Donald S. Zimmerman

This page was current at the end of the official's last term in office covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Donald Zimmerman

Nonpartisan

Prior offices

Austin City Council District 6

---

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 4, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Texas A&M University

Graduate

Texas A&M University

Personal

Profession

Software engineer

Donald Zimmerman was a member of the Austin City Council in Texas, representing District 6. He assumed office in 2015. He left office in 2017.

Zimmerman ran for election to the Travis Central Appraisal District to represent Place 1 in Texas. He lost in the general election on May 4, 2024.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Zimmerman earned a B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University. He also studied engineering at Texas Tech University.

As of his run for re-election in 2016, Zimmerman owned the IT systems integration firm ZimWin Communications. His professional experience also includes work as the director of firmware engineering at the healthcare venture capital firm TEXO Ventures, the director of firmware engineering at the telehealth company Waldo Health, an analyst at IBM, and a senior software engineer at Hewlett-Packard.

Zimmerman has served as a precinct chair for the Travis County Republican Party, a committeeman for the Texas GOP, a delegate to the 2012 Republican National Convention, and a grassroots organizer and fundraiser for then-U.S. Rep. Ron Paul's 2008 presidential campaign. He also founded the Travis County Taxpayers Union, an organization that opposes local tax increases, and served as the treasurer of its political action committee.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Travis County, Texas (2024)

General election

General election for Travis Central Appraisal District, Place 1

Jett Hanna defeated Donald Zimmerman in the general election for Travis Central Appraisal District, Place 1 on May 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Jett Hanna (Nonpartisan)	69.5	35,761
		Donald Zimmerman (Nonpartisan)	30.5	15,720

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 51,481
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Zimmerman in this election.

2022

See also: Round Rock Independent School District, Texas, elections (2022)

General election

General election for Round Rock Independent School District Place 6

Incumbent Tiffanie Harrison defeated Donald Zimmerman in the general election for Round Rock Independent School District Place 6 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Tiffanie Harrison (Nonpartisan)	62.4	47,969
		Donald Zimmerman (Nonpartisan)	37.6	28,843

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 76,812
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

Texas State Senate

See also: Texas state legislative special elections, 2020

General election

Special general election for Texas State Senate District 14

The following candidates ran in the special general election for Texas State Senate District 14 on July 14, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sarah Eckhardt (D)	49.7	60,531
		Eddie Rodriguez (D)	33.9	41,202
		Donald Zimmerman (R)	12.9	15,753
	Submit photo	Waller Thomas Burns II (R)	1.2	1,464
		Jeff Ridgeway (Independent)	1.2	1,410
		Pat Dixon (L)	1.1	1,323

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 121,683
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Texas House of Representatives

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Texas House of Representatives District 47

Incumbent Vikki Goodwin defeated Justin Berry and Michael Clark in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 47 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Vikki Goodwin (D)	49.3	66,816
		Justin Berry (R)	48.3	65,474
	Submit photo	Michael Clark (L)	2.4	3,311

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 135,601
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 47

Justin Berry defeated Jennifer Fleck in the Republican primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 47 on July 14, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Justin Berry	54.7	6,418
		Jennifer Fleck	45.3	5,319

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,737
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 47

Incumbent Vikki Goodwin advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 47 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Vikki Goodwin	100.0	30,089

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 30,089
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 47

Jennifer Fleck and Justin Berry advanced to a runoff. They defeated Donald Zimmerman, Aaron Reitz, and Jennifer Forgey in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 47 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer Fleck	32.1	5,766
✔		Justin Berry	22.9	4,105
		Donald Zimmerman	22.9	4,104
		Aaron Reitz	15.2	2,733
		Jennifer Forgey	6.8	1,228

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 17,936
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Texas House of Representatives District 47

Michael Clark advanced from the Libertarian convention for Texas House of Representatives District 47 on March 21, 2020.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Michael Clark (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Municipal elections in Austin, Texas (2016)

The city of Austin, Texas, held elections for city council on November 8, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was August 22, 2016. Five of the ten city council seats were up for election. James Flannigan defeated incumbent Donald S. Zimmerman in the Austin City Council District 6 general election.

Austin City Council, District 6 General Election, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
James Flannigan	55.94%	15,440
Donald S. Zimmerman Incumbent	44.06%	12,159
Total Votes		27,599
Source: "Travis County", "Travis County Election Results", accessed November 8, 2016

Endorsements

Zimmerman received endorsements from the following in 2016:

• Austin Firefighters Association
• Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
• Travis County Republican Party

2014

See also: Austin, Texas municipal elections, 2014.

The city of Austin held elections for city council on November 4, 2014. The candidate filing deadline was August 18, 2014. Because of redistricting and term limits, there was no incumbent for District 6. The candidates were James T. Flannigan, Mackenzie Kelly, Lloyd "Pete" Phillips Jr., Matt Stillwell, Jay Wiley and Donald S. Zimmerman. Because no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote in the general election, the top two vote-getters - Flannigan and Zimmerman - faced each other in a runoff election on December 16, 2014. Zimmerman was the winner.

