2011 Municipal Elections
July 5, 2010 - What makes a good District 1 council member?
We haven't even gotten through the 2010 election cycle and candidates for the 2011 municipal election are already jockeying for position, especially in District 1. In 2011 Councilwoman Mary Alice Cisneros will be vacating her office due to term limits (she was not covered by the term limit extensions) and a field is already developing to run for her office. Greg Jefferson, columnist with the San Antonio Express-News, detailed some of the early political ... Read more »
January 1, 2011 - Odd number years means it's time for the munis
The start of 2011 can have different meanings to different people. For some it means getting ready for another NCAA regional tournament in the city. For others it means trying to figure out an early Fiesta schedule (Easter comes real late in 2011). But for a select group of San Antonians it means getting ready for a fast-paced municipal campaign season. San Antonio’s two year terms means some incumbents and several candidates start campaigning for ... Read more »
January 4, 2011 - Race for District 1 should be a hot one
It’s time for the municipal elections in San Antonio and 2011 should prove to be interesting. I covered most of the districts in a prior post, except for one district. So that brings me to my home district, District 1. This district is where I predict all the fun will be had for the 2011 election cycle. Currently there are four announced candidates for the seat currently held by Mary Alice Cisneros, who terms out in 2011. Not only do I expect this ... Read more »
January 16, 2011 - The Victory Fund effect
In an article in Plaza de Armas, Gilbert Garcia wrote about the possible opportunity District 1 candidate Chris Forbrich might gain by landing an endorsement by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a political action committee focused on electing gay and lesbian candidates to public office. Garcia points out the potential financial and organizational value the Victory Fund can bring to a gay or lesbian candidate, citing the campaigns of Mayor Annise ... Read more »
January 23, 2011 - San Antonio District 5 - the Rematch+1
One of the more interesting council races in 2009 was the match-up in District 5 between Lourdes Galvan and David Medina. Galvan had been expected to win the race as the incumbent. However, a tenacious David Medina fought a hard battle forcing the election into a run-off and winning by a mere 45 votes. Possibly feeling Medina as vulnerable for a rematch, Galvan is now challenging him to a rematch in the 2011 municipal election. As Gilbert Garcia points ... Read more »
February 13, 2011 - In District 4 it’s the new breed vs. the old guard
In my continuing review of San Antonio’s municipal races I decided to take a look at District 4, currently held by Philip Cortez who will vacate this year due to term limits. The district sits in the southwest area of San Antonio and is sometimes overlooked when considering the future of the city. However, since it’s next to the home of Toyota Texas it also could be considered the future when looking at manufacturing job opportunities due to the ... Read more »
February 19, 2011 - More of the same
Several decades ago San Antonio voters put term limits for council members in place to force turnover in San Antonio’s city council. At the time council members seemed to be elected for life or their next political gig with very little challenge. It was only the occasional voter distaste with a council member that brought out a challenger and created a change in council. Term limits forced council members to retire from the office, at first after ... Read more »
March 10, 2011 - District 1 is proving to be the race to watch
A friend of mine, Victor Landa, once told me the best way to get to know someone is to share tacos with them. So, to get a better handle on the candidates of District 1 I shared tacos and other food with the four main candidates. We met over breakfast and lunch the past couple of weeks, all in preparation for a series of detailed blog entries to be published in the coming week. During those meetings I found that this slate of candidates is really ... Read more »
March 19, 2011 - Who’s that woman?
I’m sitting with a couple of friends in between sessions at MobiCamp San Antonio just after I presented on how the mobile phone will some become your identity. Both are politically savvy and are residents of District 1. I strike up a conversation about the upcoming D1 race and how interesting it should be. “Yea, there are three people running, right?” said one of my friends. No, there are four. When she started naming the candidates it was Carolyn ... Read more »
March 20, 2011 - Go Diego Go!
Okay, I know the title wasn’t that original, but it seems to fit Diego Bernal’s candidacy better than any other one I could come up with. Bernal’s campaign is one of the leanest and greenest of all of the candidates in District 1 but that’s not stopping this young civil rights attorney in his quest for a seat on the dais in City Hall. What makes his candidacy even more interesting are all the dynamics surrounding his bid for office. For a ... Read more »
April 23, 2011 - City Council Endorsements–the obvious
It’s getting very close to the start of early voting for San Antonio’s municipal election scheduled for May 14th. Early voting will start on May 2nd and run through May 10th at various locations around the city. Several people have been making their endorsements of candidates and I should as well, considering how closely I try to follow the municipal environment in San Antonio. This round is what I call the obvious or simple endorsements. In many ... Read more »
April 25, 2011 - District 4 endorsement–Rey Saldaña
After publishing my obvious list of endorsements it’s type to start digging in to the three districts where there are truly competitive races, starting with District 4. District 4 is currently held by Philip Cortez who won two terms and is term-limited out. Leticia Cantu, Cortez’s wife, Rey Saldaña, an instructor at Trinity University, and Kathy Luna, a retired civil servant. The district is located on the southeast side and, while having development ... Read more »
April 27, 2011 - District 7–No endorsement
After looking at this race and the amount of information, or lack of it, that I have on the candidates I’ve decided to not endorse a candidate in the District 7 race. Endorsements should be taken very seriously, in my mind, and if I haven’t done enough research to truly stand behind a candidate I don’t feel it right to just go on gut feel alone. I do have a favorite in the race but not enough information to share with voters in the form of an ... Read more »
April 28, 2011 - If candidate forum any indication, District 1 race is hot
Tuesday night candidates for the District 1 council seat came together for what is probably the last public candidate forum before early voting starts. Granted KLRN will be broadcasting their candidate forum on Sunday, May 1st, at 3 p.m.. But this was a chance for the candidates to meet constituents face to face and hear for themselves where the candidates stood on key issues. Interest was high enough to pull together seven neighborhood associations ... Read more »
April 30, 2011 - Great balls of fire
When I arranged to sit down with Ralph Medina to find out more about him as a candidate for the District 1 seat, I made the request I’d made to the other candidates – you pick the place and time, I’ll pick up the check, so long as the place is in District 1. So we agreed to breakfast at Taco Haven on S. Presa, right on the south edge of the district. I’ve always wanted to go to Taco Haven, knowing the reputation of the local eatery and Medina ... Read more »
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