Austin City Council Ward 1 · Nov 3, 2026
Laura
Helle
Laura Helle, the incumbent, is running for Austin City Council Ward 1 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Tom Compton.
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The race · City Council Ward 1
- 01Tom Compton
- 02Laura HelleYou’re reading
Background
- About
- Laura Helle is the Housing Development Director for Three Rivers Community Action and a Ward 1 council member.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Nonpartisan
On the record: Laura Helle
6 sourced01Property tax levy2 sourced positions
Said at the Sept. 15, 2025 meeting that she did not want to set a 7.5% levy before the council knew how it would get there.
Own statementCity Council minutes, Sept. 15, 2025 · Sep 15, 2025Link
Voted no on the motion to approve a 7.5% tax levy (carried 4-3, September 2025).
Council voteCity Council minutes, Sept. 15, 2025 · Sep 15, 2025LinkHow the council voted
02Point-of-sale inspections1 sourced position
Moved adoption of the point-of-sale sewer inspection ordinance (carried 5-1, July 2025).
Council voteCity Council minutes, July 21, 2025 · Jul 21, 2025Link
03Employee pay1 sourced position
Voted no on the 2026, 2027 and 2028 base pay structure (carried 4-2, May 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, May 18, 2026 · May 18, 2026LinkHow the council voted
04I-90 sound wall1 sourced position
Voted no on the MnDOT cooperative construction agreement for the I-90 sound wall and pedestrian bridge (carried 6-1, April 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, Apr. 6, 2026 · Apr 6, 2026Link
05Staffing1 sourced position
Voted no on the employee separation incentive program (carried 3-2, October 2025).
Council voteCity Council minutes, Oct. 6, 2025 · Oct 6, 2025LinkHow the council voted
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
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