Adding to an already impressive list of endorsements, the Sierra Club announced their endorsement of Brigid Shea in the race for Precinct 2 Travis County Commissioner. Shea has an extensive track record on environmental issues, including starting the Texas chapter of Clean Water Action and spearheading Save Our Springs, the strongest water protection ordinance passed by citizen initiative in the country.

Continuing her call to end politics as usual, Travis County Commission Candidate Brigid Shea announced she had raised another $100 thousand in the latest fundraising period, some of it coming from former political opponents. Since the start of the campaign Shea has raised more than $200,000 from over 450 donors. 

“From the beginning I’ve said this campaign is a big tent. My contributors range from former political opponents to environmentalists and many in between. With so many important issues to work on in the community, we can’t afford to let ourselves be divided over personal disagreements. It’s crucial we have a civil dialogue and pursue opportunities to work together,” said Shea.

Austin, Texas — The Central Texas Building Trades Association voted last Thursday to endorse Former Austin City Council member Brigid Shea for Precinct 2 Travis County Commissioner. The endorsement adds to an already impressive list of Unions, elected officials and organizations that have decided to support Brigid in her run for Travis County Commissioner. The list includes Sen. Kirk Watson, Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, AFSCME Local 1624, the Austin Firefighters Association and Clean Water Action. 

Reiterating her stance on the importance of background checks for gun sales, Candidate for Precinct 2 Travis County Commissioner, Brigid Shea urged the Travis County Commissioners Court to require all persons selling guns at the Saxet Gun Show to conduct background checks in order to have their contract with Travis County renewed. This is not the first time Shea has publicly spoken in support of this requirement, emphasizing this position during the KUT candidate forum last month.

"Brigid’s broad knowledge of wildland issues and her commitment to prepare the Austin/Travis County community for disaster sets her apart. It’s an issue that is going to require a leader. It needs a leader from the environmental community who can meet with various groups. Brigid is that leader.”- Bob Nicks, President of the Austin Firefighters Association on endorsing Brigid

Our region is experiencing a die-off of our urban forests. We’re piling up huge amounts of tinder that make us extremely vulnerable to wildfires. The Austin/Travis County area is ranked as a much higher wildfire risk than Bastrop County which was devastated by the fire of 2011.

Travis County has 13 different emergency service districts that provide water and fire services throughout the County. However, they all operate independently of each other. Brigid wants to do for community preparedness what Sematech did for the semiconductor industry and what the Pecan Street Project is doing for the smart grid.

Brigid will pursue federal grant money to build on existing disparate programs and draw on our high tech talent to create the best emergency preparedness program in the nation.

• Travis County needs solutions that work across every platform—Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, text messaging, mobile phones, land lines, etc. With the help of to these high tech innovations, Brigid foresees a future where citizens receive universal code-red wildfire alerts that show them exactly where the fire is, and, if evacuation is recommended, the safest route out of the area.
• Our tech entrepreneurs could build apps and communication highways and use technologies like infrared sensors and global positioning systems to provide real-time information to our first responders and people on the ground.

Most importantly this community preparedness initiative will be the difference between life and death of residents and emergency responders. In addition, this initiative will create jobs and business opportunities for firms who can deliver on innovative ideas. 

Travis County has all the talent and skill required to accomplish this goal. We just need a leader to take the initiative. Brigid is that leader.

Watch Bob Nicks, President of the Austin Firefighters Association explain why they have endorsed Brigid for Travis County Commissioner, Precinct 2.

This week the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME Local 1624) endorsed Brigid Shea for Travis County Commissioner, Precinct 2. AFSCME Local 1624 is the Labor Union representing City of Austin and Travis County Employees since 1969.

Fresh off Brigid Shea’s commanding performance Monday night at the KUT and In Fact Daily debate, the Austin Firefighters Association and their PAC today endorsed Brigid Shea for Travis County Commissioner, Precinct 2.

Clean Water Action, one of Texas’ most renowned environmental groups, announced it is endorsing Brigid Shea for Travis County Commissioner. Read more after the flip. 

Former Austin City Council member and current candidate for Precinct 2 Travis County Commissioner, Brigid Shea is calling on F 1 to follow the County’s standard procedure *and pay their 50% share of the $16.6 million road subsidy. That would free up over $8 million dollars to provide relief to the flood victims in SE Austin.

Read more after the flip. 

Brigid Shea, Democrat for Travis County Commissioner Precinct 2, released the following statement in response to today’s Travis County Commissioner Court’s 4-0 rushed vote for construction of SH45, before the environmental study is complete: