Groups aiming to increase the business community’s influence on the San Antonio City Council are spending to help Marina Alderete Gavito and Marc Whyte in Districts 7 and 10, while waiting to see whether the May 6 election pushes any incumbents into runoffs.
The move comes as business leaders have aimed to counteract the agenda of the council’s progressives, including Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) and Teri Castillo (D5), by backing candidates friendlier to their interests.
In seeking the two open council seats, Gavito and Whyte have raised more money than most of the incumbent council members, who traditionally have a sizable fundraising advantage.
Gavito, a former tech executive, is one of five candidates running to replace Ana Sandoval, an environmental engineer who represented District 7 from 2017 until January. Gavito has worked at Rackspace and USAA, and most recently ran a public-private partnership aimed at expanding internet access in Bexar County.
Whyte is among seven candidates vying to replace Councilman Clayton Perry (D10), the council’s lone conservative, who decided not to seek a fourth term. Whyte and his wife own two law firms.
Campaign finance reports spanning March 28 through April 26 show Gavito raised about $25,000, spent $39,000 and has $26,000 on hand. Whyte raised $38,000, spent $75,000 and had $71,000 on hand.
“I think [business leaders] like that I have a business background. … We kind of speak a similar language,” Gavito said in a recent interview. “I always tell everyone, you cannot run a city like you run a business. … But you can absolutely take business skill sets and apply them to city government.”
Gavito and Whyte have also benefited from the help of two political action committees aiming to influence policy at City Hall.
The San Antonio Equity Alliance and Better SA each reported spending on their behalf in the past month, though campaign finance reports tell only part of the story for groups that also operate 501(c)(4) nonprofits and do not have to disclose their donors.
The pro-economic growth group San Antonio Equity Alliance was a minor player in the 2021 city election and this year spent $11,000 on behalf of Whyte, and $9,000 on behalf of Gavito. The group reported raising $12,000 from four contributors and one business, Homespring Realty Partners, between March 28 and April 26.
Better SA, which formed in September, is asking candidates to sign a pledge disavowing Proposition A, a package of policing reforms on the May 6 ballot, and promising to promote “safe and affordable housing, economic growth and development, strong and effective public safety, and good-paying jobs.”
Better SA reported raising money from just two donors, Double Diamond Transport Inc., owned by former Republican state House candidate Adam Blanchard and former Real Estate Council of San Antonio President Brad Carson, who each contributed $12,500. So far the group has spent $5,200 for Gavito and $5,500 for Whyte.
Both San Antonio Equity Alliance and Better SA have nonprofit arms that don’t have to follow the same donor disclosure rules as political action committees. That’s an advantage to donors who don’t want to take a public stance against an incumbent — a much riskier bet than engaging in an open race.
Better SA declined to comment for this story. The San Antonio Equity Alliance did not respond to a request for comment.
“This is just stage one of a very long effort,” said Eddie Aldrete, a former IBC Bank vice president and Republican fundraiser who serves as Whyte’s campaign treasurer and is familiar with both groups.
“The business community has had to deal with the labor peace agreement, paid sick leave, Chick-Fil-A, Proposition B last time, Proposition A this time,” he said. “[They] got tired of playing defense and decided to play offense.”
McKee-Rodriguez, known for his outspoken progressive views, faces nine challengers this year. He reported raising $9,700 in the past month, and spending $13,800. He had roughly $13,300 on hand for the final days of the campaign.
Better SA has run ads attacking McKee-Rodriguez that do not appear on its PAC’s report.
Castillo, who faces two opponents, raised $5,500 and spent $4,600, and had roughly $23,000 on hand.
Both McKee-Rodriguez and Castillo are receiving help from the Texas Organizing Project, a statewide group with a formidable grassroots organization in San Antonio. They’ve also had help canvassing from a local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.
A third progressive council member, Mario Bravo (D1), has collected money from Carson and other downtown business leaders in his bid for a second term.
Bravo is up against two opponents who also are raising serious money: Marketing executive Jeremy Roberts, who has sought to capitalize on small business’s frustration with construction, and Sukh Kaur, who owns an education nonprofit.
Candidates aren’t allowed to accept contributions after midnight on May 2 through May 6. Runoff elections will be held June 10.
