Leslie Sachanowicz is an attorney who worked for the Bexar County District Attorney’s civil section and is now in private practice. He was first elected to the Alamo Colleges Board in 2020, and is seeking a second six-year-term.
Hear from the candidate
Please tell voters about yourself.
I was born in Siedlce, Poland and my family immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada when I was six years old. Toronto is where I grew up and it is where I obtained my Bachelor of Arts degree, from the University of Toronto. I migrated to Texas in the early 1980s and went on to earn my master’s in public administration at Texas State University. This led me to receive a Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) and getting licensed as a Texas lawyer and getting certified as a mediator at University of Texas.
As a seasoned attorney of 30 plus years, I have experience in a wide range of positions, I served two stints with the Bexar County district attorney’s civil section, and I am currently in private practice as a civil attorney with my firm. Also, I was an adjunct professor at San Antonio College for 20 years.
Please describe the relevant work experience you bring to this job, and any endorsements voters should note.
The most relevant work experience that I may have brought with me is that since 2020, I have served as your ACCD District 9, board trustee, and chair of the Legal Affairs Committee.
Also, with my experience in a wide range of positions, and areas, litigation and mediation, risk mitigation, employment law, contract negotiation and corporate governance, I bring a rich relevant work experience to this role.
My fiscal experience would be relevant which includes having served on the legislative committee of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions, as a chair and vice chair of several committees at the San Antonio Credit Union (now Credit Human), as a board member of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and as a member and vice chair of the City Year San Antonio board.
Why did you decide to seek this office and how you would approach the role?
I sought this office because of my keen interest in supporting education (having been an educator) and because I have a servant heart for the community as described in Question 2 above. How you approach the role is important. When I came on to the board in 2020, I onboarded with a wait and see approach, to be a facilitator and collaborator, not a disruptor. Currently, the board has a congenial and collegial approach for their roles.
How do you solicit input and feedback from constituents?
I solicit input and feedback by actively engaging with constituents at community events, college functions, and civic meetings related to the Alamo Colleges District. I make myself accessible by sharing my contact information and encouraging direct communication through email at lsachanowicz@alamo.edu, where I respond to questions, concerns, and requests for information.
I also value opportunities to listen and learn when speaking with neighborhood associations, community organizations, and local leaders. Board meetings and public forums provide additional spaces where constituents can share their perspectives and ideas.
Equally important is maintaining an open-door approach—encouraging students, parents, faculty, and community members to reach out with feedback. Listening to these voices helps ensure that decisions made at the board level reflect the needs, priorities, and aspirations of the communities we serve.
Given the current focus on student outcomes and the overall growth that Alamo Colleges District is experiencing, what do you think are the biggest, or more pressing, opportunities and challenges you’ll face as a board?
A pressing need is to increase graduation rates and facilitate success for first-time in the family college students that come from economically challenged families, with support systems, besides the classroom.
Another challenge will be fiscal oversight. San Antonio voters overwhelmingly approved for Alamo Colleges District last year nearly a billion-dollar bond package. Key fact, there was no property tax increase with this bond package. The challenge will be the oversight of the allocation of those bonds and balancing needs from all the five Colleges.
Alamo Colleges District expansion, this is a challenge and opportunity. Whether Alamo Colleges District should consider expanding and explore the opening of a sixth campus in New Braunfels or any other community areas that show a need.
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