Protecting what makes Austin special while building a stronger future.

Resilient communities protected against flooding, drought and wildfire

District 8 is home to some of Austin's most treasured natural resources. The Barton Creek Greenbelt, our parks, and the Edwards Aquifer are more than recreational assets, they are critical pieces of infrastructure that protect our quality of life, support wildlife, reduce flooding, and help combat the effects of climate change.

As Austin continues to grow, Selena believes we must remain vigilant in protecting our environment and securing our water future. Rapid development, increasing demand on our water systems, and the emergence of resource-intensive industries like AI data centers require thoughtful planning and strong oversight. Austin's future prosperity depends on ensuring that economic growth never comes at the expense of our natural resources.

Selena will:

• Enforce strong watershed protections for Barton Creek and the Edwards Aquifer.
• Require green infrastructure and sustainable design practices in new developments.
• Expand wildfire mitigation and climate resilience investments.
• Support energy efficiency programs and renewable energy initiatives that lower costs and reduce environmental impacts.
• Advocate for responsible water management policies that protect Austin's long-term water supply.
• Clear out brush and other wildfire fuel to reduce wildfires from rapidly spreading into neighborhoods.
• Advocate for more parkland acquisition and resources for our Parks department.

Homes that families, working people and the elderly can afford

Austin's affordability crisis is affecting families, seniors, teachers, first responders, and young professionals alike. Selena believes every resident deserves the opportunity to live in the community they help build and serve. The affordability crisis also means our retired older adults who built our community and find themselves no longer able to afford the rapid increase in utility bills and property taxes.

Selena will:

• Closely monitor the implementation of the HOME initiative to ensure it delivers equitable and affordable outcomes.
• Prioritize affordable family sized housing to help growing families afford Austin. This also increases enrollment in public schools.
• Expand programs that help vulnerable residents access solar panels that reduce utility bills.
• Increase homestead exemption for seniors and long term residents to reduce displacement.
• Expand when our neighborhood pools open to earlier in the summer and close later in the fall.

Restoring trust in City leadership

Austin residents deserve a city government that spends taxpayer dollars responsibly and delivers measurable results. Selena believes that before asking taxpayers to contribute more, City Hall must demonstrate that it is managing existing resources effectively and efficiently.

Transparency, accountability, and disciplined budgeting are essential to restoring trust between residents and local government. Selena will work to ensure that taxpayer dollars are directed toward core services and community priorities while reducing unnecessary administrative growth.

Selena will:

• Conduct rolling performance audits of every city department at least once every five years.
• Require regular evaluations of city programs to ensure they are meeting community needs.
• Advocate for sunset provisions on Council budget amendments to improve transparency and reduce government bloat.

Safe streets and safe communities

Every resident deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood and confident that help will arrive when they need it. Selena believes public safety requires both strong emergency response systems and innovative approaches that meet today's challenges.

The current public safety model was designed for a different era. Selena supports modernizing emergency response systems so that residents receive the right response from the right professional at the right time. This means maintaining strong police, fire, and EMS services while investing in specialized crisis response programs that can better address mental health, homelessness, and drug related emergencies.

Selena will:

• Maintain strong EMS, fire, and emergency response capabilities.
• Protect response times and emergency service ratings.
• Expand alternative response programs for non emergency 911 calls.
• Create a homeless respite option so that when 911 is called on someone who is homeless, there are better options than the jail or the hospital. Respite care offers mental health services and case management that are necessary in getting housed.

Affordable and environmental utilities

The City of Austin has owned its electric and water utility system since 1895. This has made the region more affordable while allowing advanced environmental programs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and green building. But these utilities face strong headwinds.

Electric rates will rise 3% next year, a $36 average increase, after a 5% increase the year before. Water rates will rise 8% next year, a $93 average increase.

Costs for new power plants soar, and the energy efficiency programs lose momentum. Our region is threatened with water shortages due to periodic droughts, climate change, and increased consumption. Yet our water pipes leaked 17% of the water supply in 2024.

Meanwhile, Austin’s main privately-owned gas utility, headquartered in another state, has seen rates rise 182%, $415, between 2016 and 2026.

Selena will:

• Cancel proposed contract (approved by a secret vote of Council) on new natural gas plant, estimated at almost 3 times what it would have cost in 2023.
• Conduct future votes on power plants transparently in public.
• Highly regulate new large data centers to prevent them from driving up the cost of electricity and water.
• Disclose costs and benefits of new sources of electric generation sources and electric storage battery projects.
• Repair or replace Austin’s leaky pipes instead of buying expensive new water supplies.
• Create new “irrigation rate” for large commercial customers to discourage water waste. These are already enforced in the Texas water utilities of Arlington, Ft. Worth, Houston, Plano, and San Antonio.
• Study the feasibility of purchasing Austin’s gas utility as a way to lower rates and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.