Municipal elections in San Antonio, Texas (2017)
From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 23 min
2019 →
← 2015
|
| 2017 San Antonio elections |
|---|
 |
| Election dates |
| Filing deadline: February 17, 2017 |
| General election: May 6, 2017 Runoff election: June 10, 2017 |
| Election stats |
| Offices up: Mayor, City Council |
| Total seats up: 11 |
| Election type: Nonpartisan |
| Other municipal elections |
| U.S. municipal elections, 2017 |
The city of San Antonio, Texas, held runoff elections for mayor and six of its city council seats on June 10, 2017. The other four city council races were determined in the general election on May 6, 2017.
Mayor Ivy R. Taylor was defeated by District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg in the runoff election. Taylor placed first in the 14-candidate general election, and Nirenberg followed 5 points behind her. Bexar County Democrats Chair Juan Manuel Medina placed third, 12 points behind Nirenberg. Together, Nirenberg and Medina received a majority of the votes cast in the general election.
In every race where an incumbent sought re-election, the incumbents won or advanced to the runoff round with the exception of District 7. Incumbent Cris Medina was defeated by Ana Sandoval in the general election. District 2 incumbent Alan E. Warrick II was defeated by William Shaw III in the runoff election. Read about all the races, including campaign finance, in the sections below.
San Antonio's local policies regarding immigration and LGBT nondiscrimination protections faced possible preemption by the state. Addressing growing water needs and marijuana crimes were also topics of concern for the council.
Click here to read what candidates said about those topics and more in Ballotpedia's 2017 candidate survey.
Contents
- 1 Elections
- 2 Mayor
- 3 District 1
- 4 District 2
- 5 District 3
- 6 District 4
- 7 District 5
- 8 District 6
- 9 District 7
- 10 District 8
- 11 District 9
- 12 District 10
- 13 City ballot measures
- 14 Additional elections
- 15 Election procedures
- 15.1 Issues
- 15.1.1 Ballotpedia's candidate survey
- 15.1.2 Growing water needs and environmental concerns clash over Vista Ridge water pipeline
- 15.1.3 Support voiced for some marijuana penalty reductions
- 15.1.4 City's nondiscrimination policy faces possible partial preemption
- 15.1.5 Not a sanctuary city on paper, but legislation could still affect city's police
- 15.2 About the city
- 15.3 Recent news
- 15.4 See also
- 15.5 External links
- 15.6 Footnotes
- 15.1 Issues
Elections[edit]
The San Antonio City Clerk posted the following lists of candidates for the general election races. Winners are marked with green check marks (
).[1]
Mayor[edit]
Candidates[edit]
Runoff election[edit]
- Ivy R. Taylor (i)
District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg
Defeated in general election[edit]
- Antonio Diaz
- Felicio Hernandez Flores II
- Michael Idrogo
- Stephen Lucke
- Napoleon Madrid
- Will McLeod
- Bexar County Democrats Chair Juan Manuel Medina
- Julie Iris Oldham "Mama Bexar"
- Gerard Ponce
- Keven Roles
- Rhett Rosenquest Smith
- Clinical psychologist John Velasquez
Campaign finance[edit]
The table below lists campaign finance totals for the mayoral candidates as of reports available from the city of San Antonio following the May 3 filing deadline.
District 1[edit]
Candidates[edit]
Runoff election[edit]
Defeated in general election[edit]
Campaign finance[edit]
The table below lists campaign finance totals for the candidates as of reports available from the city of San Antonio following the May 3 filing deadline.
District 2[edit]
Candidates[edit]
Runoff election[edit]
Defeated in general election[edit]
- Dori L. Brown
- Keith A. Toney
- Gerald F. Scott (Withdrawn)
Campaign finance[edit]
The table below lists campaign finance totals for the candidates as of reports available from the city of San Antonio following the May 3 filing deadline.
District 3[edit]
Candidates[edit]
Campaign finance[edit]
The table below lists campaign finance totals for the candidates as of reports available from the city of San Antonio following the May 3 filing deadline.
District 4[edit]
Candidates[edit]
Campaign finance[edit]
The table below lists campaign finance totals for the candidates as of reports available from the city of San Antonio following the May 3 filing deadline.
District 5[edit]
Candidates[edit]
Shirley Gonzales (i)
Campaign finance[edit]
The table below lists campaign finance totals for the candidates as of reports available from the city of San Antonio following the May 3 filing deadline.
