A, says he would "pursue progressive revenue strategies rather than regressive fees or indiscriminate cuts that disproportionately burden working families"
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A, says he would "expand affordable micro mobility, and better connect transit with bike and pedestrian infrastructure"
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: In a Community Impact Q&A, supports "empowering APD to enforce laws against violence, theft, and dangerous public behavior"
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found

Brock Skinner

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Brock Skinner
Current role
Business development (per his Community Impact Q&A)
Background
  • Career in sales, marketing and business development (per campaign)
  • Born and raised in Dallas (per campaign)
  • Moved to Austin twelve years ago to attend school (per campaign)
Experience
Not found
Top priorities
  • "My top priority is making Austin safer and more affordable by restoring accountability and ensuring taxpayer dollars deliver measurable results."
  • "Oppose city tax-rate increases that outpace inflation and wage growth"
  • "Fully enforce the voter-approved camping ban while expanding shelter beds and mental-health outreach"
  • "Commission an independent audit of major city departments and contracts"
  • "Require routine maintenance budgets before any new capital project is approved"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A: "I would oppose unnecessary tax increases, review city spending position by position, prioritize essential services, and require measurable outcomes for taxpayer funded programs."
  • Growth and infrastructure: Campaign site: "New development must bring the infrastructure and services our neighborhoods need"
  • Flooding and drainage: Campaign site: "Prioritize road resurfacing, drainage, and sidewalk repair in the oldest neighborhoods first"
  • Public safety: Campaign site: "Our police and fire departments must be fully staffed, competitively paid, and equipped with the resources they need to protect District 3."
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
vote4brock.com
José Velásquez

José Velásquez

Nonpartisan Incumbent
On ballot as
José Velásquez
Current role
Austin City Council Member, District 3 (elected in a December 2022 runoff; term Jan. 6, 2023 through Jan. 6, 2027)
Background
  • Attended Metz Elementary, Martin, Austin High and Huston-Tillotson (per his City of Austin biography)
  • Has served on boards and commissions including the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Latinitas Austin
  • Has also served on: East Austin Conservancy; the city's Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Commission
  • Raised in East Austin (per his City of Austin biography)
Experience
  • Chair, council's Public Safety Committee
  • Member, Public Health and Economic Opportunity committees
Top priorities
  • "Affordability is still the defining challenge of our time."
  • Says four more years means "Delivering even more affordable housing"
  • "Deepening community engagement—not scaling it back"
  • "Expanding investments in families, youth, and public safety"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: Campaign site: "Too many families are being priced out of the communities they helped build."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: Campaign site lists among results: "Secured funding for community violence intervention and non-traditional community-centered public safety."
Endorsements
  • Austin Central Labor Council
  • Austin Mayor Kirk Watson (listed by campaign)
  • Mayor Pro-Tem Chito Vela (listed by campaign)
  • Austin City Councilmember Ryan Alter (listed by campaign)
  • Austin City Councilmember Paige Ellis (listed by campaign)
Show all 39
  • Austin City Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes (listed by campaign)
  • Austin City Councilmember Natasha Harper-Madison (listed by campaign)
  • Austin City Councilmember Krista Laine (listed by campaign)
  • Austin City Councilmember Zo Qadri (listed by campaign)
  • Austin City Councilmember Mike Siegel (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Candace Hunter (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee LaRessa Quintana (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Lynn Boswell (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Fernando Lucas de Urioste (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Kevin Foster (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Andrew Gonzales (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee David Kauffman (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Arati Singh (listed by campaign)
  • AISD Trustee Kathryn Whitley Chu (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Judge Andy Brown (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Commissioner George Morales (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Constable Gabe Padilla (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Constable Stacy Suits (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Constable Tonya Nixon (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Constable Adan Ballesteros (listed by campaign)
  • Texas HD Democratic Nominee Pooja Sethi (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Rep. Lulu Flores (listed by campaign)
  • Texas HD Democratic Nominee Montserrat Garibay (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Rep. Sheryl Cole (listed by campaign)
  • Texas Rep. Donna Howard (listed by campaign)
  • Texas HD Democratic Nominee Samantha Lopez-Resendez (listed by campaign)
  • County Attorney Delia Garza (listed by campaign)
  • District Attorney Jose Garza (listed by campaign)
  • Travis County Tax Assessor Celia Israel (listed by campaign)
  • Congressman Joaquin Castro (listed by campaign)
  • Congressman Greg Casar (listed by campaign)
  • US Democratic Congressional Nominee Bobby Pulido (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
joseforatx.com

Gavin Fernandez Jr.

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Gavin Fernandez Jr.
Current role
Retired
Background
  • Born and raised in Austin (per KUT)
  • More than 50 years of civic engagement through the neighborhood association El Concilio (per candidate)
Experience
  • Ran for Travis County Commissioner, Precinct 4 (2026 Democratic primary); lost (per Community Impact)
Top priorities
  • Describes himself as "the Democratic Socialist Candidate in this race"
  • "we need to do a complete Audit of every department spending"
  • "I would increase funding for mental health care for young famlies and Homeless Teenagers."
  • "We need to do better planning" for traffic, citing increased density
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A: "we need to do a complete Audit of every department spending"
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "Increased Density has contributed to increase in traffic in our barrios."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found
Neha Shah

Neha Shah

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Neha Shah
Current role
Product Manager, Expedia Group
Background
  • Studied at Mount Holyoke College (per campaign)
  • MBA, George Washington University (per campaign)
  • Tech startup founder (per campaign)
  • Published bilingual Hindi-English children's book author (per campaign)
  • Born in New Delhi, India (per campaign)
  • Naturalized U.S. citizen (2018) (per campaign)
Experience
  • 20 years in tech product management (per candidate)
  • Volunteer deputy registrar (since 2018) (per candidate)
Top priorities
  • "My priority is transparency: no secrets on spending, voting, or who's really influencing City Hall."
  • "I'd freeze the APD budget, audit existing bonds before new ones, and hold Project Connect and the Convention Center accountable to taxpayers."
  • "I'd move homelessness services under Austin Housing"
  • "We need stronger east-west connections, safer trains and buses, and microtransit to fill gaps."
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Community Impact Q&A: "I'd freeze the APD budget, audit existing bonds before new ones, and hold Project Connect and the Convention Center accountable to taxpayers."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "We need stronger east-west connections, safer trains and buses, and microtransit to fill gaps."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
  • Forward Texas (listed by campaign)
  • Zilker Neighborhood Association (listed by campaign)
  • Austin Environmental Democrats (listed by campaign)
  • League of Independent Voters of Texas (listed by campaign)
Campaign website
nehaforatx.com

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