When Gov. Greg Abbott’s deputy chief of staff, Toby Baker, heard his sons’ charter school was having trouble getting a permit to build a new campus in Austin, he knew whom to ask for help.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson listens to public comments on changes to the city's land use code during a joint hearing with the Planning Commission on Thursday at Austin City Hall.
But like any entity wanting to build, Valor needed to submit building plans to the city. It had to wait for staff to review these plans, give feedback and then, hopefully, grant the foundation permission to build. This process can often take months, even years, and has long been Watson’s willingness to use his power to help a high-level state employee comes after he fielded criticism of his relationship with state officials during his first year as Austin mayor. A Texas senator before he was elected mayor in 2022,earlier this year between the Austin Police Department and state police to provide additional patrols in the city.
It's unclear how Baker and Watson know each other. But a spokesperson for the governor's office said Baker has known Watson since 2007. He did not say how they first met or the nature of the relationship. Huffman jumped in quickly to help Baker at Watson’s request. The three discussed the school’s permitting in a group text.
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