Julisa Medrano-Guerra is the co-owner of Paramour rooftop bar.
Hear from the candidate
Please tell voters about yourself.
I am Julisa Medrano-Guerra, a 26-year-old born in Garden City, Kansas, to Mexican immigrant parents who worked in a meatpacking plant. After moving to West Texas, I graduated in the top 10% of my high school class while working at Baskin Robbins to support my family. I worked my way through Texas State University, working nights at a Walmart distribution center to pay for my education, and earned a degree in criminal justice.
After making San Antonio my home, I began my career at Paramour, eventually becoming an owner and turning it into one of the most successful bars in San Antonio. I co-launched and run the restaurant Colette, a premiere dining destination. When Broadway was shut down for construction, every business suffered and I decided to get involved because no one deserves to be ignored.
List any previous experience in government or participation on local boards, commissions, or neighborhood associations.
I’m not a politician, I’m a small business owner. I haven’t held a formal government role or served on local boards, because I didn’t feel like opportunities like that were open to young Latinas, like me. My hands-on experience as a small business owner downtown is the foundation of my qualifications. Managing multiple businesses taught me about workforce needs, the negative impact of constantly rising property taxes, CPS and SAWS rates, and navigating city red tape.
Our traditional systems are ignoring the people they are supposed to be responsive to. Each year the same city hall politicians tell us everything is getting better, and it just isn’t true. It is past time for my generation to break through glass ceilings of all kinds, whether they are real or perceived. I want other young women like me and young people in general to know they can make a difference.
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 1 and how would you work to address them in your first 100 days?
Every issue identified in the survey is important to District 1, especially the issue of homelessness. The current city programming has let down all sides of the issue. I would like to draw on the example of Harris County and implement a create a ‘Homeless Court’ that will help the unhoused find nonprofit, local, state, and federal resources and adopt a housing-first mindset, supported by wraparound services.
With a $4 billion budget, COSA doesn’t have a resource problem, it has a priorities problem. We must take the foot off the neck of retirees, students, homeowners, and small businesses by ending the annual tradition of jacking up CPS and SAWS rates, along with property taxes.
Additionally, with all of the chaos and uncertainty in DC, it is vital that San Antonio leaders protect critical funding for programs like DEI and Accessibility which was cut by $117,000 in the last year’s budget. We cannot abandon communities in need during these tumultuous times.
In a crowded field of council candidates, what differentiates you from the others?
As a small business owner, I understand the challenges of making payroll, managing employees, and combating rising inflation. Unlike career politicians, I’ve faced real-world financial hurdles impacting both workers and business owners. With uncertainty coming from Washington, D.C., we need leaders who can implement practical, community-driven solutions.
My culture has taught me that cooperation, collaboration, and listening are vital for problem-solving. Public safety is paramount; I support our first responders wholeheartedly. However, proposals like utilizing retired officers for non-emergency calls can lead to reduced active-duty forces and slower response times, as evidenced in New Orleans, where average response times have reached nearly three hours. City Hall should welcome more than just big-dollar lobbyists influencing policies.
If elected, how do you plan to solicit input and feedback from residents in your district?
The most important things in District 1 don’t happen at City Hall, they happen in our neighborhoods. I plan to leverage new technological innovations to create accessible platforms where residents can easily share their thoughts and concerns. However, effective constituent service requires more than just technology; it demands a stable and experienced team. When staff members are frequently replaced, residents often find themselves restarting the process of seeking assistance, leading to frustration and unresolved problems.
As I transition into office, I will ensure continuity so that ongoing issues do not fall through the cracks. I will build a team that stays in place, so when residents call, they speak with someone who knows their issue and can get it resolved — not someone new who’s just learning the job.
Read more about Julisa Medrano-Guerra
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