District 6[edit]
Incumbent District 6 Councilman Ray Lopez was term limited and, therefore, unable to seek re-election to his council seat.
Candidates[edit]
Runoff election[edit]
Defeated in general election[edit]
Campaign finance[edit]
The table below lists campaign finance totals for the candidates as of reports available from the city of San Antonio following the May 3 filing deadline.
District 7[edit]
Candidates[edit]
Campaign finance[edit]
The table below lists campaign finance totals for the candidates as of reports available from the city of San Antonio following the May 3 filing deadline.
District 8[edit]
Incumbent District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg did not seek re-election to his council seat. Instead, he ran for mayor.
Candidates[edit]
Runoff election[edit]
Defeated in general election[edit]
Campaign finance[edit]
The table below lists campaign finance totals for the District 8 candidates as of reports available from the city of San Antonio following the May 3 filing deadline.
District 9[edit]
Incumbent District 9 Councilman Joe Krier did not seek re-election to his council seat.
Candidates[edit]
Runoff election[edit]
Defeated in general election[edit]
Campaign finance[edit]
The table below lists campaign finance totals for the candidates as of reports available from the city of San Antonio following the May 3 filing deadline.
District 10[edit]
Incumbent District 10 Councilman Mike Gallagher did not seek re-election to his council seat.
Candidates[edit]
Runoff election[edit]
Defeated in general election[edit]
Campaign finance[edit]
The table below lists campaign finance totals for the candidates as of reports available from the city of San Antonio following the May 3 filing deadline.
City ballot measures[edit]
San Antonio voters approved six city bond measures on their May ballots.
City of San Antonio[edit]
• Proposition No. 1: San Antonio Streets, Bridges, and Sidewalks Bond Issue 
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of issuing $445,263,000 in bonds for improvements to streets, bridges, and sidewalks. |
| A no vote was a vote against issuing $445,263,000 in bonds for improvements to streets, bridges, and sidewalks. |
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of issuing $138,988,000 in bonds for improvements in drainage and flood control. |
| A no vote was a vote against issuing $138,988,000 in bonds for improvements in drainage and flood control. |
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of issuing $187,313,000 in bonds for improvements to parks, recreation, and open spaces. |
| A no vote was a vote against issuing $187,313,000 in bonds for improvements to parks, recreation, and open spaces. |
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of issuing $24,025,000 in bonds for improvements to library and cultural facilities. |
| A no vote was a vote against issuing $24,025,000 in bonds for improvements to library and cultural facilities. |
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of issuing $34,411,000 in bonds to improve public safety facilities. |
| A no vote was a vote against issuing $34,411,000 in bonds to improve public safety facilities. |
.| A yes vote was a vote in favor of issuing $20 million in bonds to implement the city's 2017 urban renewal plan. |
| A no vote was a vote against issuing $20 million in bonds to implement the city's 2017 urban renewal plan. |
Additional elections[edit]
School district elections[edit]
Several school districts overlap with the boundaries of San Antonio. Click on the links for the following districts to read about their elections for school boards, bond measures, or both on May 6, 2017:
Alamo Community College District[edit]
The Alamo Community College District serves Bexar County (where San Antonio is located), as well as Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Kerr and Wilson counties. The district voted on one measure.
• Proposition No. 1: Alamo Community College District New Facilities Construction Bond Issue
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of issuing $450 million in bonds for the construction of new facilities and the purchase of lange for those facilities. |
| A no vote was a vote against issuing $450 million in bonds for the construction of new facilities and the purchase of lange for those facilities. |
Election procedures[edit]
Candidates for this election had to file with the city clerk's office between January 18, 2017, and February 17, 2017. They had until February 24, 2017, to withdraw from the race and have their names removed from the ballot. All of the elections were for regular two-year terms.
