Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) is a former teacher and council staffer who was elected to the City Council in 2021.
Hear from the candidate
Please tell voters about yourself.
I am the eldest son of two veterans and have called San Antonio home since 2013. After graduating from Fort Knox High School in Fort Knox, Kentucky, I moved here to attend UTSA, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication, followed by a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
My passion for service led me to education, first as a City Year member at Davis Middle School, then as a high school math teacher at Sam Houston, Madison, and Young Men’s Leadership Academy.
Since being elected in 2021, I’ve worked alongside residents to secure historic investments in infrastructure, housing, and public safety, including a street lighting index, an insulin assistance program, our home repair programs, and an eastside spay/neuter hub. My focus remains on delivering real solutions that improve quality of life for our community.
List any previous experience in government or participation on local boards, commissions, or neighborhood associations.
- City Councilman, District 2 (2021-present)
- Chair, Municipal Court Advisory Committee (2023-present)
- Member, Public Safety Committee (2021-present)
- Member, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (2023-present)
- Member, Intergovernmental Relations Committee (2021-2022, 2024-present)
- Member, Community Health, Environment & Culture Committee (2021-2023)
- Member, Audit & Accountability Committee (2021-2023)
- Board Member, San Antonio Education Partnership (2021-2024)
- Trustee, San Antonio Housing Trust (2021-present)
- Member, San Antonio Democratic Socialists of America (2019-present)
- Member, Texas Organizing Project (2017-2021)
- Board Member, Stonewall Democrats (2019)
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 for District 2 and how would you work to address them in your first 100 days?
District 2 residents have been clear about their priorities: affordable housing, safer streets, and stronger community investment. The first 100 days of my next term will be critical, not just because we’ll have a new mayor and at least four new council members, but because we’ll immediately begin making major decisions, including: the city budget process, where I’ll push for funding to expand home repair programs, improve our streets and sidewalks, and increase investment in community safety; financial planning for Project Marvel and the new Spurs arena, ensuring that our Eastside residents receive real benefits, not just promises, when major
developments come to our district; early planning for the 2027 Bond Program, prioritizing long-overdue investments for District 2; and the police collective bargaining process, where I’ll continue advocating for accountability and violence prevention strategies.
Unlike many incoming council members, I won’t be starting from scratch, I’ll be ready to get to work on day one. My experience and relationships at City Hall will help me secure the resources and investments District 2 deserves.
In a crowded field of council candidates, what differentiates you from the others?
Leadership isn’t about holding a title, it’s about service. That means putting people first, listening to residents, and working together to solve problems.
As a former teacher, I understand the power of collaboration. My office has prioritized transparency and accessibility, from open office hours to direct door-to-door outreach. We’ve built strong relationships across the community, ensuring that residents are informed and involved in decision-making.
I also bring experience that no other candidate in this race has. For more than a decade, District 2 has lacked a senior representative at City Hall. That has cost us in funding and investment. As one of only three senior council members, I’ll be in a position to mentor new colleagues, serve on key committees, and continue advocating for real progress in District 2. This election isn’t about starting over, it’s about building on the progress we’ve made together.
If elected, how do you plan to solicit input and feedback from residents in your district?
Engaging the community isn’t just a campaign promise, it’s how I lead. My team and I have made District 2 one of the most engaged in the city, and we will continue to: deliver a monthly newsletter reaching over 10,000 households, providing updates, surveys, and opportunities to get involved; host open office hours at various locations across the district, making it easy for residents to share concerns or ask questions; maintain two district field offices (one on E. Commerce and one on Rittiman) to better serve residents across the East and Northeast sides; and conduct direct door-to-door outreach, proactively addressing concerns and assisting residents with city services.
I believe our government works best when it listens. That’s why I remain committed to ensuring that every resident has a voice in shaping our community’s future.
Read more about Jalen McKee-Rodriguez
McKee-Rodriguez slapped with ethics violation over big-rig development dispute
McKee-Rodriguez tussles with city staff over unestablished Office of Crime and Recidivism
From classroom to Council chambers and back again: McKee-Rodriguez returns to teaching part-time
Once the insurgent, McKee-Rodriguez is still critiquing the city while seeking a second term
