oakhillgazette.com
October 16, 2014 Volume 19, No. 21 Southwest Austin’s Community Newspaper Since 1995
District 8 candidates make final forum pitches by Ann Fowler
OAK HILL - The five candidates for the District 8 spot on the Austin City Council gathered on Oct. 7 at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church (SHPC) for the final candidates forum before the Nov. 4 election. Becky Bray, Eliza May, Darrell Pierce, Ed Scruggs and Ellen Troxclair were on hand to field questions from audience members and from panelists Gary Keith (Associate
Professor of Political Science at University of the Incarnate Word) and Jack Floyd (Adjunct Professor of Government at Austin Community College). The forum moderator was attorney Linda Icenhauer-Ramirez. Stefan Haag, an SHPC member, was one of the organizers of the event. He estimated that 150 community members attended. He said, “The principal motivation was to provide a venue so that residents of southwest Austin could learn about the
candidates and the issues.” District 8 represents much of Southwest Austin, from Zilker Park and Bee Caves to Oak Hill. Five individuals are running for the District 8 seat on the Austin City Council. The Candidates Becky Bray, 44, a fourth-generation Austinite and a professional transportation engineer and transportation/land planner, lives in the Heights at Loma Vista. She gradu-
ated from Stephen F. Austin High School and Texas A&M University, with undergraduate and graduate degrees in civil engineering. She currently serves on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee for the Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA). Bray is familiar with transportation challenges, having served on the transportation committees for both the Chamber
of Commerce and RECA. Eliza May, 60, is the director of mission services, Austin Affiliate of the Susan G. foundation. She lives in Travis Country. May’s main issues include traffic, taxes, water and unmanaged growth. She was an original supporter of the Save our Springs Alliance to protect Barton Springs and the Edwards See DISTRICT 8 on p. 10
Panelists Gary Keith (Associate Professor of Political Science at University of the Incarnate Word) and Jack Floyd (Adjunct Professor of Government at Austin Community College).
Tree-eating squirrels by Tony Tucci
Maroons smother Rebels, Bulldogs beat Chaps — sports begins on p. 14
OAK HILL - Those frisky, seemingly fun-loving squirrels skittering over the branches in your yard might actually be killing your trees. It might sound nuts, but acorns aren ‘t the only thing the squirrels are after. They’re eating the bark, said Maggie Ambrosino, an Oak Hill arborist, and that’s killing the tree branches. She said she is seeing more damage this year than ever before. We can blame it on the drought. Squirrels need water, and one source See TREE-EATING on p. 3
Squirrels are eating the bark off trees and killing branches.