Exclusive Interview with the Austin City District 6 Council Member Krista Laine
What are her plans to improve community services and public education?
Krista Laine's foray into politics was not premeditated. Her career in commercial real estate was interrupted by the pandemic, leading her to become increasingly involved in local issues. By attending Round Rock ISD board meetings and opposing conservative influence, Laine's accidental entry into politics was driven by a desire for effective representation.
Laine founded "Access Education RRISD," a political action committee that successfully countered a conservative push on the school board. Under her leadership, the PAC defeated conservative candidates by significant margins, demonstrating her capability in grassroots organization and local mobilization.
Frustration with local issues, such as frequent utility disruptions, poor infrastructure, and the lack of responsiveness from her City Council representative, Mackenzie Kelly, motivated Laine's deeper involvement in politics. Her proactive stance, including investigating neglected infrastructure near her son's school, underscored her commitment to addressing community concerns.
Laine's decision to run for City Council was significantly influenced by negative experiences with the incumbent, Mackenzie Kelly, especially after Kelly's perceived endorsement of a controversial protestor at a local school. This distrust fueled Laine's determination to provide better representation for District 6.
Laine's campaign highlighted several key issues, including:
Affordable Housing: Advocating for more accessible housing options.
Land Code Reform: Improving land use policies.
Utilities Resilience: Addressing infrastructure deficiencies.
911 Response Times: Ensuring efficient emergency services.
Transportation: Expanding bus routes to connect residents to transit hubs.
Her background in land development provides her with unique insights into these challenges, allowing her to approach them with expertise and practicality.
Laine emphasizes that District 6, positioned within multiple jurisdictions yet central to none, faces service gaps that can lead to community instability. Her commitment to her district is rooted in ensuring that these gaps are addressed to prevent further issues.
Below are the Council Member's answers to our interview questions:
1) What is your top priority in serving D6? Please list 1-3. Why are those on your list?
For District 6 neighborhoods, my top priority is improving basic city services so that our homes and neighborhoods feel safe and residents can focus on their families and daily lives. Specifically, I will work for safer streets, more reliable utilities, 911 response and other city services, and improved support for District 6 schools, small businesses, and nonprofits.
I will be a strong advocate for Austin to streamline and improve efficiency, so that cost savings can be reinvested into improved access and reliability for core city services, support for the city’s strategic priorities, and maintaining a strong financial rating.
Citywide, I will work to increase Asian American representation, amplify Asian American voices, and fight hateful extremism in all its forms.
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2) In terms of Public Education, what will you do to help RRISD and AISD specifically?
I strongly support Austin City Council’s recent efforts to improve coordination with neighborhood public schools and invest in programs and infrastructure that help families of school-aged children thrive in Austin – from increased investment in safe routes to school to support for the increasing number of families experiencing housing instability or food insecurity, targeted support for Title 1 students, and improved access to enriched early childhood and after school care.
Unfortunately, the initial focus on schools in either AISD or Travis County left D6 public schools and families almost entirely omitted because over 95% of D6 schools are in RRISD or LISD and over 60% of D6 neighborhoods are in Williamson County. Expanding Austin’s recent successes into D6 schools is a top priority for my office.
We are also working to identify single-points-of-contact for RRISD to more efficiently address issues faced by campuses with Austin addresses – issues as diverse as power and water outages, extreme weather preparedness, emergency response, inadequate crosswalks or signage, building permit delays, unsafe routes to school, assistance for families struggling with housing instability or food insecurity, homeless response, and safety and security issues near schools with Austin addresses. Next, we will work with RRISD leadership to facilitate resolution of persistent issues. Finally, we will use the improved collaboration model between Austin and RRISD campuses in Austin to more effectively support D6 schools in Leander ISD.
I also look forward to welcoming students from D6 neighborhoods to City Hall, visiting D6 schools, and strengthening connections between Austin and its D6 campuses.
3) What are your plans for the Asian Americans community in D6?
I want to establish two-way communication with Asian American community leaders to build a trusted relationship and ensure Asian American needs in District 6 and beyond are acknowledged and met. I am prioritizing a few areas specific to Asian American needs, including support for multigenerational families and community gathering spaces and improved public transportation service between Lakeline Station, District 6 destinations, and residential apartment clusters.
I am actively working to increase Asian American representation in the City of Austin beyond the Asian Quality of Life Commission. If you would like to apply for a City of Austin Boards or Commissions appointment, please fill out the application form listed here and email our District 6 office at district6@austintexas.gov. The application form is available in multiple languages.