Austin City Council Member José Velásquez is seeking another four-year term representing District 3, where four challengers are campaigning on issues including public safety, city spending, homelessness and neighborhood services ahead of the Nov. 3 election. The candidates are Neha Shah, Brock Skinner, Gavin Fernandez Jr. and Eduardo “Lalito” Romero. Romero did not attend a candidate endorsement meeting and could not be reached for an interview. Velásquez, a fourth-generation East Austin native, said voters should judge his record and the work done with the community. Velásquez highlighted his office’s constituent services, including one-on-one coffee meetings and scheduled call-back times. He also cited efforts to convert city-owned property to affordable housing, work with Travis County to establish a family justice center, and events focused on digital access and small businesses. A key point of disagreement is Proposition I, a proposed city charter amendment that would require regular audits of city spending. Velásquez opposes it, arguing that the measure could pay corporate consultants to recommend cuts and put social services, public services and city workers at risk. Supporters, including the four challengers, say the city needs an independent audit conducted regularly. Austin is also undergoing a separate consultant-led review of spending efficiency. Shah, who moved to the United States from India on a student visa about a decade ago and became a citizen in 2018, said concerns about immigrant rights helped prompt her to run. She is a children’s book author and founded a technology-related company. Shah supports Prop I, citing concerns about tax breaks for large companies and the cost and effectiveness of city contracts. She also said the District 3 office should do more to keep residents informed about issues such as surveillance technology, data centers and autonomous vehicles. Skinner, who works in sales and business development, has made public safety a central focus. At an Oct. 1 forum, he said he entered the race because he believed safety and rising costs were not receiving enough attention. He supports regular independent audits and suggested the city could find savings in homelessness spending. He said resources should not be directed to homelessness at current levels and framed the choice as help or jail. Fernandez, a Democratic Socialist and longtime East Austin landowner and advocate, said he was born and raised in District 3 and has spent years working on local issues. He previously served as a district director for the League of United Latin American Citizens and worked for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. Fernandez cited past efforts including the campaign to close the Holly Power Plant and opposition to boat races near Festival Beach. On homelessness, he called for greater access to mental health services and engagement from businesses, faith groups and neighborhoods. The candidates have also criticized the City Council process that approved the Dog’s Head development project. In July, Velásquez was among three council members who voted against creating a tax increment reinvestment zone for the area. Other concerns raised in the race include neglected sidewalks and public spaces. Skinner said overgrown sidewalks, weeds and trash are visible problems the city could address. Fernandez pointed to his long record of neighborhood advocacy, while Shah emphasized the need for more proactive communication with residents. Fernandez has also led an effort to rename Cesar Chavez Street back to First Street. The candidates’ positions reflect competing priorities for a district experiencing development and affordability pressures, with the Prop I debate putting the potential trade-offs between spending oversight and city services at the center of the campaign.