Burnt Orange Report

Sheryl Cole for Austin City Council: Place 6

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Mayor Pro-Tem Danny Thomas, currently holding the "African-American" seat on the Austin City Council is retiring due to term limits. But fear not, a replacement has already stepped up in the form of Sheryle Cole, who if elected would be the first African-American woman to serve on the Austin City Council. She has just announced her candidacy and her website will launch later this month at www.sherylcole.com.

Local consultants David Butts and Mark Nathan will be heading up her campaign, a signal at least to me, that Cole may be less of "a" candidate for place 6 as "the" candidate, though I'm certain that others will jump into the race. I'd expect to see Austin continue to leave the "black seat black" as it is one of the ways the city keeps from being federally forced to have single member districts to ensure minority representation.

From the press release, full text of which is in the extended entry...

Cole currently serves on the Board of Leadership Austin and the Austin Area Urban League, and is a former Board member of Communities in Schools. Cole also served as Tri-Chair of the 2004 AISD Citizen Bond Committee, and was appointed by former mayor Kirk Watson to serve on the 1998 City of Austin Citizen Bond Committee.

Cole said that if elected she hoped to help the Council and Manager focus on “strategies for spreading economic success to all parts of Austin.” Cole – naming economic development, transportation, public safety, social services, and environmental protection as her top priorities – said she will be a champion for East Austin at City Hall.

Thanks to the campaign for giving BOR the scoop before the local media. You sure know how to butter my bread.

Austin, Texas – Austin attorney and accountant Sheryl Cole today filed papers with the City Clerk appointing a campaign treasurer, and announced her intent to run for the Place 6 seat on the Austin City Council. Place 6 is being vacated next year by Mayor Pro Tem Danny Thomas, who was elected in 2000 and served two three-year terms.

If elected, Cole would be the first ever African-American female to serve on the Austin City Council. The election is scheduled for Saturday, May 13, 2006.

Cole, 41, is a 23-year resident of Austin. She earned her B.A. in accounting from the University of Texas in 1986 and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1987. Cole subsequently returned to U.T. for law school, earning her J.D. in 1991. Cole’s legal career includes six years as staff counsel at the Texas Municipal League.

Married to Austin attorney Kevin Cole for 14 years, Sheryl Cole is the mother of three boys and currently serves as president of the Lee Elementary School PTA. The Cole family belongs to David Chapel, where Sheryl teaches 2nd grade Sunday School. David Chapel pastor Rev. Joseph Parker, Jr. is serving as Cole’s campaign treasurer.

Cole currently serves on the Board of Leadership Austin and the Austin Area Urban League, and is a former Board member of Communities in Schools. Cole also served as Tri-Chair of the 2004 AISD Citizen Bond Committee, and was appointed by former mayor Kirk Watson to serve on the 1998 City of Austin Citizen Bond Committee.

Cole said that if elected she hoped to help the Council and Manager focus on “strategies for spreading economic success to all parts of Austin.” Cole – naming economic development, transportation, public safety, social services, and environmental protection as her top priorities – said she will be a champion for East Austin at City Hall.

“Too often, East Austin is still missing out on the upside of economic growth happening in the larger community,” said Cole. “I believe that City Hall needs to stay focused on taking steps to help East Austin participate in our prosperity.”

Cole said she would also work to deliver honest, accountable public service to every Austinite across the spectrum of issues that come before the City Council. “Whether it’s a single zoning case or a far-reaching policy initiative, my goal will always be to get all the facts I can, and make the best judgment I know how,” she said.

Cole said her official campaign kick-off event would be held in January 2006, and that her campaign website, www.sherylcole.com, would launch later this month.