AUSTIN, Texas — When it is not a presidential election year, it’s notoriously harder to get out the vote. However, there is a mayoral candidate in Austin who might lack political experience, but seems to be motivating some non-voters.

Twenty-eight-year-old Travis Duncan is running his Austin mayoral campaign as close to zero dollars as possible. So, when the Dallas native meets his team, it is not in an office, it is at a cafe or restaurant. 

“We want to show is what we need is people, we need energy, we need excitement, we don’t need to just buy a campaign,” Duncan said. 

The artists said he would rather stop wasting money, and spend time on listening to people. 

“Right now, when you got to City Hall, you get three minutes, you say your peace and times up, please finish your point, and no one ever contacts you,” Duncan said. 

His campaign’s message is “we are the mayor.” Duncan believes energy, housing and health care should not be considered industries, instead as resources.

“We invest in people first, we invest in the resources for the people so everything is ground up,” he said. “When people are whole, when they have resources they create, they innovate, they give back to their community.” 

The message is resonating with Aisha Melhem, who was was born and raised in Austin. The 31-year-old did not vote in the 2014 mayoral election, or any others before.

“‘[Politicians] have an agenda, and that’s all they’re trying to play out really. It’s not for the best for the community or the people, it’s for their egos,” Melhem said. 

Lucas Despain, 25, said he always felt like his vote and his voice did not matter until he met Duncan. Despain is helping out on the campaign in a number of ways, including web development. 

“It seems more like the platforms are already in place and you just vote for this or you don’t,” Despain said.” It’s not like you're contributing to the platform and you’re adding to it in different ways, but that’s exactly what’s happening here.” 

“Travis spells it out well, it gives an opportunity gives us an name on a ballot, it gives us a campaign that we can participate in and make a difference and that’s what I’m hoping,” said another supporter, Carl Goss. 

Duncan said he believes the collaborative approach will break down the barriers for other young people when it comes to entering politics. 

“If I can do it, you can do it,” Duncan said. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”