Bexar County Democratic Chairman Manuel Medina has hired former District 10 Councilman Carlton Soules, a conservative Republican, to help Medina’s bid to become San Antonio’s next mayor.
The two local businessmen were once “friendly adversaries” on the partisan political stage, Soules told the Rivard Report on Thursday, but were both surprised to find they agreed on a number of issues.
When it comes to questioning the Vista Ridge water pipeline, utility rate increases, ethical review policy, salaries of public officials, and the proposed $850 million bond, they’re on the same page. They differ on other issues that typically divide Republicans and Democrats, Soules said without going into specifics, but those issues rarely come up in the day-to-day operations of nonpartisan, city government.
“We’re going to have to just agree to disagree on certain things,” he said, “but most of the issues that come before Council once you get past the rhetoric is infrastructure, it’s utilities, it’s airport – it’s stuff that’s not partisan. That’s the real job.”
Soules is founder and president of campaign consulting and analytics firm Strategic Market Services. He was twice elected to represent District 10 on City Council and resigned in 2013 to run for Bexar County judge. Judge Nelson Wolff earned 52% of the vote to Soules’ 44%.
Medina is running against incumbent Mayor Ivy Taylor, Councilman Ron Nirenberg (D8) and 11 other candidates in the May 6 General Election. The $850 million 2017 bond also will be put before voters on the same date.
Medina reached out to Soules in January to begin work on his campaign and publicly announced the partnership while answering a question Wednesday night at a mayoral debate.
“[Soules and I] will bring independent leadership. Together we represent transparent leadership … [and] an era of local government accountable to the people and for the people,” Medina told the Rivard Report, quoting his own promotional video published on his Facebook page.
Nirenberg has characterized Medina’s campaign tactics and opposition to City Hall and City Manager Sheryl Sculley as “bombastic rhetoric.”
There were three main reasons Medina chose to hire Soules: his expertise in local government, his fiscally conservative positions on Council issues, and his “willingness to find common ground,” Medina said.
“We’re going to bring Democrats and Republicans and Progressives and Tea Partiers together from all across town to challenge the powerful special interests in city hall,” Medina said. “Democrats and Republicans got together to defeat the street car and Democrats and Republicans are going to get together to elect Manuel Medina.”
Taylor won a significant portion of the Northside Republican vote in 2015, and Medina hopes to capture some of that vote with Soules’ help.
“But cost effective government appeals to people across the political spectrum,” Medina said.
He pointed to the recent controversy over the river barge contract as one of many reasons that voters should look to him, a self-described “outsider” when it comes to local politics, for leadership that’s not beholden to “special interests.”
“For business owners, it looks like you need to be politically connected to the mayor” in order to do business with the City, he said.
Taylor and Nirenberg deny any preference on who receives the contract. Taylor has concerns over how the application process was handled and the involvement of former Mayor Phil Hardberger with the front-running applicant. Nirenberg is concerned Taylor interfered on behalf of the runner-up.
Though Medina has never held elected office, Soules’ said he has the decision-making and leadership skills from running three companies in his corner as well as the ability to divorce himself from partisan politics.
“I don’t know what my plumber’s politics are, I just need him to fix the leak under my sink,” Soules said, such is the professional role of the mayor: to set aside politics and get to work for the city.
Medina has been campaigning all over the city, he said, noting that he is self-funding his campaign with a $250,000 loan. He hopes to earn a significant portion of that money back from contributors. Of the 536 contributions to his campaign, which includes a $1,000 donation from his wife, Janet Soto Ayoub, most were a little more than $5. So far, Medina has raised $5,451.48.
So… I guess this decision means Manuel Medina will apologize to Nirenberg for his remarks during the town hall about having to “twist his arm” to vote for the non-discrimination ordinance?
Carlton Soules voted AGAINST the NDO in 2013.
Why should he? He is not responsible for Soules’ vote in 2013. Your logic is flawed.
I think Rob’s point is that it comes across as hypocritical for Medina to criticize Nirenberg for a perceived hesitation before his yes vote on the NDO, and then turn around and trumpet the endorsement of an actual opponent of the NDO.
No candidate is responsible for the positions of every single one of their supporters, but by bringing Soules on as a surrogate to lend his campaign a veneer of bipartisanship he has opened himself up to these charges of hypocrisy.
This shows how Medina is not afraid to word people with different believes.
Moved here from H-Town recently…don’t know why local elections here are tied to political parties. It doesn’t fit….not at this level. Just say’n.
That’s the crazy part. It’s all nonpartisan elections at the local level in San Antonio. Or at least it’s supposed to be.
I like this combo however I am independent conservative on all aspects of government local, state and federal.
Here is what worries me we have a Democrat i.e. Medina presenting a campaign based on him seemingly being is right of center leaning conservative democrat.
Bexar County Democratic Chairman Manuel Medina has hired former District 10 Councilman Carlton Soules, a conservative Republican, to help Medina’s bid to become San Antonio’s next mayor which may be a good move, however albeit I like his stance or what seems as a strong stance on irresponsible spending and rate increases i.e. questioning the Vista Ridge water pipeline, utility rate increases, ethical review policy, salaries of public officials, and the proposed $850 million bond, we on the same page.
I have no clue at this point on his stance on sanctuary cities , immigration issues and how or what his stance is on the emergency services contracts and how or what his approach would be to solve this issue.
I hope that he is not completely swayed by his party line i.e. partisanship to make decisions remember elected officials are elected and albeit they may be elected as a or by a party they in the end serve the constituency I hope he states this with fervor when running it may mean many votes towards him if he does.
I believe it’s shameful on the part of the city to have this $850 bond to go on the ballot the same time as we elect a new mayor who may want a different direction to better position the city fiscally this bond should be put on a separate ballot on a date further down the road to election of mayor.
What is also showing Ron N. claws is that Medina campaigns as “bombastic rhetoric.” Why because he is actually talking fiscal responsibility concerned about the tax payer.
I would vote for Medina if only a few questions regarding some of the above outlined are answered I would quickly vote for this man as the others are too established in our local gov.
V.H.
Just did my homework on Mr.Medina again the problem with Medina is that he has openly decided to stand against the President of the United States and most likely against our Governor as well for me this is not tolerable nor acceptable. A mayor’s job would be to do the work of the city and its citizens not use his/her position as a bully pulpit to expound on their political views. Look albeit we are a predominantly majority Hispanic city this does not mean that the entire constituency agrees with the views of illegals in our city in fact it is my belief we should not dismiss them but should help them work on how to get a path to getting documented, vetted and move forward from there not work against the Federal and State mandates Ever! These views alone set the tone for me to never vote for Medina! Our country cannot continue to be drained by anyone coming here illegally the use of entitlements which are a burden on all of us. True solutions are to get immigration system fixed however in the meantime those illegally here must get in line to get documented at minimum get working visa to get on track and off our rolls.
V.H.