William John Ruppel Jr. had a 27-year career at USAA, where he worked as an appraiser. He will appear on the ballot as Bill Ruppel.
Hear from the candidate
Please tell voters about yourself.
I was born here in San Antonio where I have lived all of my life. I had a professional career with USAA for 27 years. I believe in a strong work ethic and family values. I have been Bexar County Elections Judge since May 2023 to present. I have never run for a political office but look forward to my first opportunity to represent the people of San Antonio, for the people of San Antonio, by the people of San Antonio.
In a field of 27 mayoral candidates, what differentiates you from the others?
As an appraiser for USAA I came to understand the difficulties to weather through unexpected times. A situation, which may be simple to you or I, may be overwhelming to someone else. However, by working together and listening to one’s specific needs, we can get through obstacles which may have seemed impossible to pass.
By taking an open-minded realistic approach to the residents of San Antonio, with no idea too big or small, as a community, we can take on the challenges of today and tomorrow with a unified approach. San Antonio is one of the most diversified cities in the Country with a known multicultural community and history. Let’s take on the changes of today and tomorrow together.
If elected, you would be taking over at a time when the city has spent more than a year negotiating a massive downtown redevelopment effort in Project Marvel. How would you approach this project?
If elected Mayor, I would take on an open-minded approach to be appropriately educated on the details of Project Marvel. However, there are many issues which need to be addressed which draw strong areas of concern; parking, congestion, population, and revenue of existing businesses in the area. I am for the renovation of the Convention Center and the Alamodome.
However, a new Spurs Event Center is unrealistic and unwarranted. When the SBC Center was built it was a convincing “Must need” to keep the Spurs in San Antonio so it was convincingly approved. The Frost Center may indeed need renovations to keep up with modern times. However, are we now again in another “Must need” situation for the Spurs?
I am completely against tax funding a new Spurs Event Center. If you or I started a business wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone else paid for it while we benefit from the profits? Since the Frost Center renovation is for a multi-venue facility I would think it would be fair to say a joint funded effort with the Spurs organization would be the most realistic approach.
In the city’s 2024-2025 budget survey, residents ranked homelessness, streets,
housing and animal care services among their top concerns for the city to address. Which issues do you consider a top concern and how would you work to address them in your first 100 days?
There are many areas of concern which are currently being addressed by the City of San Antonio. However, one of my biggest areas of concern is protecting the citizens of San Antonio. There have been my uncommon acts of violence now becoming the norm. We have from road rage to domestic issues to gang violence and police involved shootings. All of which lead to death to include the parties involved, innocent victims and bystanders.
I would like to have a two part initiative with SAPD and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department to identify all areas of concern. By working with the DA’s office to help establish what are the most likely or probable situations prone to more violence or death, we can establish a reporting system flagging these situations when reported with this rating system on reoccurring trends before they escalate with possible preventive action or education not to withhold incarceration for early acts committed. If we are proactively involved in the beginning, maybe we can put an end to this violent trend. I am also concerned with our cities infrastructure and homelessness. I would like to work with the existing contributing communities and alliance to continue support and partnership with an overall goal to defeat homelessness.
For the past four years San Antonio has worked closely with the Biden Administration on federally funded projects like airport development and Advanced Rapid Transit. How would you approach working with both state leaders in Austin and a new presidential administration in D.C.?
In order to work with both state leaders and a new Presidential administration I would need to be educated appropriately on the details of both projects.
There appears to be alarming concern in regards to the new Presidential administration and their Federal Funding efforts. I would like to meet with our state leaders in regards to a continuous effort to keep both projects on target. I would also like to add, if not already in discussion, a possible Rapid Transit System set up from downtown to the airport to align with the continuous growth and development of San Antonio.
Read more about Bill Ruppel
Inside the expensive, ‘confusing,’ 27-candidate race to be San Antonio’s next mayor
