About Steve Adler Books
Steve Adler served as the 52nd Mayor of Austin, Texas, from 2015 to 2023, leading one of the nation's fastest-growing cities through a period of explosive change and extraordinary challenge. During his tenure, Austin confronted the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2018 serial bomber attacks, contentious homelessness reform, police budget battles during a national racial reckoning, and deep political polarization.Before his election as mayor, Adler spent more than three decades practicing law specializing in trial advocacy, eminent domain, and civil rights litigation. He represented clients in courtrooms across Texas and before both the United States Supreme Court and the Texas Supreme Court.As mayor, Adler navigated the tensions of governing a rapidly growing and progressive city within a conservative state. Under his leadership, Austin expanded affordable housing initiatives, reformed homelessness policy, implemented police accountability measures, and significantly increased long-term infrastructure investment--all while managing growth that helped transform the city from a cultural capital into a major international technology hub.A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Texas School of Law, Adler now teaches at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, Huston-Tillotson University, and St. Edward's University, focusing on strategic change management, public leadership, and urban politics and policy.He lives in Austin with his wife, Diane Land. Together, they have three daughters and six grandchildren. Hot Seat - Hot City is his first book.
