District 8 Council Office - Contact Information
Use the Contact information to the right to contact City Council Member Tem Ellis, or contact her staff using the information below. In alignment with Austin City Council’s Strategic Direction 2023, staff departmental responsibilities are bundled by their respective SD2023 Outcomes.
Do you have a question or issue regarding a City service or department? You can report a concern using one of our quick and convenient reporting options.
For all scheduling inquiries, including attendance requests for neighborhood association meetings, please email the District 8 office. For media requests, please email Lauren Terrazas.
Julie Montgomery
Chief of Staff
Julie Montgomery serves as Chief of Staff to City Council Member Paige Ellis. An Austin native and UT Austin alum, Julie has 15 years of experience working in state, regional, and local policy and planning, with expertise in mobility, housing, land use, and environmental issues. On the weekends, Julie frequently can be seen at one of Austin’s many beautiful outdoor destinations with her husband, Andrei, and their two young kiddos, Kepler and Evie.
Policy Areas:
- Mobility
- Economic Opportunity & Affordability
- Government That Works for All
- Watershed Protection Department
- Austin Resource Recovery
- CMO Offices
- Law
- Clerk
- Auditor
Guillermo ("Willie") Balderrama
Executive Assistant
“Willie” Balderrama is a proud El Pasoan and UTEP alum, where his studies mostly focused on Chicano History and Public Administration. He has prior experience working with the Mayor and City Council in El Paso, and more recently was a Senior Clerk at Travis County District Clerk’s Criminal Division. Willie loves spending his free time with his loved one Angela, their two dogs Canela and Lucian, watching sports or attending concerts around the city.
Policy & Admin Areas:
- Constituent Responses
- Scheduling
- Fee Waiver Requests
- Public Information Requests
- Communications & Technology Management
- Public Safety
Ed Scruggs
Constituent Director & Policy Aide
Ed is a 20-year resident of Southwest Austin and District 8, with an extensive history of political organizing, issue advocacy and community engagement. After college at The University of Oklahoma, Ed moved to Austin in 1991 and worked as a reporter and clinical researcher while devoting substantial time to non-profits. His community involvement included serving as a director and president of the Circle C Homeowner’s Association. Ed also served five years as an appointed member of the Austin Public Safety Commission. He spends most of his free time in the garden and supporting The Verde and Black (Austin FC).
District Outreach:
- Community & Constituent Relations
- Town Halls & Neighborhood Meetings
- Issue Research
- Site Visits
- Constituent Follow-Up
Policy Areas:
- Austin Fire Department
- Austin Police Department
- Downtown Austin Community Court
- Emergency Medical Services
- Homeland Security & Emergency Management
- Forensic Science
- Municipal Court
- Office of Police Oversight
Lauren Terrazas
Communications Manager & Policy Aide
Lauren Terrazas brings her background in journalism and public media to the District 8 team as Communications Manager & Policy Aide. A proud El Paso native, she received her bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Texas at El Paso then later her Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. During her free time, Lauren enjoys spending time outdoors, catching live music, and exploring new coffee shops and restaurants (usually accompanied with a book).
Policy Areas:
- Austin Energy
- Austin Water
- Economic Opportunity & Affordability