Potential Austin District 7 City Council candidates Jeb Boyt and Ben Leffler at first glance appear to bring similar progressive backgrounds to the campaign.

Boyt, until recently an attorney with the State of Texas Attorney General’s Office, has been active for years in City of Austin policy processes, including the Parks board and most recently the 2012 bond commission. As a member of the Downtown Commission he helped to draft the Downtown Austin plan. He is an advocate for light rail.

Leffler worked as a researcher in the City of Austin auditor’s office. He is a 2011 graduate of the LBJ School of Public Affairs, where according to his LinkedIn profile he focused on alternative energy and carbon sequestration. He also has experience in marketing and political campaigning.