Who's running for Austin City Council District 7?

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- There are a whopping seven people running for Austin City Council District 7 to fill Austin City Council Member's Leslie Pool's seat.

The city of Austin hosted candidate forums, including for District 7. You can find that forum here.

"The question is whether we'll see sort of that traditional divide between the urbanist or YIMBY (yes in my backyard) candidate and the sort of neighborhood or growth skeptic candidate," Jack Carver, editor of the Austin Politics Newsletter, said.

The candidates are listed in the order that they will appear on the ballot.

Gary L. Bledsoe

Bledsoe is an attorney and has been president of the Texas National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1991, according to the NAACP.

"Bledsoe's ties with the NAACP enabled him to make substantial civil rights changes, which include his handling of racial discrimination complaints against the Austin Department of Public Safety that dismantled racial barriers that prevented minorities and women from becoming Texas Rangers," his NAACP bio reads.

Bledsoe lists his main priorities as civil rights, affordable housing, climate change and public safety.

You can read more about Bledsoe's priorities and background on his campaign website. 

Pierre Huy Nguyễn

Nguyễn is a firefighter and EMT in Travis County, works as the health and safety director for nonprofit American YouthWorks, serves as a reservist in the Coast Guard and has been on the City of Austin's Public Safety Commission and Asian American Quality of Life Commission, according to his campaign website.

"With my deep understanding of community needs and my unwavering commitment to serving others, I seek to bring my experience, empathy, and fresh perspective to the table," he wrote.

Todd Shaw

Shaw was the chair of Austin's Planning Commission in 2020, according to his biography on his campaign website.

"Todd became Chair of the Planning Commission in 2020 when the body was hearing a large number of challenging cases modifying Austin’s land use plans and development codes.  Todd demonstrated his ability to bring Commissioners together to develop solutions that a majority could support. He decided to bring the same type of team-oriented energy and collaborative leadership to the Council," Shaw said.

Edwin Bautista

Bautista graduated from the University of Texas in 2020 and has worked at the nonprofit Texas Housers, which supports low-income Texans in achieving home ownership, since 2021 while also getting his master's degree, according to his campaign website.

"As a member of Generation Z, I bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the table. I’m running for local public office to champion an innovative and inclusive vision for the City of Austin. Most importantly, I’m running to represent the underdogs — the hardworking people who deserve a fair shot and the opportunity to prosper," he wrote.

Mike Siegel

Siegel — formerly the City of Austin's assistant city attorney — has a background in public education, nonprofit and legal work, according to his campaign website.

Siegel has run for state office as a Democrat and most recently lost the House District 10 seat to Michael McCaul (R) in 2020.

"As a teacher, Mike taught third grade, fifth grade, and eighth grade in the public schools, and was active in his teachers’ union. He has co-founded multiple nonprofit organizations, including Ground Game Texas, which fights for democracy and social justice through local issue campaigns in cities across the state," his campaign website says.

Daniel "Dan" Dominguez

Dominguez does not appear to have a campaign website. His application document lists him as "retired." He did not attend a city-hosted forum.

Adam Powell

Powell -- who has formerly done work as a union organizer, recruiter in education and tech executive -- has served as a Board Member for Austin’s SAFE Alliance, vice president of the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Association and is on the CapMetro committee. He also volunteers with several organizations in Austin, including ReThink35, according to Powell's campaign website.

"Adam made sure his full-time work was focused on creating positive change," his website said.

This November, there are five city council seats up for grabs: Districts 2, 4, 6, 7 and 10.

Election Day is Nov. 5.