Commissioner Biographies

DISTRICT 1

Commissioner Errol L. Hardin

Errol Hardin is a native Austinite, who attended Austin public schools and graduated from Reagan High School. He earned a doctorate of education in Organizational Leadership and a master’s in Christian Ministry from Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ and bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Concordia University in Austin. Hardin has worked in government sector since 2000 in Human Resources Development, Training Manager/Human Resources Management and Employee Relations. He worked for Motorola Semiconductors for 20 years. Hardin also served on the Board of Directors for Austin Habitat for Humanity 1997-2001. Hardin said, “District 1 is an oasis of rolling hills, creeks and natural wooded thickets that are a key component of Austin’s green canopy, and still ripe for exploration by kids who enjoy the outdoors. The municipal parks and school playgrounds add to the family friendly environment. It is a diverse community in which people from various backgrounds come together as stewards of the areas resources. I love that District 1 still has a number of neighborhoods that still have a small town feel, in the midst of Austin’s overall urban maturity.”

Commissioner Selina Yee

Selina Yee’s completion of the 2019 Austin CityWorks Academy Program inspired her application to the Austin Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission where she was selected to join by the commission’s first eight members. Yee has worked in sales and marketing in media, publishing and AdTech/MarTech for the last 20 years. She is an avid pool player and plant mom. Some of her favorite activities in District 1 include, jogging at the Boggy Creek, Walnut Creek and Little Walnut Creek Greenbelts or in her neighborhood of North Acres where she lives a mile away from her mother and brother, checking out an outdoor movie at Community First Village and listening to music at Skylark Lounge.

DISTRICT 2

Commissioner Sara Inés Calderón

Sara Inés Calderón has been a resident of District 2 since 2014 when she came back to live in Austin for the second time, previously she worked at ¡ahora sí! at The Austin American-Statesman. Since coming back she’s made Austin her home, working at various tech startups in town, as well as working with community and non-profit organizations to invite more people of color to consider careers in technology. Her favorite things about living in District 2 are, above all, how awesome her neighbors are and that there is a sense of community tied to the area. Some of her favorite District 2 hot spots include: Taquería Arandinas, The Little Darlin’, China Harbor, Mornin’ Donuts, El Pollo Rico, and there are tons of other great places that just happen to be across the street in other districts.

DISTRICT 3

Commissioner Hoang Le

Hoang Le has lived in three different neighborhoods in District 3 – the Riverside/Montopolis area, Congress/Ben White area and Chicon/4th area. Le enjoys frequenting the late-night food trucks on East Riverside, and exploring the Southshore District. He likes the trails and paths along the Colorado River, the quiet, serene scenery and the Longhorn Dam. Some of his favorite things of District 3 are all that the East downtown has to offer from the bars and restaurants to the eclectic homes and neighborhoods and all the things that Roy Guerrero Park area offers like disc golf, secret beach, volleyball courts, baseball fields, etc.

Commissioner Brigham Morris

Brigham Morris has lived in District 3 since 2007, a landscape that has evolved over the 14 years he has resided in the neighborhood. District 3 is Morris’s favorite because it is a gateway to the rest of the city from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA). It has so much to offer from Roy G. Guerrero Park to the Boardwalk to the hidden Riverside ranchettes where Sam Grey Horse regularly rides his mules down the road. Morris appreciates the rich history of the area and, albeit waning, diversity that District 3 brings to Austin.

DISTRICT 4

Commissioner Sterling Lands II

Sterling Lands II, a senior pastor of Greater Calvary Bible Church, is a civil rights and community activist, youth advocate, and author. He participated in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. He has been active in the NAACP, Operation Push and is a member of the Warrior Gospel Band. Born in Baton Rouge, LA, Lands has a doctorate of Divinity degree from Master’s International School of Divinity. He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Southern University School of Engineering in Baton Rouge, LA. Lands moved to Austin in the fall of 1984 where he continued his crusade for justice, quality education and equity for African Americans. Lands founded the Eastside Social Action Coalition in 2000, which is just one of numerous coalitions he spearheaded and engaged in protests for equal rights.

DISTRICT 5

Commissioner Prabhu Kannan

Prabhu Kannan has over 20 years of experience leading teams and influencing meaningful change. He is passionate about giving back to the community and bringing together people, technology and thought to deliver solutions and services to help others. He is a motorcycle enthusiast, and a fan of the outdoors who loves camping, spending time with family and is always equipped with a camera to capture life’s moments. Some of things Kannan likes to do in District 5 are watch original events at the Zach Theatre, Long Center or Zilker’s Auditorium Shores, hit the Barton Creek Greenbelt early for a hike with friends, family and pups then grab tacos after at one of the local triple T’s – Trippys, Torchy’s or Taco Deli or chill at the Barton Springs Pool, go to Tom’s roasters or Jo’s for coffee and snap a picture with the Greetings From Austin mural and visit South Congress and South First streets when they have great events showcasing the best of Austin artists, jewelry designers, and craftsmen.

