mayor of Austin
{{Short description|Head of city government in Austin, Texas}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox political post
| post = Mayor
| body = Austin
| flag = File:Flag of Austin, Texas.svg{{!}}border
| flagsize = 100px
| flagcaption = Flag of the City of Austin
| insigniacaption = Seal of the City of Austin
| image =
| imagesize = 180px
| incumbent = Kirk Watson
| incumbentsince = January 6, 2023
| style =
| appointer =
| termlength = Four years
renewable once
| formation = 1840
| succession =
| inaugural = Edwin Waller
| residence = Private residence
| website = {{URL|https://austintexas.gov/mayor}}
}}
The mayor of Austin is the official head of the city of Austin in the U.S. state of Texas. The office was established in 1840 after Austin incorporated as a city in 1839. The mayor of Austin is elected to a four-year term and limited to serving no more than two terms.{{Cite web |url=http://austintexas.gov/news/new-city-council-members-draw-term-lengths-during-inauguration-ceremony |title=New City Council members draw term lengths during inauguration ceremony | AustinTexas.gov - the Official Website of the City of Austin |access-date=November 8, 2017 |archive-date=November 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108102126/http://austintexas.gov/news/new-city-council-members-draw-term-lengths-during-inauguration-ceremony |url-status=dead }}
Kirk Watson took office as mayor on January 6, 2023, for a third term and was re-elected to a fourth term in 2024, having served as mayor from 1997 to 2001.{{cite web | url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/12/13/austin-mayor-runoff-kirk-watson-celia-israel/ | title=Austin voters elect Kirk Watson, who served as mayor two decades ago, to lead the city again | date=December 13, 2022 }}
Duties and powers
Austin has a council–manager form of government which means day-to-day operations of the city are run by the city manager. The mayor is the head of city government ceremonially. The mayor is technically a member of the city council and is required to preside at all meetings. The mayor is also allowed to vote on all matters that come before the city council, but has no veto powers.{{cite web|url=https://www.municode.com/library/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH_ARTIITHCO_S10MAMAPRTE|title=Municode Library|work=Municode.com|access-date=March 11, 2017}}
As of fiscal year 2022–2023, the salary for the mayor is set at $134,191.
Election
The mayor is elected in a citywide election. Currently, elections occur every four years during even-numbered years. Elections are non-partisan and by majority, but if no candidate receives a majority a run-off election is called between the top two candidates who received the most votes.{{cite web|url=https://www.municode.com/library/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH_ARTIIIEL_S2ELDACOTEELMARFEL|title=Municode Library|work=Municode.com|access-date=March 11, 2017}}
Succession
Per city code of ordinances, if the mayor is absent or disabled, the Mayor Pro Tem is to act as mayor until the mayor returns or an election is held to fill the vacancy.{{cite web|url=https://www.municode.com/library/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH_ARTIITHCO_S6VA|title=Municode Library|work=Municode.com|access-date=March 11, 2017}}
The mayor is subject to recall by registered voters if a petition is signed and filed that contains the signatures of 10 percent of the qualified voters. If the petition is verified, a recall election is called at the earliest convenient available date. If the recall passes, the mayor immediately vacates office. There are two limitations to the recall process. First, no recall petition can be filed until the mayor has been in office for at least six months. Second, the mayor will not be subject to more than one recall.{{cite web|url=https://www.municode.com/library/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH_ARTIVINRERE|title=Municode Library|work=Municode.com|access-date=March 11, 2017}}
List of mayors of Austin
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" border="1"
! Years of service!! Mayor |
| January 1840 – August 1840{{Cite web|url=https://www.austintexas.gov/department/history-mayors|title=History of Mayors | AustinTexas.gov|website=www.austintexas.gov|accessdate=March 10, 2023}} |
| August 1840 – 1841 |
| 1841–1842
| Moses Johnson |
| 1842–1843 |
| 1843–1845
| Joseph W. Robertson |
| 1845–1847
| James M. Long |
| 1847–1849
| Jacob M. Harrell |
| 1850–1852
| Samuel G. Haynie |
| 1852–1853
| George J. Durham |
| 1853 |
| 1853–1854
| William P. deNormandie |
| 1854–1855 |
| 1855–1856
| John Treadwell Cleveland |
| 1856–1857
| Edward R. Peck |
| 1857–1858
| Thomas F. Sneed |
| 1858–1860
| Ben F. Carter |
| 1860–1863
| James W. Smith |
| 1863–1865
| Samuel G. Haynie |
| 1865–1866 |
| 1866–1867
| William H. Carr |
| 1867–1871
| Leander Brown |
| 1871–1872
| John W. Glenn |
| 1872–1877 |
| 1877–1879
| Jacob Carl DeGress |
| 1879–1881
| William A. Saylor |
| 1881–1883
| L. M. Crooker |
| 1883–1884
| William A. Saylor |
| 1884–1887
| John W. Robertson |
| 1887–1890
| Joseph Nalle |
| 1890–1895
| John McDonald |
| 1896–1897
| Louis Hancock |
| 1897–1901
| John Dodd McCall |
| 1901–1905
| Robert E. White |
| 1905–1907
| William D. Shelley |
| 1907–1909
| Frank M. Maddox |
| 1909–1919 |
| 1919–1926
| William D. Yett |
| 1926–1933
| Paul W. McFadden |
| 1933–1949 |
| 1949–1951
| Taylor Glass |
| 1951–1953
| William S. Drake, Jr. |
| 1953–1955
| Charles A. McAden |
| 1955–1961 |
| 1961–1967
| Lester E. Palmer |
| 1967–1969
| Harry Akin |
| 1969–1971 |
| 1971–1975 |
| 1975–1977 |
| 1977 – February 1983 |
| February 1983 – May 1983 (acting) |
| May 1983 – 1985 |
| 1985 – June 15, 1988 |
| June 15, 1988 – June 15, 1991 |
| June 15, 1991 – June 15, 1997
| Bruce Todd |
| June 15, 1997 – November 9, 2001{{Cite web|url=https://theaustinbulldog.org/what-kind-of-mayor-was-watson/|title=What kind of mayor was Watson? - The Austin Bulldog|accessdate=March 10, 2023}} |
| November 9, 2001 – June 16, 2003 |
| June 16, 2003 – June 22, 2009 |
| June 22, 2009 – January 6, 2015 |
| January 6, 2015 – January 6, 2023 |
| January 6, 2023 – Present |