A 2008 ballot measure extended the term limits for mayor and city council from two full terms (four years) to four full terms (eight years). The limit applies to all terms, both consecutive and nonconsecutive. Additionally, no one may run for office if at any point in serving out the term won they would violate the limits.[2][3][4]
Candidates for this election had to be citizens of the United States, at least 18 years old, and qualified voters in the city (on the last day of the candidate filing period). Additionally, they had to be residents of Texas for one year and have lived in the city for a continuous year. City council hopefuls also had to be residents of the specific district they sought for at least six months. Elected council members are required to continue living in their districts to stay in office. Candidates could not have been found mentally incapacitated by a court judgment, been convicted of a felony (with exceptions for pardons and "otherwise released from the resulting disabilities").[5]
The voter registration deadline for this election was April 6, 2017. Early voting ran from April 24, 2017, to May 2, 2017. Polls on election day were open from 7 am to 7 pm. Click here for more information about voting in Texas.[2]
Issues[edit]
Ballotpedia's candidate survey[edit]
Select a topic below to see how San Antonio candidates for mayor and city council responded in Ballotpedia's candidate survey. Only candidates who participated in the survey will appear in the box below.[6]
Growing water needs and environmental concerns clash over Vista Ridge water pipeline[edit]
Wondering what aquifers are and how much water they can provide?Ballotpedia spoke with Dr. Jean-Philippe Nicot, a senior research scientist at the Bureau of Economic Geology, a combined project of the University of Texas at Austin and the Jackson School of Geosciences. We also discussed the Carrizo-Wilcox and Simsboro aquifers (which the Vista Ridge pipeline is designed to draw water from), what researchers know about those aquifers' capacities, and how aquifer water use compares to other methods of meeting water needs. Click [show] next to any of the questions in this box to read Dr. Nicot's response.[7][8]
|
- Click here to read what candidates said about this topic in Ballotpedia's survey.
The construction of a $3 billion water pipeline to meet growing consumption in the city was a point of contention in the 2017 election. In 2014, the San Antonio City Council voted unanimously to approve the construction of the Vista Ridge Pipeline Project to transport water approximately 140 miles from Burleson County to the city. Supporters said the pipeline was necessary to meet the needs of the growing population of the area, while critics argued that the city had other options—such as desalination and conservation—to address water needs that would reduce risks to the long-term water security of the area.
As of April 2017, the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) projected that the average water bill in San Antonio would cost $88 by 2020 with up to $12 of that amount being used to pay for water via the pipeline. They also stated on their website that the city would be able to "avoid the need for extreme (Stages 3 and 4) watering restrictions for the foreseeable future" with the pipeline. Stage 3 includes restrictions such as landscape watering only every other week, and Stage 4 incurs a drought surcharge for water used for landscape irrigation.[9]
Mayor Ivy R. Taylor, who also serves on the SAWS board, stated that conservation and desalination would not provide enough water as the city's population grows.[10] SAWS CEO Robert Puente said that the city was limited in the volume it would be able to provide via desalination because of a need for permits from groundwater regulators.[11]
Environmental advocacy groups, including the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance and the Alamo Group of the Sierra Club, criticized the pipeline from its inception. These groups focused on the cost of the project and have voiced concerns that the new water supply would be used to encourage high-density development in areas with fragile aquifer watersheds.[11]
In October 2016, SAWS transferred the pipeline project to Garney Construction, a construction firm based in Missouri. The contract included a clause that states if the project is not completed or that water does not ultimately flow through the pipeline to the city, SAWS does not have to pay the construction company. At the time of Garney Construction's assumption of the project, the pipeline was slated to deliver water to the city at a cost of $1,606 per acre foot for 30 years following completion of the project in 2020.[10][12]
 |  |
| Left: Map of the minor aquifers in Texas. | Right: Map of the major aquifers in Texas, including the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer. |
Support voiced for some marijuana penalty reductions[edit]
- Click here to read what candidates said about this topic in Ballotpedia's survey.
In March 2017, several members of the San Antonio City Council voiced support for decriminalizing some marijuana-related infractions. District 1 Councilman Roberto C. Treviño, District 2 Councilman Alan E. Warrick II , and District 4 Councilman Rey Saldaña all stated a preference for reducing punishments for possession of small amounts of marijuana. A spokesperson for District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca J. Viagran said that Viagran "feels it's an option worth studying." Similarly, District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales stated general support for the changes made in Harris County. The other council members and mayor did not comment on the matter immediately. In 2016, Bexar County arrested 2,477 people for possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana, according to a police spokesperson.[13]
The discussion in San Antonio followed the implementation of similar changes in Harris County, where Houston is located, on March 1, 2017. The policy gave people in the county found in possession of less than 4 ounces of marijuana the option of taking a four-hour drug education class instead of being arrested or ticketed for the infraction.[14] State officials had a mixed response to the Harris County policy. Some like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) argued against it, saying that local governments did not have the authority to choose how to enforce the laws. Others like state Sen. John Whitmire (D) supported the change, saying it was an example of appropriate discretion at the local level.[15]
City's nondiscrimination policy faces possible partial preemption[edit]
- Click here to read what candidates said about this topic in Ballotpedia's survey.
