City Council's Place 2 and Place 6 seats – have each traditionally been held by a Latino and African-American candidate, respectively, in an archaic "gentleman's agreement" preventing single-member districts. But in today's multifaceted municipal arena, their current occupants, Mike Martinez and Sheryl Cole, are positioned to lead all of Austin and balance the concerns of Austin's oft-neglected minorities. Martinez busted the paradigm as president of the Austin Firefighters Association and has continued to make waves. Cole, the first black female council member, won funding to combat sickle-cell anemia and was the most reasoned voice of moderation in setting our city budget.
