Kirk Watson

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has been immersed in public policy in both local and state government in Texas for three decades. He won his first term as Austin mayor in 1997 and earned praise for bringing different political factions together around transformative environmental and economic development initiatives. Watson returned to Austin City Hall in 2023 for a third term as mayor after serving more than 13 years in the Texas Senate, where he led on issues such as public education, healthcare and government transparency. Watson also was the founding dean of the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston.

When Watson returned to the mayor’s office in 2023, he worked immediately to stabilize city government and improve basic city operations. In the first two years of Watson’s most current term, response times at Austin’s 911 call center have substantially improved, site plan review times have been slashed, homeless response services have been consolidated under one department to better manage contracts and oversee efforts, and the City signed a new five-year labor contract with the Austin Police Association with robust police oversight. Watson also played an instrumental role in protecting Austin Light Rail during the 88th Legislative Session by working with lawmakers in the Texas House to stop a last-minute Senate amendment to kill its financing.

As mayor, Watson has been laser-focused on making sure every Austinite has the opportunity to afford to make a life in our City. He has led on major affordability initiatives including the enactment of historic land-use reforms to increase housing stock and the creation of the Austin Infrastructure Academy. His priorities include housing, workforce development, homelessness, public safety, mobility, climate resilience, and Generation ATX: a movement to make Austin the best place to be a kid.

Watson, who grew up in Saginaw, Texas, graduated from Baylor University and Baylor Law School. He and his wife, Liz, have two adult sons and two delightful granddaughters.