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Austin has long since been perceived as a town of creative innovators. Given the City’s recent regulatory attempts with the sharing and gig economy (Uber, AirBnB, Scooters), what is your position on how the City should handle emerging technologies and emerging markets? What is your view, generally, on the conflict between consumer demands and government interests? Similarly, when non-profits secure grant funding for innovative social solutions that requires a local match, what is your view on city funding being available for the match?

Frank Ward III

City Council, District 8

By and large, government needs to get out of the way and let the free market do its job. In limited circumstances, grand funding matches from the city could make sense, but generally speaking, as a city, we should emphasize the value of public-private partnerships and other innovative funding mechanisms that don’t put taxpayers on the hook for spending that may not even benefit them.

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