Austin City Council, District 6, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Donald S. Zimmerman	51.2%	4,012
James T. Flannigan	48.8%	3,821
Total Votes		7,833
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Runoff Election Results

Austin City Council, District 6, 2014
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
James T. Flannigan	24%	3,702
Donald S. Zimmerman	24.2%	3,729
Mackenzie Kelly	9%	1,382
Lloyd "Pete" Phillips Jr.	4.6%	704
Matt Stillwell	15.4%	2,366
Jay Wiley	22.8%	3,513
Total Votes		11,883
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

Endorsements

Zimmerman received endorsements from the following in 2014:

• Travis County Republican Party

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Donald Zimmerman did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Donald Zimmerman did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Donald Zimmerman did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2016

Zimmerman's 2016 campaign website highlighted the following proposals:

“

TAX INCENTIVES FOR ALL RESOLUTION: 'The Austin City Council, elected servants and city government employees, shall diligently work to amend the City Charter. The Charter prohibits the City from providing tax incentives, deferred tax payments, or any other tax reductions, which are not equally applied to all Austin businesses and city property owners.' Austin City government's corporate subsidies, such as: the as The Domain (Neiman Marcus, et. al) Development (subject of a November, 2008 opposition proposal), and more recent incentives to Apple Computer and the Formula-1 compound, (which voters had no voice in), are contributing to unaffordable rents and home mortage in Austin. On principle, 'equal treatment under the law', is violated by city politicians and bureaucrats with their special interest lobbies. When certain businesses receive reduced taxes at the expense of higher tax bills for Austinites, how is that serving the People?! These special tax favors empower the politicians, bureaucrats, and their entrenched lobby interests. The new City Council has a historic opportunity to put an end to the cronyism that will only grow, if this power is not revoked. Mere lip service is paid to the fact that "small business is the engine of job growth and prosperity"; the tax incentives favoring large corporations come at the expense of these smaller businesses, some of which have already closed, or left Austin. My campaign invites other candidates to endorse our Resolution, or introduce their own specific proposal to end this unaffordable, and possibly illegal, practice of unequal, preferential tax treatment for the those with political power, at the cost of the powerless.

”

“

MAX HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION RESOLUTION: 'The City Council, elected servants, and city government employees, shall diligently work to accomplish the maximum 20% homestead exemption allowed by state law'. I note that the Austin city government is an unequal taxing entity, with respect to homestead exemptions. Austinites for Zimmerman is calling for the new City Council candidates to endorse and implement Dr. Laura Pressley's homestead exemption plan (the 'Pressley Plan'), or a similar plan. Regrettably, some Austin residents have already been taxed out of their homes, but we can and must reverse this trend for the generation to come. After the homestead exemption is put into place, the city government should look for ways to extend tax savings to all renters and business owners, as well.

”

“

'ROADS, NOT RAIL' RESOLUTION: 'The City Council, elected servants, and city government employees shall diligently work with Texas Department of Transportation and various traffic engineering consultants to maximize return on investment for taxpayer-funded city wide road expansion, and will stop spending taxpayers' money on pro-rail political campaigns disguised as "mobility studies"'. A solidly engineered expansion of a well-designed road system benefits everyone: fire, police and EMS responders, service technicians such as your A/C or plumbing experts, buses and carpooling and rideshares, work and pleasure commuters, etc. Only God may help you if you have an emergency at 5:00 PM, because responders won't get there soon enough with Austin's traffic! Rail primarily benefits special interest developers, large construction companies, bond brokers, attorneys, and others who will profit immensely. The vast majority of Austinites will not benefit from the urban rail, especially residents of District 6. Of course, the city truly needs efficient, affordable transportation, but we must allocate funds to the Austin areas that desperately need it, as indicated by real traffic engineering studies. Erase the 'Downtown Frown' by defeating the urban rail referendum! I agree with Travis County Taxpayer Union analyst, Roger Falk, and the Coalition On Sustainable Transportation (COST) Director, Jim Skaggs, and other transportation experts regarding Austin's mobility. Austin hassles with the worst traffic congestion in Texas, and rail will fail to alleviate that congestion! My education and expertise for solving complex, technical problems on limited budgets/ schedules allows me to enthusiastically ,and effectively promote traffic engineering solutions. Any effective mobility plan should meet the following goals: Meaningfully, address traffic congestion Serve the most citizens Create solutions for all parts of town Capitalize on existing right of way and infrastructure Be cost effective Have forward vision that can embrace future technologies Project Connects' Urban Rail fails to meet ANY of them, and is even opposed by many rail proponents! If elected, I will work with traffic engineers to bring specific proposals, like an east-west Austin freeway, and improve North-South Austin traffic flow for the notoriously congested US-183, Loop 360, and RR 620.

”

2014

Zimmerman's 2014 campaign website listed the same issues he emphasizes in his 2016 campaign.

See also

2024 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. President U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	Austin City Council, District 6 2015-2017	Succeeded by James Flannigan