It’s the standard measuring stick for any elected official seeking another term: Is the community headed in the right direction?
As Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea seeks a fourth term, the answer is clearly yes. The Precinct 2 commissioner, a thoughtful and effective leader representing much of Central Travis, deserves voters’ support in the March 3 Democratic primary.
Shea played a key role in boosting the minimum pay for county employees — from $15 an hour in 2022 to $21.82 now — by pressing staff to account for raises early in the budgeting process.
In keeping with her decades-long environmental focus, Shea championed smarter policies to limit flood risk from new development. In 2020, the county adopted the latest federal rainfall maps for permitting, rather than relying on outdated FEMA floodplain maps. Such assertiveness at the local level is essential to protect lives and property as extreme weather events strike with greater frequency.
Significant work remains. Sitting down with us in January, Shea noted that some Big Sandy Creek residents hit by last summer’s floods are “still going through the mud trying to find their belongings.” Those residents, many of whom felt forgotten in the early hours of the disaster, deserve robust support as their long recovery continues. The county also must shore up key bridges and access roads to ensure people aren’t trapped in the next disaster.
At the same time, fidelity with taxpayers is important. We disagreed with the vote Shea and other commissioners took after the flood to adopt the maximum disaster-related property tax hike. That decision raised an extra $42 million without voter approval, rather than simply recouping the roughly $20 million the county had spent at that point on flood response. We recognize the extra dollars will help with other infrastructure projects, but for non-emergency uses, commissioners should have made their case to voters in a bond election.
Shea faces challenges from civil rights attorney Amanda Marzullo; business consultant Rick Astray-Caneda III, who leads a nonprofit that supports HIV patients; and community organizer Reese Armstrong. With no Republicans in the running, the Precinct 2 seat will be decided in the Democratic primary unless third-party candidates later join the race.
All three Democratic challengers impressed us with their service to the community and their desire to make it better. But Precinct 2 residents have a proven leader in Shea. They should grant her another term on March 3.