Courage, 71, is seeking reelection to his fourth and final term on City Council. A retired teacher and Air Force veteran, he chairs the council’s Audit and Accountability Committee and Municipal Utilities Committee and sits on the Governance, Transportation and Mobility, and Planning and Community Development committees.
Hear from the candidate
The following questions were asked of all City Council candidates.
Please tell voters about yourself.
I came to San Antonio after enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1971. After serving four years and being honorably discharged, I earned a B.A. in American studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio. I dedicated my professional career to teaching the youth of our community and retired after 25 years of service.
Do you have any previous experience in government or participation on local boards, commissions or neighborhood associations? Have you run for elected office before?
I am seeking my fourth term as City Councilman for District 9. Prior to serving on the City Council, I served on the Alamo College board of trustees and on my homeowners association board. I am a retired educator and served in the U.S. Air Force as a military police officer. I also served on the San Antonio Teachers’ Council board, have been a delegate to the National Education Association’s conventions for many years, and testified before the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Education and the State Board of Education on education legislation. I was appointed to the San Antonio Literacy Commission and was involved in the establishment of literacy centers across San Antonio in the 1990s.
What three issues do you consider to be most pressing for your district and how would you address them?
Public Safety: To address the rising crime rate, I support funding increases for public safety as I have done since taking office.
Transportation: We need strategies to decrease the number of traffic accidents and congestion on highways, especially on Loop 1604 and U.S. Highway 281, and on major road arteries.
Property tax relief: I will also continue to advocate for property tax relief by working to stabilize rising property values, as well as addressing local drainage and flood issues. Lastly, we must improve parks, trails and libraries.
Do you support the proposed city charter amendment, known as Proposition A or the Justice Charter, that would bar certain policing tactics, decriminalize abortion and low-level marijuana possession and create a city justice director to oversee criminal justice policy? Why or why not?
I do not support the proposed City Charter amendment. I have been listening to many of my neighbors from across the district and across the political spectrum. A significant number have voiced serious concerns about the implications these amendments will have on public safety in San Antonio.
This past January, advocacy groups submitted a petition to amend the City Charter and dubbed it the “Justice Charter.” The amendment is a single proposition that includes six distinct additions to the City Charter. The petitioners preferred an all-or-nothing approach. I think this was a mistake as many voters might agree with some of the changes, but not all.
While I support the right to petition their government, I question the need for these amendments. San Antonio adopted a cite-and-release policy, however, an officer still has discretion under state law to make an arrest if they deem it necessary.
The men and women that serve in the SAPD are held to high standards. As your councilman, I have worked over the last six years to fully fund public safety, increase officers on patrol, and supported the last contract, which seeks to retain and recruit only the best officers.
How do you feel the city has done at balancing the needs of downtown and the neighborhoods, from bond projects to budget priorities?
Ten years ago, the city focused on revitalizing the downtown and we are now starting to see those investments pay off, especially with the revitalization of San Pedro Creek. This is evident by the number of new residential buildings that are built in the core. We have shifted our focus to improving neighborhoods, as reflected in the last bond package that was passed.
About six years ago we began to focus on the equity budget, which sought to invest in areas of the city that were historically neglected. Previous councils roughly proportioned budgets so that each district received roughly the same amount of public investment. This would leave older parts of the city that needed more investment behind the curve. We have seen significant progress in terms of infrastructure improvement, which has raised the average condition of roadways throughout the city.
If elected, how do you plan to solicit input and feedback from residents in your district?
Input from constituents is paramount to the success of my office. I was the first councilman to implement and manage a participatory budgeting program, which gives residents the opportunity to submit projects and then directly vote to see those projects implemented. The most recent rendition garnered over 2,600 votes and is Texas’ largest participatory budget at $1.5 million. I also take residents on quarterly delegate agency tours that give residents a first-hand look at the city’s partners and various departments. I host regular “Coffee with the Councilman” and open office hours at various libraries throughout the district to bring my office closer to the residents.
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Prop A opponents swarm polls in conservative District 9, where John Courage seeks 4th term
