Crowded Field Set For Mayoral Race
As the City looks ahead to the spring elections, San Antonio will be having an open mayor’s race for the first time in eight years.
With outgoing mayor Ron Nirenberg being “termed out” from seeking re-election, the field is literally wide open.
This far, at least eighteen candidates have shown an interest in the race, by filing a treasurer’s report, which allows them to begin raising money.
The early field includes three City Council members, a former Under Secretary of Air Force, a former Secretary of State, and more.
The formal filing date to run in the May 3rd municipal elections is January 16, 2025, which means that there’s still time to cease a campaign that may not have gathered much traction. One former City Council member has already withdrawn from the race.
With there being such a large number, we will split the field, half this edition and the remaining candidates will be reviewed, in the next issue.
Here’s the first group:
Santos Alvarado – U.S. Army veteran, retired in 2011, after 23 years of combined service, with the Army Reserves and U.S. Army Active duty, retired in 2011.
Beto Aktomirano – a tech entrepreneur, best known for creating the city’s first digital service platform – a precursor to the current 311 application and now runs an artificial intelligence platform.
John Atwood – A tax attorney, who also works as an online adjunct professor, at Herzinger University, where he teaches law and taxation.
Melissa Cabello Havrda – A current member of City Council, who has represented District 6, since 2019. She also works as a disability lawyer, and launched her campaign in December 2024.
Andre Dembo – Filed a treasurer’s report in June 2024.
Arturo Espinosa – Previously ran unsuccessfully for the District 5 City Council seat. He lists his occupation as a chemical engineer.
Adriana Rocha Garcia – A current City Council member, who’s represented City Council District 4 since 2019. She has previously worked as V. P. of Communications, for the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, as a special projects manager for the City of San Antonio.
Gina Ortiz Jones – Served as Under Secretary of the Air Force under the Biden administration and ran twice unsuccessfully for Congress, as a Democrat, in the Texas 23rd Congressional district – in 2018 and again in 2020.
Robert Melvin – CEO and founder of Limitless Creations, reportedly new to the San Antonio political scene. The candidate reports his aims include to champion the enhancement of public services and to empower local businesses.
The remaining nine candidates will be featured in the coming week.
To know who candidates are and what they represent is indeed of great value, as we approach the upcoming municipal elections.