Ballotpedia's coverage of state and local preemption conflicts  |
| Coronavirus • Energy infrastructure Firearms • GMO Labor • LGBT • Marijuana Plastic bags Police department budgets Ridesharing Sanctuary jurisdictions • Soda taxes |
| Other storylines: Sharing economy Municipal partisanship |
The extension of nondiscrimination protections to LGBT persons in San Antonio's city code may be overridden in part by the state legislature, if a bill affecting bathroom use by transgender individuals is passed. The city added protections against discrimination for LGBT people in September 2013, following an 8-3 vote of the city council. At the time, Attorney General of Texas Greg Abbott wrote a letter to Mayor Julián Castro, warning the city of likely litigation over the policy, though Abbott did not explicitly say the state would challenge the provision.[16]
From the adoption of the measure to the spring of 2017, the Texas State Legislature had considered multiple measures to penalize the use of single-sex bathrooms in public facilities by people whose birth certificates do not match the sex designation of the restroom, including Senate Bill 6. On March 15, 2017, SB 6, was approved by the Senate in a 21-10 vote.[17]
Not a sanctuary city on paper, but legislation could still affect city's police[edit]
- Click here to read what candidates said about this topic in Ballotpedia's survey.
- See also: Sanctuary policy preemption conflicts between the federal and local governments
At the start of 2017, San Antonio Mayor Ivy R. Taylor and Police Chief William McManus clarified that while the city does not call itself a sanctuary city, the police force does not ask about immigration status when conducting arrests. Their statements in January came after Governor Greg Abbott (R) and President Donald Trump (R) both expressed opposition to sanctuary cities. The city's practices, regardless of the terms used to describe them, could face state preemption, as the legislature considers requiring local law enforcement to ask for proof of residency and withholding state funding if the department does not comply.[18][19][20]
Though the term sanctuary cities does not have a specific legal definition, jurisdictions self-identifying as such have employed a spectrum of law enforcement policies that do not distinguish between citizens and other residents. This spectrum ranges from instructing police not to inquire about immigration status at traffic stops to providing municipal identification cards to city residents regardless of citizenship in order to gain access to public services.
Responses from Chief McManus and Mayor Taylor[edit]
McManus argued against legislation requiring police to inquire about immigration status. Specifically, he expressed concern over its potential to undermine the police force's relationship with immigrants and people living in the area without legal permission, and, in turn, its ability to solve crimes. McManus also questioned how local police would avoid racial profiling in asking questions about immigration status. He also stated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers often visit the department's detention center to check its list of names with those currently being held by the city's police. He described the practice, saying, "They’re not looking for someone who was arrested on a traffic ticket who may happen to be illegal, they wouldn’t know anyway. They’re looking for people who have committed serious crimes and may be in our detention center."[18][19]
Mayor Taylor sent a memo to the city council, which stated:
| “ | The term Sanctuary City does not enhance, nor does it impair, SAPD’s commitment to protecting each and every citizen of San Antonio. However, mayors across the nation have chosen to move past the rhetoric and focus our efforts on public safety.
