I did not intend to get involved in the San Antonio Mayor’s race this year, but recent events have prompted me to speak up.
I am disappointed in Mayor Ivy Taylor’s recent decisions to unnecessarily inject partisan politics into our local elections, and in a way that is deceptive and unfair. I was proud to see that San Antonians rejected such tactics in the first round of voting, when they decisively voted against a mayoral candidate who misrepresented San Antonio’s real challenges and personally attacked journalists. I hope that voters will continue to reject leaders who behave in ways that divide, rather than unite, our great city.
As many of you know, I stepped down after 15 years in the Texas Legislature two years ago to run for mayor. One of the many reasons I was attracted to local government was my appreciation for the can-do attitude of San Antonio, our willingness to work together as neighbors to solve issues that mattered to our daily lives, to make decisions based on a belief in our future: investments in Pre-K, in linear parks, in the San Antonio River, in major infrastructure projects.
In short, while tribal partisanship was making the state and national government less and less functional, at the local level people were rolling up their sleeves and getting things done together, perhaps in part because they ran for office with neither a “D” or an “R” beside their name.
Unfortunately, we saw partisanship infect the 2015 Mayor’s race, which came on the heels of a highly partisan statewide race. The race for Mayor became characterized as a proxy contest between liberal and conservative.
National events today make it is almost impossible to escape this toxic and often meaningless division. I speak as someone who took potshots for routinely working with Republicans as an elected Democrat, though these compromises brought results.
At the local level, we can choose to draw a bright line. We can focus on the issues that affect our city, from policing and safety, to taxes and infrastructure, to investment in our people in a global talent competition. We can insist that our local leaders work for the interests of our entire community by being socially just and fiscally responsible with our tax dollars. Perhaps most importantly, we can demand that our local leaders behave with integrity, and act as role models for our youth. Only the voters can determine if character matters in elections.
I have never been a believer in politicians endorsing other politicians, and many of my former supporters have good reasons to back either Mayor Taylor or Councilman Ron Nirenberg (D8). But I do believe as public leaders we set a tone. We can lead with love, which is infectious and positive, or we can prey upon people’s fears and spread negativity like a cancer. We are called on to be peacemakers in every part of our life, including our civic life. I know this is not easy. It never has been. But, it is the only path forward to overcome our city’s challenges and unlock our community’s true potential.
Well said , thank you Mr Villarreal
Bravo, Mike. I hope this peace gets wider publication. Thank you for your service to our community
Bravo, Mike. I hope this piece gets wider publication. Thank you for your service to our community
Thank you for the encouraging words, Mike, and may we San Antonians come together in peace to support us all towards a brighter future. Thank you for your service to us in The Lege, as well.
Hmmmm.
Perhaps Mr V is niaeve or just ignores the reality of organized party specific efforts to influence our local elections. I tend to believe the later.
I appreciate the lecture, however ignoring reality to further lecturing points does a disservice to the argument.
Nice try
Not just politics. religion has also become a tool to judge and divide.
Aren’t most people completely disgusted with this kind of divisive politicking? Doesn’t Congress have an approval rating lower than colonoscopies or cock roaches? Why bring political dirty tricks and ignorance to to our city? I don’t believe democracy and winning at any costs are compatible. THank you for this fine editorial and also thank you for your past service Mr Villareal
Mr V, you come across as Naive, no wonder you lost your seat, your money/time, and the mayorship to Taylor(a flawed candidate) .
Mr. V might be a scholar, but he doesn’t know how to win. Move along Mike. I personally like Nirenburg, but this lecturing by Mr. V, who I like as a person, is pointless.
Let them duke it out, it’s all strategy just to win. If your in the game , that’s fine, be upfront about it.
But don’t say “I did not intend to get involved in the San Antonio Mayor’s race this year, ….”. That is nonsense.
Taylor is trying to win, so she is doing what she has to, don’t whine about “partisan politics” and then subsequently engage in it with your condescending screed.
Bro, you either are in it, or not. Can’t have it both ways.
What Mike forgets is issues rised by Manuel Medina are issues that need attention. We should not confuse partisan politics with addressing important issues like pay to play politics at City Hall, gentrification that needs to be addressed, that need to be created more job training programs, forgotten neighborhoods in the south side, west side, and east side of San Antonio and $15 minimum wage for our community. I know these are uncomfortable topics they generally are not raised by the establishment politicians. But it is the candidates with sincere concerns for our communities, and political courage that speak up. Otherwise we will continue having the old status quo politics which only the establishment benefits while the communities get the crumbs.
I disagree with you it is not partisan politics, it is politics with the political courage to do what is right and not sell out our community in the process.
Great points, Mike Villarreal. It is most certainly true that partisan politics can and do stop effective solutions from ever getting real consideration. If we “lead with love,” as you said, we have a chance at making our city a better place for all. But too often, partisan politics shut down realistic negotiation. We lose the “we” and end up with “me” and “you” and “him.” We needed you, a peacemaker and finder of common ground, as our mayor. Keep bringing it, Mike. I can’t wait to see your next incarnation.
The Non-Partisan Policy is one designed to suppress the minority vote here in San Antonio for Generations. Partisan Politics or the two party system allows for different groups to come together to push a progressive agenda that is organic and from the constituents not from elected officials. This Non-Partisan Policy has kept our communities divided which has allowed special interest and the wealthy to maintain control over municipal resources!
I disagree completely, Mr. Rosales. You have been overserved the “Kool-Aid.” Votes are only more “confused,” NOT suppressed by candidates running without a party designation. Everyone should take the time to become informed about the candidates who are vying for your vote. Listen to what they say about the issues, and if you agree vote for them, vote for them. But please, if you don’t bother to study the issues and each candidate’s position on them, you probably shouldn’t vote.
Don’t just look for a “D” or an “R” after someone’s name to determine your vote… because it doesn’t necessarily mean that they agree with you, or you with them.
Agree that the last thing we need is party politics entering local races. I don’t care what party a candidate belongs to, I can about the local issues affecting me here in my City. Keep partisanship OUT of local politics – never mention the ‘R’ or ‘D’ in local races.
I remember you. Well, what you are discussing was on display at Alamo Lounge Wednesday, 24 May 2017. I RSVP’d and received a call asking if I was interested in being an audience member. Sure, if I am fortunate they will read my question (they did). Mayor Taylor and Councilmen Nirenberg started out cordial, but that lasted all of 2o minutes; I will say that Councilmen Nirenberg threw some verbal jabs ( I groaned) that Mayor Taylor ignored, but one can only tolerate so much. Any way, I will state that Councilmen Nirenberg has taken the tactic of attacking his opponent. Any way, my question concerned City Charter Commission, review process currently on going- Councilmen Nirenberg proposed city council consideration request to move nonpartisan municipal elections to nonpartisan general election ( city May elections to Federal November election). How is November General elections nonpartisan?[(R),(D),(G),(L),(I). Fortunately, I vote and my vote will be “amplified” by historically low voter turnout during run off’s and voter apathy.