DISTRICT 6

Commissioner Eugene Schneider

Eugene (Gene) Schneider retired to Austin in 2008. He earned a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, and a master’s degree in English from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree in English from St. Louis University. He spent his 44-year working career in public education, primarily as a community college instructor and administrator in Kansas, Colorado and Arkansas, with additional experience in Missouri and Minnesota. He was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania, East Africa. Since retiring to Austin, Gene has participated in many community education and service organizations working to achieve access, equity, opportunity and justice for all residents. He considers serving as an ICRC commissioner to be a unique chance to further those causes, and believes that knowledge and accurate information are among the most critical tools for reaching those goals.

DISTRICT 7

Commissioner Camellia Falcon

Camellia Falcon is a fierce advocate for equality and the dignity of life. Falcon began working with community groups and scholars to study anti-racist theory, facilitate discussion groups and be an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community, while working as a management and financial consultant to public and private entities in the U.S. and abroad. As a manager, one of her proudest moments was helping an employee complete her gender transition in the workplace. Falcon studied engineering at Princeton and Public Policy at the University of Texas LBJ School. She is a member of the Austin Junior League, serves on the Princeton Club of Austin Board, the St. Austin School Board, and finds joy in the relationships she has with her several adopted siblings.

Chair, Christina Liu Puentes

Christina Liu Puentes, who chairs the commission, resides in District 7 and has lived in Austin for over ten years. She is a former elementary and high school teacher and a proud alumna of The University of Texas at Austin. She advocates for equity and accountability in the arenas of K-12 education and campaign finance reform. Her involvement in and co-founding of various community coalitions in Austin demonstrates her passion of working with local and state government to build equity through community engagement. She has a supportive partner and two dogs that enjoy long walks at Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park. Some of her favorite activities in District 7 are dining along Burnet Road, touring the breweries along Braker by the Q2 Stadium and protecting the guineas of Gracy Farms.

DISTRICT 8

Commissioner Joshua Blank

Joshua Blank is the research director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. He has a doctoral degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Boston University. Blank has played a primary role in most of the major public statewide polls conducted in Texas since 2011, including the University of Texas/Texas Tribune and Texas Lyceum Polls.

DISTRICT 9

Commissioner Shaina Kambo

Shaina Kambo, who is the student representative on the commission, is a resident of District 9 who is serving as the student member of the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. Enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin as a Geography and Sustainability Studies major, she is a graduate of Austin Community College where she served in the ACC Student Government and developed a love for public service. Kambo is passionate about facilitating fair redistricting procedures that will help to serve the unique needs of Austin’s diverse and vibrant communities. Some of her favorite activities to do in District 9 include attending events on the UT campus, taking short bus rides downtown to the innovative Central Library and TownLake YMCA and spending time with family and friends by Lady Bird Lake either kayaking or traversing the neighboring Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.

DISTRICT 10

Commissioner Erin Dempsey

Erin Dempsey is an activist, attorney, former small business owner and mother of two daughters. She spent the first 18 years of her career practicing law in various large U.S. law firms as a commercial real estate attorney, and in 2017 she co-founded Bess & George, a women’s lifestyle and clothing company located in Austin. She is one of seventy women leaders comprising the 2021 Cohort of the LBJ Women’s Campaign School through the University of Texas at Austin and she is also serving as one of the fourteen Commissioners on the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission for the City of Austin. Dempsey continues to use her legal degree and her business background to support charitable causes that are close to her heart, and she works tirelessly to support and promote voting rights in the State of Texas. Some of her favorite activities to do in District 10 are running to and around Lady Bird Lake, walking to music festivals in Zilker Park, especially ACL, paddle boarding with family and friends on Lady Bird Lake, meeting friends and sitting outside at all of the fun cafes, coffee places and restaurants and attending neighborhood, community and school events held throughout the year.

Vice-Chair Luis Gonzalez

Following his graduation from the Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin in 2009, Gonzalez, who is the vice chair of the commission, joined UT-Austin as a full-time employee with the School of Architecture. He climbed the administrative ladder, landing roles such as Senior Administrative Associate with the Office of the President and Administrative Manager with Dell Medical School. Through his admission to the ATXelerator, a political training program that molds individuals with a desire to run for city council, Gonzalez learned of the importance and consequences of the redistricting process. He applied and was one of the first eight commissioners selected to the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC). He now serves as its Vice Chair of the ICRC. Gonzalez lives in District 10 with his partner Robert and their adopted Great Pyreness, Appa.