Selena Xie, former EMS union president, announces city council run
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Selena Xie, an Austin-Travis County EMS commander and the former president of the Austin EMS Association, announced she will run for the Austin City Council District 8 seat next year.
“As a frontline worker, I don’t work from home – and I don’t think our City Council should either,” Xie said in her release Wednesday. “I came to the decision to run after meeting with numerous district residents from many different backgrounds. They all said the same thing – that D8 deserves a Councilmember who shows up. On council, I will bring the same energy to improving affordability, public safety, infrastructure, the environment, constituent services, and communication with residents to District 8 that I brought as EMS Association President. I know we can do better for the people who I’ve been proud to serve.”
Paige Ellis, who is serving her second term as the representative of District 8 (southwest Austin), has hit her term limit, but Austin allows council members to run for reelection for a third term if they get 5 percent of qualified voters in their district to sign a petition to get back on the ballot.
KXAN has reached out to Ellis’ staff to see if she is considering reelection. She told Jack Craver of the Austin Politics Newsletter that she was strongly considering it, according to Craver.
“During her tenure, Council Member Ellis has championed mobility, housing, and affordability efforts. She led the effort to pass the 2020 $460M Active Mobility Bond and helped to shape the Project Connect effort,” Ellis’ biography says. “In addition, Council Member Ellis has been a strong advocate for Austin’s public parks and pools, environment, and many other quality of life efforts.”
