Better Austin Today
Board of Directors
** All mention of affiliations is for identification purposes only.  Better Austin Today is an independent, community-based coalition of individuals with an independent general purpose political action committee. 

Mary Arnold is long-time Austin community leader committed to sound planning and environmental protection.  Mary currently serves as a board member of the Waterfront Planning Advisory Board, and of Save Muny.  She is also a board member of the West Austin Neighborhood Group and member at large on the Golf Advisory Board. Mary is a past member of Austin’s Planning Commission, Parks Board, Water and Wastewater Commission, and Environmental Board.  Mary also previously served on the board of the Save Our Springs Alliance and the Hill Country Conservancy.   She has an undergraduate Plan II degree and a Masters in Government from The University of Texas at Austin.

Bill Bunch has practiced environmental law in Austin for over 20 years.  He is Executive Director of the Save Our Springs Alliance and currently serves as the social chair for the Zilker Neighborhood Association.  Bill was a co-founder of the Save Our Springs Coalition and co-author of Austin’s voter-initiated Save Our Springs ordinance.

Scooter Cheatham is an architect, planner, photographer, and artist with bachelor’s degrees in architecture and a master’s in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a former planner with the Texas General Land Office and was co-director of the Matagorda Bay Estuarine Resource Management Project, an interdisciplinary project for development of land management policy for the Texas gulf coast. He produced the first environmental analysis of the Bull Creek Watershed, co-authored the original Hyde Park Neighborhood Plan of 1984, and authored other neighborhood plans. He is founder and president of Useful wild Plants, Inc., a groundbreaking regional economic botany study of the botanical resources of the southern United States and northern Mexico. He is currently the president of Responsible Growth for Windsor Park Neighborhood.

Jim Duncan is president of a consulting firm that specializes in revising zoning codes for a national public clientele. He started his career as a city planner with the City of Austin in 1961 after graduating from UT and was the City's land development services director in the early 1980s. It was during his tenure with the City that the comprehensive watershed, neighborhood compatibility, capital view protection, parkland dedication and hill country roadway ordinances were all adopted. He is also a past president of the American Planning Association and co-author of "Growth Management Principles and Practices." 
  
Richard Franklin is a married father of four who spent 11 years in the Air Force as a Military Training Instructor, an Avionics Technician and an Air Traffic Controller. He has owned nightclubs and restaurants and most recently has been a financial advisor for 5 years. Richard served as the president of the Black Austin Democrats for two years and was the Vice-Chair for Membership for the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats. Currently Richard serves on the steering committee for Austin's Center for Peace and Justice, and on the board of the Downtown Lions Club and Texas ACLU.

Jeff Jack is an Architect who has made Austin his home since 1984. His architectural practice has included projects all over the United States from Anchorage Alaska to Miami Florida, New York to California.  And he has completed projects in over a dozen cities here in Texas. He has been actively involved with community affairs since the late 1980's, has served on many community advisory groups and task forces representing neighborhood interest continually over the years.  Jeff worked for the Austin City Council as a policy adviser to council member Beverly Griffith, and now serves on The Board of Adjustment for the City of Austin and on the Stakeholder Committee: City of Austin Town Lake Park Project..  Jeff is an advocate for managing Austin's growth to ensure that we retain our special character, preserve our environment, protect our residential neighborhoods and develop a sustainable economic policy for the future that keeps Austin affordable to those who live here today.

Daniel Llanes is a Texas Performance Artist / Producer / Teacher / Folk healer / Activist /Father. Daniel is longtime neighborhood, environmental and social justice leader. Since 1980 Daniel has served on many boards and associations. Currently he serves as Chair River Bluff Neighborhood Association, Coordinator Govalle/Johnston Terrace Comprehensive Planning Team, Head keeper for Keepers of Roy Guerrero Colorado River Park & Oak Springs Preserve, Southwest Key Programs Community Empowerment Initiative, Coordinator for the East Austin Vota Campaign and the East Austin Leadership Development Program.

Peggy Maceo is a long-time Austin resident and the owner of an art/exhibit business. Peggy is active in environmental, neighborhood and animal issues. She is Director of Huntington’s Disease Association of Texas, serves on the Urban Forestry Board and the executive council of the Allandale Neighborhood Association. Peggy received her undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from the University of Texas.

