Cabello Havrda is seeking her third City Council term representing District 6. An attorney, she serves as chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee and Transportation and Mobility Committee and sits on the Governance, Intergovernmental Relations and Municipal Utilities committees.
Hear from the candidate
The following questions were asked of all City Council candidates.
Please tell voters about yourself.
I have had the honor and privilege to represent District 6 since 2019. I attended elementary, middle and high school in District 6, and studied at St. Mary’s University, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a law degree from the St. Mary’s School of Law. I also earned an MBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio. I am a practicing disability attorney, small business owner and licensed realtor. I have been married for 25 years and consider my most important role to be that of the mother of three children — a college student, a high school student and a middle school student.
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 am running for reelection to a third term on the City Council and have served as a board member of the following organizations: Magik Theater board of directors, Committee for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies advisory committee, Transplants for Children board of directors and the Community Housing Resources board of directors.
I served on the staff of a former San Antonio mayor, where I worked on special projects and community/council office relations. Early in my career I worked for the San Antonio Parks Foundation, where under the tutelage of Mayor Emeritus Lila Cockrell I coordinated projects and organized fundraisers, among them the restoration of the Japanese Tea Gardens.
What three issues do you consider to be most pressing for your district and how would you address them?
1. Transportation
I’m committed to the development of a new airport terminal, I-35 corridor connectivity, a Vision Zero approach to reduce fatalities on roadways and a comprehensive bicycle and sidewalks plan.
I believe that transportation begins at the front door, and that has been my approach to all of my work regarding our transportation needs and development.
2. Preparing for growth
D6 is one of the fastest growing areas of the state and San Antonio is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. The I-35 corridor is projected to have 7.5 million people by 2030. We have to prepare now for growth.
As chair of the council’s Transportation and Mobility Committee, as well as chair-elect of the AAMPO and member of SAMCO I have a unique set of platforms to guide a vital part of that preparation.
3. Public safety
As chair of the council’s Public Safety Committee I am concerned with three issues: the rising crime rate, mental health and homelessness.
The city has many programs where we’re helping those who struggle with homelessness. But it’s the hard-to-reach population that presents a challenge. The city has spent close to $77 million in federal, state and local funds on emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, housing vouchers, day centers, resource hubs and permanent supportive housing. The FY 2024 budget talks include affordable housing and permanent supportive housing, as well as low-barrier shelters and wrap-around services. But the problem is persistent and requires an equally persistent and innovative approach to finding a solution.
I’m a strong advocate for our community’s mental health and believe that along with more and better equipment our first responders need the mental health care that their jobs require. This includes support for our veterans, many of whom are dealing with mental health issues.
I believe that our most pressing issues are connected. Every decision we make regarding public safety is a public health decision. Every public safety decision is an education decision. Every public safety decision is a mental health decision.
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?
I am opposed to Proposition A.
There are parts of the proposition that I disagree with. I held a district community meeting where I heard my constituents’ concerns regarding the theft and graffitti measures in the proposition, which they believe would hurt home and business owners. These measures send the message that there is no immediate threat of jail and no incentive to stop committing crime. The SAPD and the DA already use discretion when it comes to these circumstances.
I am a strong advocate of women’s reproductive rights and signed the resolution of Aug. 2 that recognizes abortion services as health care. I have also supported bans on chokeholds and no-knock warrants. My strong advocacy for safety, rights and clear voting options will continue.
How do you feel the city has done at balancing the needs of downtown and the neighborhoods, from bond projects to budget priorities?
Downtown has received the bulk of the budget priority and bond attention in recent years, and while neighborhoods have not been neglected, there is a need to address the growth happening in many of our city’s neighborhoods.
There are pressing infrastructure and public safety needs, and I’ve been encouraged with the recent focus on housing and high traffic corridor safety. As we move forward on neighborhood improvements we should learn from our experience in the downtown area and make sure that our efforts affect the normal course of business as little as possible. Small business is the backbone of our economy and we should support it with every decision. The same applies for supporting the military, military retirees, veterans and enlisted personnel.
If elected, how do you plan to solicit input and feedback from residents in your district?
District 6 is diverse — it is a microcosm of San Antonio: Every socioeconomic sector in the city, area of development and opportunity is represented in D6. From Alamo Ranch to Edgewood, the district is supported by strong HOAs and neighborhood organizations that are a vital link in our communication chain. We have a robust online presence and weekly newsletter distribution, and we strive to respond to resident concerns within 24 hours. The most rewarding way that my team and I gather input is through face-to-face conversations. I cherish our community events and our block-walking outreach, where I can talk to constituents in person to listen to their ideas and concerns. This is especially true where there is low internet connectivity. In these parts of the district we rely on fliers and door-knocking to spread our messages.
I will continue these practices and find ways to improve on them.
Read more about Melissa Cabello Havrda
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From collaboration to ‘nuclear option’: The political evolution of Melissa Cabello Havrda