Here in San Antonio, while we do not use the term to describe our policies, SAPD does not question the immigration status of individuals. SAPD works to cultivate an environment where everyone will feel comfortable seeking the assistance of law enforcement if needed. Additionally, and in light of the new administration’s intent to eliminate federal law enforcement funding for self-designated Sanctuary Cities, I have asked the City Manager to provide City Council with a summary of current programs and funding amounts that could be jeopardized.[21] |
” |
| —Mayor Ivy R. Taylor (January 25, 2017)[18] | ||
Response from state legislators[edit]
In 2017, both chambers of the Texas Legislature passed versions of a bill that would prevent local government units from barring their law enforcement officers from asking about immigration status. The House's revised version of Senate Bill 4 passed on April 27, 2017, with a party-line 94-53 vote in favor. It removed a provision of the Senate version, which would withhold state funds from localities that did not comply with the bill.[22]
One amendment to the House version would allow local law enforcement officers to ask about immigration status during any arrest or lawful detention. It was approved 81-64. The author of the amendment, Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-6), argued for the provision saying, "This was about making sure that our law enforcement officers can continue to do what they have a duty to do, which is to make sure that we’re safe. That means using every reasonable tool available under the law to inquire about criminal activity." Another amendment by Rep. Matt Rinaldi (R) provides a method for removing elected or appointed officers who do not comply with the bill.[22]
Some Republicans voiced concerns over the amendments made to the Senate version, but the party members voted in favor of the final bill. Rep. Charlie Geren (R-99), who sponsored the bill, stated that he agreed to Schaefer's amendment in an attempt to negotiate on other parts of the bill. Rep. Byron Cook (R-8) expressed concern that the amendment exceeded what Gov. Abbott had called on the body to do, saying, "Dangerous criminals off the streets - that’s the mission. Shouldn’t be any more than that. Shouldn’t be any less than that." House Democrats voted unanimously to oppose the bill, arguing that local law enforcement officers did not support it and that it would lead to racial profiling.[22]
About the city[edit]
- See also: San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is a city in Bexar County, Texas. As of 2013, its population was 1.4 million.[23]
City government[edit]
- See also: Council-manager government
The city of San Antonio uses a council-manager system. In this form of municipal government, an elected city council—which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body—appoints a chief executive called a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the council's policy and legislative initiatives.[24]
Demographics[edit]
The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.
| Demographic data for San Antonio, Texas (2015) | ||
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | Texas | |
| Total population: | 1,413,881 | 27,429,639 |
| Land area (square miles): | 461 | 261,232 |
| Race and ethnicity[25] | ||
| White: | 78.1% | 74.9% |
| Black/African American: | 7% | 11.9% |
| Asian: | 2.6% | 4.2% |
| Native American: | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Two or more: | 2.8% | 2.5% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 63.3% | 38.4% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 81.4% | 81.9% |
| College graduation rate: | 25% | 27.6% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $46,744 | $53,207 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 19.8% | 19.9% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) | ||
Recent news[edit]
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms San Antonio Texas election. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also[edit]
| San Antonio, Texas | Texas | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
External links[edit]
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ City of San Antonio, "Candidate Listings," accessed February 21, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 City of San Antonio, "Important Election Dates," accessed February 22, 2017
- ↑ City of San Antonio, "Charter of the City of San Antonio Texas," May 2015
- ↑ mySA, "Effects of new term limits are beginning to take hold," April 17, 2011
- ↑ City of San Antonio, "Elections-Candidate qualifications for city council," accessed February 23, 2017
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Margaret Koenig, "Email correspondence with Dr. Jean-Philippe Nicot," April 25, 2017
- ↑ Note: The following sections are quoted verbatim from the email correspondence with Dr. Nicot.
- ↑ San Antonio Water System, "Vista Ridge Pipeline-Frequently Asked Questions," accessed April 27, 2017
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Rivard Report, "SAWS Board Approves Garney Takeover of Vista Ridge Project," May 18, 2016
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 mySA, "San Antonio City Council approves pipeline to Burleson County," October 30, 2014
- ↑ KSAT 12, "SAWS closes on financial deal for Vista Ridge pipeline project," November 3, 2016
- ↑ mySA, "5 city council members support relaxing pot policy in San Antonio," March 21, 2017
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "New policy to decriminalize marijuana in Harris County will save time, money, DA’s office says," February 16, 2017
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "New Harris County policy reignites marijuana decriminalization debate," February 16, 2017
- ↑ New York Times, "San Antonio Passes Far-Reaching Antidiscrimination Measure," September 5, 2013
- ↑ Open States, "SB 6 - Texas 85th Legislature (2017)," accessed March 21, 2017
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Texas Public Radio, "City of San Antonio Maintains It's Not A Sanctuary City," January 26, 2017
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 San Antonio Current, "San Antonio Police Chief: Anti-Sanctuary Cities Bill Is "Damaging to Local Law Enforcement"," January 27, 2017
- ↑ San Antonio Current, "Will San Antonio Be a 'Sanctuary City'?" December 1, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Dallas News, "Texas House finally passes harsher 'sanctuary cities' bill that's more like Senate version," April 27, 2017
- ↑ United States Census Bureau, "American Fact Finder," accessed April 24, 2014
- ↑ City of San Antonio, "Your Government," accessed October 24, 2014
- ↑ Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
 |
State of Texas Austin (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2021 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
EncycloReader
is supported by the 
KSF