Austin's mayoral race down to the wire

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The race for Austin mayor is drawing close.

Early voting ends Tuesday May 5 for the Saturday election.

There are five contenders: Lee Leffingwell, Brewster McCracken, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, David Buttross and Josiah Ingalls. Three are considered the primary rivals.

Leffingwell, 69, was a Navy pilot who later flew for Delta for 32 years before returning home to Austin. The two-term city councilman emphasizes growing Austin’s economy and reducing the city’s traffic congestion.

McCracken, 43, is an army veteran who later worked as a prosecutor in Houston. He is also a two-term councilman whose priorities include support of Austin’s artistic community, its environment and creating green jobs.

Strayhorn, 69, was Austin’s first woman mayor, president of the school board and state comptroller. Her priorities include attracting a medical school to Austin and wringing wasteful spending out of city hall.

At last report, Leffingwell had $87,000 in campaign cash on hand; McCracken has $76,000 to spend and Strayhorn has $17,000. If no candidate tops 50 percent on May 9, there will be a runoff between the top two finishers June 13.