AUSTIN, Texas — Interfaith organizer and LGBTQ+ advocate Doug Greco is entering the Austin mayoral race.
Greco officially filled out the campaign treasurer paperwork at Austin City Hall on Monday morning.
He was previously the lead organizer for Central Texas Interfaith, which is a coalition of religious organizations that work together to address public issues.
“I’m running for mayor because Austin needs a leader who will stand up for working people and against big money at city hall and unchecked corporate power in politics overall,” Greco said in a release. “Despite Austin’s wealth and unprecedented growth, working people continue to be pushed out of the city and out of the middle class. As mayor I will address this by supporting unions, living wage jobs, public schools and effective workforce development. This agenda includes ending homelessness, building affordable housing, investing in rental assistance and ensuring any land-use code changes benefit working people and not private equity firms.”
Greco’s paperwork on Monday was to appoint his campaign treasurer, Claudia Kramer Santamaria. Candidates cannot actually file to run until July.
Greco grew up in eastern Pennsylvania and attended Brown University before moving to Austin in the late 1990s. He worked as a teacher at Johnston High School – now Eastside Early College High School – for five years.
Former Austin Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo has also announced her candidacy, along with Carmen Llanes Pulido, a local community advocate. Current Mayor Kirk Watson has previously told KVUE he plans to run for re-election.
Austinites will elect a mayor in November.