Experienced. Thoughtful. Visionary.
Vote for Katie Kam. Dedicated to:
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Accountability & Fiscal Responsibility
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Delivery of Results that Improve Everyday Quality of Life
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Collaboration & Meaningful Public Engagement
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Enhancing Creative Arts, Environmental Sustainability, and Austin's Culture
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Public & Transportation Safety
MEET KATIE
An Austin resident since 1983, I grew up in northwest Austin and raised my family in West Campus, Downtown, UT student family housing, Bouldin, Allandale, and Mueller. I have navigated life through the city’s evolution and economic ups and downs. I understand, from that lived experience, what is at stake.
The city’s constant change inspired my education and career choices. I chose to become a biologist (1996), an urban planner at the city (1999), an Austin ISD high school science teacher (2007-2009), and a civil and transportation engineer (2009-present) to be an integral part of helping my beloved Austin. I earned five degrees (four from UT-Austin), including a Master’s in Community & Regional Planning and PhD in civil engineering to understand the social, economic, and engineering challenges cities face. I am inquisitive and driven, qualities needed in a City Council member.
I’ve been a local business owner, start-up founder, published university researcher, community advocate, and practitioner working in the public and private sector in planning, civil engineering, and science. As a result, I bring a much-needed blend of real-world experience and technical expertise, which is invaluable in my role as facilitator and advocate for the district and city.
My more than 28 years of professional experience includes being a City of Austin employee for eight years in development review, planning, and capital delivery and an assistant director managing a $190+ million transportation, parks, and drainage capital projects program for the City of Pflugerville. I saved the City of Pflugerville millions of dollars by eliminating unnecessary consulting costs, implementing more efficient processes, and improving designs of infrastructure projects. As an example of my experience developing win-win solutions with the community, in response to neighborhood concerns about spillover parking, I initiated the City of Austin parking benefit district program (i.e., parking and transportation management district, PTMD) to have parking meter revenues dedicated to neighborhood improvements.
I have the knowledge from working “inside” the city bureaucracy on how the city works (and does not work). I know what citizens need in a City Council member to ensure accountability and results.
