Stephanie Powell is a retired Air Force veteran who worked in personnel and program management.
Hear from the candidate
Please tell voters about yourself.
I’m a native Texan. I’m a Widow, Mother, Gigi, Voted Best Auntie (family) and retired Air Force Veteran. I’ve spent the last 30+ years in service to others and want to continue that service for District 2. I joined the USAF to “runaway from home” and San Antonio was my first duty station for 12 years. I retired in 2013 and returned to the city I love with my husband Ronald Powell (USAF Ret MSgt).
I was in Personnel (Enlisted) and Program Management (Officer) for the USAF. I also worked part time in San Antonio driving a river tour boat, retail, and hotel in SA. I’ve been a basketball, softball and baseball referee. Graduate of Wayland Baptist University San Antonio. I spend my time outside of work trying to assist others get through paperwork for various reasons (i.e. Social Security, VA, and benefits). I am here to SERVE.
List any previous experience in government or participation on local boards, commissions, or neighborhood associations. Please tell us if you have run for elected office before.
I have never run for public office before. I’m a participant in my neighborhood association. I’ve served as an Officer in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (highest held Senior Vice) and the American Legion (highest held Service Officer).
My experience overseeing contracts and budget formulation at the Federal level will serve me well. Our office is known as the “Arbiters of Truth”, I work to examine each line of financial support requested to ensure it is necessary and not a nice to have.
I also work to ensure the contract requests are required, equitable, and not duplicative of other efforts. I want to bring that skillset to the table and have open discussions with constituents to make the best decisions for infrastructure, safety, education and business growth.
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?
My top concerns are infrastructure and basic operations (fire & police), Budget and Homeless people & pets. We have too many areas where the streets have been neglected or not updated/replaced. That is a street and safety concern for drivers and pedestrians alike. Existing and expanded areas don’t have adequate fire/police response times. Before we build an “entertainment complex” we should take care of safety and security issues first.
Fair and affordable housing, especially for our Seniors, should be a priority. We can’t abdicate our responsibilities to our Seniors and Veterans in need of housing. We need to reassess current programs succeeding/failing and reutilize those resources to benefit the entire city and maximize our money.
Otherwise, we continue in debt and property taxes rise. SA Roads and TXDOT need to coordinate efforts for repairing roads along with having good community partners with railroad companies to lessen the impact on traffic.
Homelessness is not going away, but efforts to work with other agencies is something we can do without footing the entire bill. Animal care services are also important. We should partner with organizations to work with COSA to provide for abandoned pets and if feral humane services.
In a crowded field of council candidates, what differentiates you from the others? What do you bring to the role that no other candidate does?
To be perfectly honest there are some good candidates and I won’t disparage anyone. I’m different because I don’t need this job…I WANT this job. I bring the ability to be reasonable, flexible and have the community to hold me accountable. This goes to the heart of my campaign……I’m here to SERVE everyone in District 2.
Like many I worked my way out to live a vibrant successful life that my parents wanted for me. If I can do anything to help someone see the blessings God has for them and be better than what they live today then that is what I want to do. I want to do everything I can to make current circumstances better. I will include everyone without shunning those I disagree with. I’m open to the conversation and make the best decisions for All Citizens with transparency. Goal is to SERVE Citizens, not me.
If elected, how do you plan to solicit input and feedback from residents in your district?
Have the website input a “Tell me” Button. I will also host monthly town hall meetings across the District that way I see and hear from the people directly. Will put out information on what the City Council is debating/planning and other items that come up so people have a direct input to me as their representative. I must be the voice of the District and have input on what the people think is in their best interest. Running with my own money so I owe no one. My job is to SERVE District 2 and benefit the entire city.