Lynn Marshall is the secretary-treasurer and research coordinator of Useful Wild Plants, a regional economic botany study of the botanical resources of the southern United States and northern Mexico. Lynn’s community involvement includes serving as Vice President of the contact team for the University Hills Neighborhood Association, Secretary of Responsible Growth for Windsor Park Neighborhood Association and consultation on various residential and commercial native landscape projects. Lynn received her undergraduate degree from University of Texas.

Sandy McMillan is an Austin community advocate dedicated to protecting Austin’s neighborhoods via community-driven planning principles and environmental stewardship. Currently she serves as the Vice Chair of the Dawson Neighborhood Plan Team (DNPT) and the President of the Dawson Neighborhood Association (DNA). She served two terms as the Secretary for both the DNA and the DNPT. She represents Dawson at the Austin Neighborhoods Council South Central Coalition Sector. Sandy was also one of six finalists for the two Neighborhood Advisor positions with the City of Austin. She is an independent visual artist and a member of several arts organizations. Sandy has a B.A. in Fine Art, an M.A. in Sociology and is an ABD PhD. in Urban Studies, all from the University of New Orleans.

Sunny Ogunro has been a small business owner in Austin for the past twenty plus years. Sunny is a City of Austin Immigrant Affairs Commissioner, Treasurer of Outreach Productions and member of NEABACA.

Brian Rodgers is a local real estate investor who led the effort to repeal city tax subsidies for the Domain Shopping Mall. Current efforts involve exposing the true cost of growth and requiring that more of those costs be paid by those who benefit, and pressing for more accurate commercial property appraisals at the Travis Central Appraisal District. Past efforts involved campaign finance reform at the city and open records.

S. J. (Buddy) Ruiz is the owner/senior consultant of a small local consulting business in Austin. He is currently the president of the Soft Wind Circle Neighborhood Association and member of the South Austin Democrats Executive Committee.  Buddy is a former commissioner of the Austin Energy Utility Commission and former commissioner of the Austin Human Relations Committee.

Debbie Russell has engaged in many coalition-building efforts on a local and regional level with a broad range of communities and on a variety of issue fronts. She has worked on many candidate campaigns and issue ballot measures.  Debbie currently serves as co-chair of the board of the Central Texas chapter of the ACLU-TX, focusing on police accountability and open government and was a member of the City of Austin's recent Public Safety Task Force.  She has been voted Austin's "Most Active Activist" in the Austin Chronicle's "Best of 2005"; received the first-ever ACLU-TX "Outstanding Activist" award in 2009 and in March, 2010, will receive a coveted "Si Se Puede" award from PODER: People in Defense of the Earth and Her Resources.


Patricia Seeger is a local Real Estate Broker and long-time children's rights advocate. For many years she worked at protecting at-risk youth as a community liaison with the local probation department and Children's Shelter. Since moving to Austin in 2003, Patricia focused on responsible growth and property owner's rights. Currently she serves as a City of Austin Zoning and Platting Commissioner and Secretary of the Jester Homeowners' Association. Patricia has an undergraduate degree in business management from St Mary’s College.

Steve Speir is a thirty-year resident of Austin and a UT graduate. He has an extensive background working in state and national politics within the Democratic Party and has served as chief of staff and legislative director for two state representatives.  As a resident of Windsor Park, Steve has seen firsthand the failure of the city neighborhood planning process. 

Marcelo Tafoya is a 48 year resident of Austin. Marcelo is very active in the community serving on or associated with thirteen boards and associations including Co-chair of the LULAC National Civil Rights Committee and LULAC District 12, Director; Co-founder of Austin Tejano Music Coalition and the Tejano Artist Music Museum; and Treasurer, Fair Vote PAC of Austin. Marcelo is a Pecan Springs Neighborhood Assn. member where he serves on the neighborhood Safety Taskforce.

Terry Tevis is a current Board member of Mesa Park Neighborhood Association and on the Austin Neighborhood Council Executive Committee – Sector 1 (Northwest Austin) Representative. Terry also serves as the ANC representative to Texas Neighborhoods Together

Carol Torgrimson is a retired business consultant, former community newspaper publisher, and longtime community advocate. She has worked on behalf of affordable housing, disadvantaged populations and public libraries. Since returning to Texas, Carol has been involved with neighborhood preservation and responsible development. She currently serves on the City of Austin Comprehensive Plan Citizens Advisory Task Force and as Vice President for Transportation of 2222 Coalition of Neighborhood Associations.

