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Robert Atkins Walker
Robert Atkins Walker was a candidate for District 10 of the Austin City Council in Texas. He was defeated in the general election on November 8, 2016.[1]
Biography
Walker obtained a B.A. in economics from Rice University, an M.B.A. in finance from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in taxation, finance, and insurance from the University of Texas, Austin.[2]
As of his run for city council in 2016, Walker was managing director of his own accounting firm, Robert Atkins Walker PC. His professional experience also includes work as a professor at Point Loma Nazarene University, an assistant professor at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, the chief financial officer of the scientific laser company Molectron Corporation, and a vice president and general manager at the drilling equipment company Walker Hydrill.[2]
Campaign themes
2016
Walker's 2016 campaign website highlighted the following issues:
| “ |
Vote No on the Mobility BondI stand firmly against the $720 Million Dollar Mobility Bond, as it is too costly, does not focus on traffic congestion, and also will raise taxes. (Read More) Fiscal SanityIt is time for us to get our Fiscal House in order at City Hall, and past time to reduce property taxes, streamline the budget, and focus on civic priorities. It is a matter of needs vs wants, and with the heavy tax burden Austinites are facing, we can do better. Austin can provide vital resources towards the infrastructure a growing city needs, while still tightening our belt. (Read More) The Austin Oaks PUD and The Grove PUDI believe we need to scale back these projects in a significant way, as currently laid out they will cause massive amounts of congestion, increasing traffic and frustration for our citizens. (Read More) Support Return of Uber/Lyft and Free Market, Safe Ridesharing for AustinThe City Council’s decision to essentially force Uber/Lyft out of Austin was not only a bad one, but will have negative consequences for Austin as a whole. Uber/Lyft, and Free Market, Safe Ridesharing is a win/win for the citizens of Austin, as well as helps to create jobs. Since Uber/Lyft were forced to leave Austin, there has been a black market that has risen up of providers, and the absence of the free market, prices have risen dramatically, and there are more people out on the roads driving while under the influence, which is a huge public safety issue for our families. Support Parks to Promote Healthy CommunitiesAustin is not only the greatest place to live in Texas and America, but is also the most beautiful city. A vital part of our amazing city is the vibrant Parks system we have. There can definitely be a balance struck between sensible growth and insuring there is ample room for parks, which lead to a much better quality of life for all Austinites. Giving our families clean, safe and beautiful places to play, connect with neighbors, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings is a must, and I will fight to make sure we strike the proper balance in a free market society. Prioritize Public SafetyIt is extremely important to focus the budget on civic priorities, and by doing so, there is ample room to fund our Public Safety to keep Austin families safe. Our Emergency Response Personnel deserve to have the training, equipment, and resources to keep up with a fast growth area like Austin, and when City Hall focuses on budget priorities (needs) vs wants, then there is not a shortage of funds to maintain top notch units across our Public Safety community. Increase Transparency, Accountability and Fiscal Stewardship at City HallThe citizens of Austin deserve to know how and where their hard earned money is spent. People live very busy lives, and very few have lots of time to seek the information we should make readily available to them. People that run for public office should be held accountable by their constituents to live up to the pledges they make during campaign season. There is little doubt we must streamline the budget, focus available money on vital resources, and then tighten our belts just like Austin families are forced to do. As a City Council Member, I will make a concerted effort to communicate with my constituents, and to properly explain my votes. I seek to serve as a means to give back to my community, and not to enrich myself, or to move up the political ladder.[3][4] |
” |
Elections
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.[5] Incumbent Sheri P. Gallo and Alison Alter defeated Robert Atkins Walker and Nicholas Virden in the Austin City Council District 10 general election.[6]
| Austin City Council, District 10 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Sheri P. Gallo Incumbent |
48.22% | 17,569 |
| Alison Alter |
35.52% | 12,943 |
| Robert Atkins Walker | 14.10% | 5,137 |
| Nicholas Virden | 2.15% | 785 |
| Total Votes | 36,434 | |
| Source: "Travis County", "Travis County Election Results", accessed November 8, 2016 | ||
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Walker has taught Sunday School and coached softball. He has also been active in Boy Scouts and the Estate Planning Council of Central Texas.[7]
Walker and his wife, Janet, have two children, Lydia and Sam.[7]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Robert Atkins Walker Austin. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
- Campaign website
- Social media:
Footnotes
- ↑ City of Austin, "Order of Place on the Ballot for General Election to Be Held on November 8, 2016," accessed September 29, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 LinkedIn, "Rob Walker," accessed September 30, 2016
- ↑ Rob Walker, "Issues," accessed September 30, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ City of Austin, "City of Austin Election Calendar," accessed February 25, 2016
- ↑ City of Austin, "Ballot Applications - November 2016 Election," accessed August 23, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Robert Atkins Walker PC, "Bio," accessed September 30, 2016
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