Commission application number 90 submitted by Joshua Blank on 06/09/2020
First Name | Joshua |
Middle Name/Initial | M |
Last Name | Blank |
Suffix | PhD |
Voter Unique Identification number | 1171136389 |
Ethnicity | White |
Gender | Male |
Age | 35-44 |
Education Level | Post-Graduate Degree |
Major Pursued | Political Science |
What is your occupation? | Researcher & Data Analyst, political and market research |
Submitted Address | |
City | Austin |
State | TX |
Zip | 78749 |
Verified Address | |
City | Austin |
State | TX |
Zip | 78749 |
Do you have a spouse or domestic partner? | Yes |
Spouse/Domestic Partner First Name | Jenny |
Spouse/Domestic Partner Middle Name/Initial | Jean |
Spouse/Domestic Partner Last Name | Blank |
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 am currently the research director of The Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. I regularly collect or find political, demographic, and/or other data for analysis. I have a Masters and Doctorate from UT-Austin in government, where I was trained in American political behavior and social science research methods. |
Please describe your ability to be impartial. | In my position at UT-Austin, all of my work is non-partisan. Additionally, any research work that I do outside of my capacity at UT-Austin is similarly non-partisan by choice. As someone who follows and studies politics for a living, I pride myself on my ability to be impartial, even detached, from political outcomes (otherwise, I would be unable to do my job effectively). |
Please describe your appreciation for the City of Austin's diverse demographics and geography. | When I first moved to Austin, I was struck by the kindness of its people. And in particular, that this kindness wasn't limited to one part of town or one group of people. Growing up in a city myself (New York, originally), I appreciate that diversity and the unique geography of different parts of any city, individually and in concert, are what make a city vibrant and unique. Austin is no different, and I am proud to be familiar (after 10 years) with all parts of the city, having lived in North Austin, Centrally, and in South Austin over that time period. |
Please provide your employment history. | I am Research Director of the Texas Politics Project at UT Austin where I regularly analyze political and demographic data. I have a PhD in political science and have extensive data analysis experience, with training in political behavior, psychology, and social science research methods. In my public position, I am overtly non-partisan in my approach and analyses. |
Please provide any other information you wish to be considered during the selection of the most qualified applicants for the Commission. | My desire to serve on this board is born out of my love and appreciation for the city, my innate interest in demographic and political data, and a desire to learn how the last 10 years have changed the city's landscape. In doing so, I want to help ensure that the city council is representative of these changes. |
How did you hear about redistricting/Applicant Review Panel? | Newspaper, From family or friend |
Disclaimer Agreement | Checked |
Disclaimer Signature | Joshua Mark Paul Blank |
District | District 8 |
Does this application qualify? | Yes |