The last time Mayor Ivy Taylor was on the ballot, the acting mayor won her first full term in office in 2015 by defeating former State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte in a runoff by a 4-point margin, 52%-48%. Van de Putte recently endorsed Taylor for a second full term.
Councilman Ron Nirenberg (D8), first elected in 2013, served as the chairman of the committee that directed the mayor’s signature SA Tomorrow initiative, but he now is seeking to do what has only been done twice in the last 25 years, and that’s unseat an incumbent mayor. By doing so, the two-term councilman will give up a third term serving the fast-growing northwest district that includes the South Texas Medical Center and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
It wouldn’t be a mayor’s race in San Antonio without a third candidate spoiler, and this time it is Bexar County Democratic Party Chairman Manuel Medina, who has never held elected office and is largely unknown to many city voters. Medina, who referred to himself as “financially and politically independent” at his campaign announcement, has proudly touted his party affiliation at other community and campaign events, despite city elections being nonpartisan.
All three will come together on stage Tuesday at the Pearl Stable from 6:30-8 p.m. for a San Antonio Mayoral Town Hall Debate organized by the Rivard Report and moderated by Robert Rivard.
A number of civic and neighborhood organizations invited to participate in the town hall format will have a representative in the audience to pose a question to the candidates. Other questions from the public and audience members will be invited via Twitter. The event will be live-streamed on the Rivard Report Facebook page.
“I’m looking forward to talking with voters about the progress we’ve made, our future challenges, and my vision of making San Antonio a city where everyone has the opportunity to get ahead,” Taylor said Wednesday. “Strengthening our basic services, including streets and drainage, parks and senior centers. Attracting and retaining good jobs, and teaching 21st-Century skills to our young people and unemployed or under-employed workers to end generational poverty. Taking on violent crime so we can feel safe in our neighborhoods. These are the reasons I’m asking voters for another term.”
The town hall will begin with each candidate delivering a five-minute opening statement. After initial questions from Rivard, he will call on individuals in the audience and representing the various civic and neighborhood groups to ask a question. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The moderator will ask a follow-up question if necessary to clarify responses or differentiate positions among the candidates.
Some time will be reserved for questions other audience members post on Twitter, using the hashtag #SAtownhall2017. Each candidate will be given two minutes to deliver a closing statement at the end of the 90-minute debate.
“I am excited to have this opportunity to put ourselves before the public in the most open and transparent way for a civil, substantive discussion of the issues,” Nirenberg said Tuesday. “This will allow voters to cut through the campaign rhetoric and bombast and see firsthand where candidates stand.”
The event is open to the public, but tickets will be required due to the limited size of the venue, which holds 400 people. Follow this link to reserve your spot. General admission is standing-room only, but Rivard Report members and others requiring accommodation can reserve seating by contacting mason@rivardreport.com. Participants can make a suggested $10 donation in support of nonprofit local journalism and future community engagement events when reserving tickets or at the door.
Each of the three campaigns is being provided with 25 tickets.
“I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and sharing my vision ‘S.A. Today.’ This unique Town Hall setting will present voters with the opportunity to weigh in with questions,” Medina said Wednesday. “It will require candidates to be candid and concise with their answers. And it will lead to a more informed electorate as we approach this year’s municipal elections.”
The Pearl is a sponsor of the San Antonio Mayoral Town Hall Debate.
Hopefully facts and unbiased reporting will find their way into these articles about city elections. This story says Medina has never held elected office however he has been elected three times to serve as Chairman of the Bexar County Democratic Party. Is that not holding public office? And why the ‘spoiler candidate’ label? Are city hall insiders supposed to be the only viable candidates who should dare put their names on the ballot?
We have a local guy, Keven Roles on the ballot, I’m not sure why an invitation was not extended to his campaign?
It appears that there are those who want to put the “fix” on this race. Don’t do that Rivard.
My question for Mayor Ivy Taylor and Ron Nirenberg is why they caved in to ride share corporate demands and voted for an Uber and Lyft contract on December 8, 2016 WITHOUT mandatory fingerprint and criminal background checks for all Uber and Lyft drivers? This vote happen after SAPD was investagating on October 2016 a sexual assault by an Uber driver. Another sexual assault was reported on Harrigan Court in Alamo Heights.
Manuel Medina has been a successful candidate twice in two county wide races for Democratic County Chair. So his present position is one as an elected one.
On all these articles on the Rivard it seems to me that the Rivard has already made up their mind on who they are endorsing and supporting to be the next mayor. So very unprofessional.
Hello, Martha. The Rivard Report does not endorse candidates, but welcomes well-thought commentaries and op-eds from citizens and leaders. Our submission guidelines are here: https://therivardreport.com/submissions/
I am curious why there are only 3 candidates invited to the debate, when there are 13 candidates running. Rhett Smith actually came in 2nd in the mayoral race to Julian Castro. As far as I can tell there has not been any polling to determine inclusion. This might be a good story to cover.