Baecker, 51, has worked as an accountant in the telecommunications, energy and medical device industries and teaches economics at Northwest Vista College. He unsuccessfully sought the District 6 seat in 2021.
Hear from the candidate
The following questions were asked of all City Council candidates.
Please tell voters about yourself.
I was raised in Victoria, Texas, watching Chris Marrou, Dan Cook and Albert Flores every night on KENS5. I’ve lived in San Antonio since April 2000. I have a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Texas at Dallas, and a masters in economics from UTSA. I’ve been an accountant in the telecommunications, energy and medical device industries. I teach economics at night at Northwest Vista College.
Do you have any previous experience in government or participation on local boards, commissions or neighborhood associations? Have you run for elected office before?
I have sat in on zoning commission meetings, committee meetings (Ready 2 Work) and lost an election to a homeowners association board by a tie-breaking coin flip. I ran for City Council in 2021.
What three issues do you consider to be most pressing for your district and how would you address them?
Equitable infrastructure treatment, curbing the aggressive/dangerous/stray dog issue, equalizing the lowest possible tax rate.
Do you support the proposed city charter amendment, known as Proposition A or the Justice Charter, that would bar certain policing tactics, decriminalize abortion and low-level marijuana possession and create a city justice director to oversee criminal justice policy? Why or why not?
No. Excusing theft encourages more, and discourages people from starting small businesses, going out, etc. The justice director is just another layer of bureaucracy that adds to the burden on the taxpayer. Chokeholds are already banned at the state level.
How do you feel the city has done at balancing the needs of downtown and the neighborhoods, from bond projects to budget priorities?
Not well. You all have done well to point out the “over-construction,” the abuse and misuse of the bond process when prior bond elections have yet to be fully utilized, etc. Downtown has become needlessly burdensome to navigate, while scapegoating horse-drawn carriages. At a budget town hall last August, I witnessed one city official set a low bar of expectations by claiming “we won’t do something numbskull like put a light post in the middle of a sidewalk,” while another strolled out of the building as a resident was expressing dismay at the animal control issue.
If elected, how do you plan to solicit input and feedback from residents in your district?
My door/phone/email/socials will be wide open to constituents who have concerns about the city’s effectiveness, or lack thereof, in delivering core municipal functions. I will consult with any who may be directly impacted by this city proposal or that.
