Commission application number 72 submitted by William Fagelson on 06/08/2020

First Name William
Last Name Fagelson
Voter Unique Identification number 1141166728
Ethnicity White
Gender Male
Age 45-54
Education Level Post-Graduate Degree
Major Pursued American Studies
What is your occupation? College Professor (non-Tenure Track)
Submitted Address
City Austin
State TX
Zip 78704
Verified Address
City Austin
State TX
Zip 78704
Do you have a spouse or domestic partner? Yes
Spouse/Domestic Partner First Name Jennifer
Spouse/Domestic Partner Last Name Burger
Are you applying to be the student member of the commission? No
Have you been continuously registered to vote in the City of Austin for the last five years? Yes
Have you voted in 3 of the last 5 City of Austin general elections (or corresponding runoff if applicable)? Yes
Been appointed to a state or city office? No
Been elected to a state or city office? No
Been a candidate for a state or city office? No
Served as an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a political party? No
Served as an officer, employee, or paid consultant of the campaign committee of a candidate for elective state, county, or city office? No
Been a registered state or local lobbyist? No
A paid employee of the City of Austin? No
A person performing paid services under a professional services contract with the City of Austin? No
A person performing paid services under a professional or personal services contract to the City Council of the City of Austin or to any individual member of the City Council of the City of Austin? No
A controlling person of a person performing paid services under a professional or personal services contract to any member of the City Council of the City of Austin? No
Contribute or bundle one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more in aggregate to candidates for City of Austin elective office? No
Please describe your relevant analytical skills. I have a PhD in American Studies and currently teach professional communication and ethics to engineering students. As a result, I have strong critical thinking skills, knowledge of political and social history, and a general ability to research and analyze the world around me. Maybe most important, I have an eagerness and willingness to listen to and learn from others.
Please describe your ability to be impartial. I have to teach my students the importance of following ethical codes. In my position as a teacher, I must grade students on their work and not on my relationship with them. Giving constructive criticism demands impartiality, especially for those students with whom I have a strong positive relationship. I always approach that work with objectivity, and if anything in my job keeps me up at night it is the worry over whether I am being fair to my students.
Please describe your appreciation for the City of Austin's diverse demographics and geography. I have lived in Austin for 25 years, learned about its history (sometimes as a student), and seen it evolve. Almost always, I have been aware of how those iterations have affected issues like diversity and equity. As added background, I grew up in Vermont--very white and homogeneous (though I am Jewish and in that sense was unusual). I also went to college with a much more diverse community, a sharp contrast that taught me important lessons. In short, I know what both diversity and its absence can look like, and one shock when I moved to Austin was its self-segregation.
Please provide your employment history. My career has been largely in post-secondary education. I have a passion for learning about the world and people around and am always open to hearing all sides of an issue. I am not shy about sharing my own ideas and opinions, but I am also open-minded and willing to change my mind. I have served on committees, proposed programs, and implemented those programs. Most of my adult employment outside of education has been in libraries, which has given me a deep appreciation for that valuable community resource (as well as librarians themselves) and an understanding of the thought and engagement that is out there among the members of our community.
How did you hear about redistricting/Applicant Review Panel? From family or friend
Disclaimer Agreement Checked
Disclaimer Signature William Friedman Fagelson
District District 5
Does this application qualify? Yes