Roy Waley, a native of Central Texas, has been an Austin realtor for 15 years.  He is a former president of the North Wood NA and an initial member of the Austin Metropolitan Trails Council.  Currently Roy serves as Vice Chair of the Austin Regional Group of the Sierra Club.

Advisory Board

Hill Abell is owner of the Bicycle Sportshop on South Lamar.  Hill helped launch the Texas Bicycle Coalition and is Past Board Chair of the International Mountain Bicycling. Hill is an advocate for trail access to public lands and a member of the Zilker NA.

Johnny Barnett is the founder of local business advocacy and marketing company Austin Unique and is a long time Save Our Springs Alliance volunteer

Harold Daniel is a customer support engineer for a local software developer.  He has been active in Austin's environmental community since 2001, including serving as President of Save Barton Creek Association in 2005 and 2006.  He is co-owner of AustinAction.org, which has helped to provide web resources to several community groups since 2003.

Lee Daniel is a cinematographer and co-founder of the Austin Film Society.  Lee is best known for his work with Austin filmmaker Richard Linklater, from Slacker and Dazed and Confused to Fast Food Nation.  Lee is also known for his documentary work, including Margeret Brown’s Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt, and Laura Dunn’s “The Unforeseen.”

Seth Fowler

David Kobierowski has built a successful corporate career in technology consulting for over 14 years. Outside of his career, David is actively involved in the Austin Community as a community organizer and activist. He's a talk show host on KOOP Community Radio, producer of a Public Access Community TV show TruthAustin, board member of the ACLU of Central Texas, Co-Chair of 1st Unitarian Universalist Church Public Affairs Forum, Board member of True Blue 10, Democratic Precinct Chair #262, and Co-Founder of Texans for Obama.

Fred Lewis is the founder and President of Texans Together Education Fund, Inc. He has worked as a public interest attorney, campaign finance reform advocate, non-profit leader, and community organizer. He also has worked as a volunteer leader in numerous political campaigns.

Tim Mahoney is an attorney, mediator, and organizer who has been active in Austin politics for the last 30 years– observing the legislature, watching City Hall and advocating for citizen interests.  Tim was a journalist under Jim Hightower at the Texas Observer, where he won some national awards for economic reporting.  He is a former member of the Austin Neighborhoods Council Executive Committee Tim received a Master’s degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs in 1982, with a Master’s thesis entitled A Case Study of Decentralized Power Systems and Municipal Politics, Austin, Texas; 1979 to 1981.

Karen Renick

Lisette Schmidli is a resident of the Glenlake neighborhood and is a Board member of the 2222 CONA (Coalition of Neighborhood Associations).  Lisette is a former professional Girl Scout.  Lisette has lived in Austin for twenty-six years and is dedicated to building an activated and cohesive community.

Clinton Smith is Co-convener, Gray Panthers (of Austin: Mem, Nat'l Bd), TX since 2000.  He is retired from the Federal Service (1962 - '82), Washington, D.C., Executive Staff, U.S. Civil Service Commission, Dallas/Chicago Rgn'l Investigations Div(s)., U.S. Office of Mgt/Budget, the North Carolina State Gov't (1982-90), and the Texas TX Employment and Workforce Commission (1993-96).  In Austin Clinton has served on the Boards of Family Eldercare; HousingWorks; Campaigns for People, Austin Area Human Services Ass'n, Community Action Network, and the Central Texas Chapter of the ACLU.  Clinton served in U.S. Marine Corp. military police, 1957-60, and holds a Bachelors Degree in Education from Lincoln University. 

Randall Terrell is a recovering lawyer in Austin formerly focusing on Administrative Law and Open Government issues. Now, he is the Political Director for Equality Texas, the statewide LGBT rights organization. He has previously been the Chair of the Cherrywood Neighborhood Steering Committee, and is currently the CNA's representative to the Austin Neighborhoods Council. He is married with two children, one of whom attends Maplewood Elementary School.
 
Kenneth Thompson Sr. is a graduate of Southwest Institute of Technology.  Kenneth is a former Board President of the Board of Pflugerville Independent School District, where he was the first African American elected to political office in the Pflugerville community. Kenneth currently serves as Director of the East Austin Youth Foundation, and Board President of ANewEntry, LLC. Kenneth hosts a local morning radio talk show “The Wake-Up Call, and the evening talk show “The DadShow”. Kenneth is an active member of the Region 7 State Advisory Committee addressing Disproportionality within the CPS and Foster Care system.