Whyte, 43, is business attorney who has served on the city’s Zoning Commission and Ethics Review Board. A resident of the Marymont neighborhood, he ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Texas House District 121 in 2018.
Hear from the candidate
The following questions were asked of all City Council candidates.
Please tell voters about yourself.
I’ve lived in San Antonio for 20 years. I have a business degree from Wake Forest University and a law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law here in San Antonio. I own my own firm and have been a business attorney and mediator for the past 17 years.
Do you have any previous experience in government or participation on local boards, commissions or neighborhood associations? Have you run for elected office before?
Over the past 10 years I have served as the District 10 representative on the City of San Antonio’s Ethics Review Board, board of Port San Antonio and the Zoning Commission. Additionally, at the state level I have served on the Texas Transportation Advisory Commission, and locally I served on the board of the Northeast Neighborhood Alliance. I have run for office once before when I ran for state representative.
What three issues do you consider to be most pressing for your district and how would you address them?
Crime, property taxes and economic development. Crime is the No. 1 issue I hear about when I knock on doors. People are now scared of crime coming to their homes and businesses. This is unacceptable, as people should not have to live with this fear. The first thing we should do is vote “no” on Proposition A. After we defeat that proposition, we need to find the funding to put 300 more officers on the streets.
With regard to property taxes, we need immediate relief for our citizens. To accomplish this we need to double the local homestead exemption, work with the state Legislature to put policies in place that make the appraisal process more transparent, and stop spending so much money so that our tax rates can come down.
And finally, District 10 needs to be revitalized. We need to offer incentives for businesses to invest in District 10 and create more good-paying jobs for San Antonio residents.
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 strongly oppose Proposition A for a number of reasons. First, what it does with respect to abortion and marijuana is meaningless, as it would be against state law. The city has already acknowledged this. Second, the charter amendment would promote crime as it would no longer allow law enforcement to arrest someone who (a) steals goods or services totaling a value of less than $750 or (b) damages property via graffiti if the damage is less than $2,500. In other words, criminals will no longer have to fear being arrested for these crimes, and thus more crime will be the result. And finally, creating a new governmental position — the Justice Director — to oversee any legislation having to do with police is dangerous, especially in light of the fact that the charter amendment would require that this Justice Director have no background in law enforcement. Such a move is simply a step towards defunding the police. Vote “no” on Proposition A. Don’t San Francisco my San Antonio!
How do you feel the city has done at balancing the needs of downtown and the neighborhoods, from bond projects to budget priorities?
This city has not done a good job in this regard. San Antonio is growing, and that’s great. Development and new housing projects are important for San Antonio as people continue to move here and as we continue to strive to gain the recognition as being a world-class city, which we are. But far too often, the city overlooks the basic, everyday needs of those living in our neighborhoods. Rather than yet another project on the East or South sides of town, we should focus on making sure our streets and sidewalks are safe, our pipes and other infrastructure are in working order and up to date, and that our police, firefighters and other first responders are given everything they need to do their jobs to the best of their ability.
If elected, how do you plan to solicit input and feedback from residents in your district?
Constituent services will be my No. 1 priority. We will make it known to every resident in District 10 just who they can contact on any issue at any time. Additionally, I plan to hold periodic town hall meetings with the residents of District 10 so that I can hear directly from them on what the different needs are of our residents. My job as the city councilman of District 10 is to ensure that my constituents are safe, and after I take office I will do everything in my power to ensure their safety and to try and improve their day-to-day lives.
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