Candidate profile: Alex Mayfield, for City Council

Alex Mayfield entered to run for Austin City Council because he wanted to help Austin’s commercial centers thrive.

“I want to see Austin’s downtown do a lot better,” he said. “I think we’re doing good, but I think we can do better.”

Mayfield, 24, said he originally planned to run for mayor, but the race was a little crowded. Instead, he filed for council member at large Monday. He now runs against incumbent Janet Anderson.

He said the best way to encourage growth downtown is to bring in retailers.

“I want to see more business come into downtown,” he said. “And I’d like to see the mall do better.”

Mayfield said he’s still deciding what other changes he would like to see, and he hasn’t yet looked into the community betterment project Vision 2020. For now, he plans to see what voters are concerned about.

“I plan on connecting with them by talking with them and listening,” he said. “It’s amazing what people can tell you when you just listen.”

Mayfield moved to Austin in 2002. Before that, he lived in Waseca and in Steel County. After graduating from Austin High School in 2007, Mayfield attended Riverland Community College from 2007 to 2009 then Minnesota State University in Mankato from 2009 until earlier this year. He currently is back at Riverland, where he studies math. He plans on transferring and studying political science.

Mayfield said he hasn’t had any experience in government before, but he participated in student-elected bodies in college.

“I was a member of the Residence Hall Association,” he said. “I approved or disapproved of money being allocated for events.” Matters of business at the association could include anything from parties a resident hall wanted to hold to what issues or projects that needed financial backing. Mayfield spent a year on the association.

Mayfield said he’s looking for work.