{"biography":"## Background and education\n\nAustin grew up in the Walker Homes area of Memphis and attended LeMoyne-Owen College [4]. He also studied at Remington College's Memphis campus, according to his LinkedIn profile [3] (LinkedIn requires login; reflects the public profile as of 2023).\n\n## Career\n\nAustin worked as an employee at Blues City Brewery in Memphis [2].\n\n## Office history\n\nAustin was a candidate for Memphis City Council District 6 in the October 5, 2023 general election, challenging incumbent Edmund Ford Sr. [2]. Campaign coverage described Austin as active in neighborhood cleanup efforts in his community and framed him as an outsider \"challenging a local political dynasty\" [1]. Austin identified crime as the top issue facing Memphis and called for expanded community-center programming and after-school activities to give young people alternatives to gang involvement; he also expressed interest in economic development along Third Street, without providing specifics [2]. Ford Sr. won re-election in the three-way race, according to unofficial returns reported by the Daily Memphian, defeating Austin and fellow challenger Larry Hunter [5].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Keith Austin: I couldn't see the change, so I decided to be the change - JustMyMemphis](https://justmymemphis.com/view-post/2017) (published September 10, 2023)\n- [2] [Two challengers look to unseat incumbent in District 6 race - Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/article/38410/edmund-ford-sr-keith-austin-larry-hunter-district-6) (published September 11, 2023)\n- [3] [Keith Austin II - City Council Candidate - Memphis, TN - LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithforcityc) (LinkedIn requires login; not independently re-verified this session)\n- [4] [Memphis Election Guide: Meet the candidates for mayor and city council - WREG](https://wreg.com/news/your-local-election-headquarters/memphis-mayoral-debate-2023/memphis-mayor-candidates-who-are-they/) (published September 27, 2023)\n- [5] [2023 Memphis mayor and city council election results live blog - Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/article/38898/2023-memphis-mayor-city-council-election-results-blog) (accessed 2026-07-06)","campaigns":[{"contest":"memphis_city_council_district_6","county":"Shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 05 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"Memphis City Council District 6"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Keith","fullname":"Keith D. Austin","lastname":"Austin","middlename":"D.","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"memphis_city_council_district_6","contest_title":"Memphis City Council District 6","county":"Shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2023-10-05","office_county":"shelby","office_key":"city_council_district_6","office_title":"Memphis City Council District 6","party":"","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":"shelby","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"memphis_city_council_district_6","contest_title":"Memphis City Council District 6","county":"Shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2023-10-05","office_county":"shelby","office_key":"city_council_district_6","office_title":"Memphis City Council District 6","party":"","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2023}],"office_key":"city_council_district_6","office_title":"Memphis City Council District 6","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Keith D. Austin ran as a challenger for Memphis City Council District 6 in the October 5, 2023 general election; incumbent Edmund Ford Sr. won re-election.","terms":[],"token":"AAgc02pJEY"}