Fedson selected for council seat

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 26, 1999

In a decision Mayor Bonnie Rietz and Austin City Council members described as "a tough one", Neil Fedson was selected to fill the 1st Ward council seat vacated by Roberto Romo earlier in the month.

Tuesday, October 26, 1999

In a decision Mayor Bonnie Rietz and Austin City Council members described as "a tough one", Neil Fedson was selected to fill the 1st Ward council seat vacated by Roberto Romo earlier in the month.

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In the final round of voting, Fedson received four votes, Janet Anderson two and Geoff Baker one. That was after a round in which council members and the mayor each named their top three – out of seven – choices. Council members Dick Chaffee, Dick Lang, Jeanne Poppe and Mayor Rietz cast their final votes in Fedson’s favor, with Gloria Nordin and Todd Penske voting for Janet Anderson and Mickey Jorgenson for Geoff Baker. Other candidates in the running for the interim appointment included Rodd Boyken, John Howley, David Solomonson and Harry Willmott.

Fedson will be officially appointed at the council’s Nov. 1 meeting, and will occupy the seat until the winner of the 2000 election takes over.

Fedson said last night that he was "thrilled and honored."

Now if the retired 43-year Hormel employee and former KAUS color-man could only get over the flu, he could really celebrate.

During the interview, Fedson ranked his top three priorities as downtown preservation, Riverside Arena – he was on the advisory committee when Riverside was built – and the Paramount Theatre. He thought his ability to organize and work with people would help him as a council member, and considered being accessible the most important trait of a council member. Looking into things before making a decision was also very important, he said.

"I’m elated and surprised – there were a lot of good candidates," Fedson said after getting the news Monday night. "No, I won’t be attacking any particular issue immediately, I just want to get my feet wet and learn at first … I’m thrilled with the council as it is. They’ve kept the tax rates down, and I want to continue to be a part of that."

It was Fedson’s second run in as many months at a city government position; he also applied for the Austin Utilities Board of Commissioners position left open by the death of Richard Baudler earlier this year.

Fedson has lived in Austin since the fall of 1949, when he moved here after graduating from Lyle High School. He and his high school sweetheart wife Gloria raised three children here: Janet, Julie and Jim. He said he’s had an interest in city government for a number of years.