Austin News

Texas governor candidate Don Huffines voiced his displeasure regarding the new mandate that requires COVID-19 signs on all Austin businesses.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler has issued a new mandate stating that all Austin businesses are required to post two signs on their doors: One that says, “Help us keep employees safe! Local health officials recommend that you: Wear a mask; vaccinate and get boosted against COVID-19;" and one that lists the mitigations that the businesses are enforcing, such as masking or proof of vaccination. Businesses who violate this order could be punished with a fine of up to $1,000, according to Texas Scorecard.

"Greg Abbott is telling Austinites to ignore Mayor Adler’s tyrannical mandates, but it was Greg Abbott that shut down thousands of Texas businesses on fraudulent Fauci’s order," Huffines said. "He can’t be trusted to do what is right for Texas. I was against the mandates and lockdowns from day one. As governor, I will outlaw them for good."

Despite Huffines's statement, a spokesperson for Gov. Greg Abbott said that businesses can disregard Adler's mandate, stating that "the time for mandates is over." However, critics pointed out that Abbott issued mask mandates and lockdown orders before reversing his position last July and declaring that mandates were prohibited. Some local officials have ignored that prohibition and continued to issue mandates. Adler has issued a number of mandates over the last two years and has been caught violating them. During one of his "stay at home orders," Adler took a private jet vacation to Mexico.

Elected in 2014, Gov. Greg Abbott is currently serving as the 48th governor of Texas. Before being elected governor, Abbott was the longest-serving attorney general of Texas, according to Abbott's website. 

Huffines will face Abbott in the gubernatorial primary on March 1. From 2015 to 2019, he represented Texas' 16th State Senate District. Huffines is the CEO of Huffines Communities, a Dallas/Fort Worth-based real estate development firm. He joins a crowded field, along with former Florida Congressman and Texas GOP Chairman Allen West and media personality Chad Prather, challenging Abbott in the March 1 GOP gubernatorial primary. Former El Paso City Council member and US Congressman Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke leads the Democratic field for nomination to run for governor. O'Rourke previously mounted two unsuccessful campaigns for U.S. Senate and president of the United States, according to Ballotpedia.