AUSTIN, TEXAS — Austin City Council member Ora Houston has made her endorsement for mayor, and it's not incumbent Steve Adler. Instead, the outgoing outgoing councilwoman has thrown her support for Laura Morrison with whom she served on the council dais.

Houston made her choice clear during a Wednesday press conference. Morrison served as a member of the Austin City Council from 2008 to 2014, and now hopes to unseat Adler as mayor in what will be the just the second mayoral election since the 10-1 council was created. Adler won the seat in a runoff against then-council member Mike Martinez. In supporting Morrison, Houston cited the abandonment of the ambitious land-use code revamping dubbed CodeNext — for which millions of dollars was spent before it was shuttered — as a key reason for her endorsement of Morrison over Adler.

Houston has been vocal in her opposition to the CodeNext initiative that sought to control the types of development in the city amidst brisk growth, along with ensuring there is adequate affordable housing stock. Houston has compared it to the infamous 1928 master plan implemented last century that segregated black people to the eastern portion of the city rather than an effort to achieve housing parity and city control in terms of density. But Houston's endorsement of Morrison also has to do with her preferred candidate's personal qualities, Houston suggested. During a press conference announcing her endorsement, Houston ticked off Morrison's attributes she believes would make her a good mayor.

Related story: Ex-Austin Council Member Laura Morrison To Run For Mayor "Laura builds coalitions and works with groups from different sides of a complicated, complex issue to find a path forward," Houston said. "She has the capacity to reintroduce civility and respectful dialogue regarding difficult conversations. Laura is both technical and personable — sometimes it's hard to find both. She has vision and know what it takes to succeed."

The reference to "civility and respectful dialogue" Houston envisions Morrison infusing into a council she'd helm as mayor is rooted in a terse exchange between fellow council members Greg Casar and Ellen Troxclair, the sole conservative on the dais. Troxclair last year bemoaned how when someone of her political stripes voices opposition to illegal immigration, they suffer anxiety while fearing for their safety.

Casar didn't take kindly to the inference, accusing Troxclair of fear mongering. In adopting the victim stance for simply airing her Republican-rooted views, Troxclair drew a strong reaction from Casar who's known to advocate powerfully for the disenfranchised. The sole Republican on the dais was reduced to tears after the exchange.