Kaur, 34, runs her own education consulting company, EDreimagined, which helps schools implement charter programs. She has participated in Leadership San Antonio and the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Latina Leadership Institute. Kaur is also a yoga instructor and Realtor. She grew up in Maryland, attended Rice University in Houston and participated in Teach For America. She lives in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.
Hear from the candidate
The following questions were asked of all City Council candidates.
Please tell voters about yourself.
My name is pronounced like “look” but starting with an “s.” I was born in India and my family came to the US when I was young. I have lived in Texas for 17 years and in San Antonio for 7. I have always been a homeowner in District 1, first in Southtown and now in Beacon Hill. I went to school at Rice University for my BA in Policy Studies (Law and Justice) and for my MBA (Educational Entrepreneurship). I also have a doctorate in K-12 Educational Leadership from Vanderbilt University. Currently, I am a small business owner as a Realtor working in both residential and commercial real estate and I also run an education consulting organization working with districts like Edgewood ISD to support innovative school models, strategic plans and equitable funding systems.
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.
My previous experiences have been grounded in nonprofit board leadership, which have shown me the importance of strong governance. I am on the board of Texas Public Radio and the board treasurer of San Antonio Leaders and Teachers. Our City Council needs someone who can lead collaboratively, thoughtfully and with integrity to create proactive rather than reactive solutions that mitigate negative impacts of growth. I will offer a fresh perspective to the Council — one that understands that advancements in social equity and economic development can occur together.
What three issues do you consider to be most pressing for your district and how would you address them?
Having personally knocked thousands of doors, I have heard from residents about the issues that matter most to them. Through these discussions, we know the most pressing issues we must focus on are improving our streets, sidewalks and drainage; ensuring our neighborhoods and parks are safe; tackling rising housing costs; and fostering small business support by providing transparent communication between City Hall, the District 1 office, neighborhood business owners and other district stakeholders.
To address streets, sidewalks, and drainage, we will look at the areas of highest needs and communicate the rationale for prioritization — focusing on building infrastructure around our schools, parks, and public transportation routes. We will also keep the community safe by increasing street lighting, supporting the activation of parks, and helping support awareness within the community about available city and nonprofit resources.
In addition, skyrocketing property taxes are causing folks to get pushed out of their homes. To address this, I will work on innovative solutions, such as allowing the length of homeownership to correlate to expanded homestead exemptions for long-term homeowners and working to ensure sufficient supply and maintenance of public housing.
Most importantly, we will do all of this while constantly communicating with our communities and working with our colleagues with integrity.
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 support the philosophy of the amendments to ensure that each member of our community, regardless of background, is treated with equity and fairness. In particular, I believe it is incredibly important that women have rights to reproductive health care, as this need impacts every woman in our community. In addition, data from door knocking shows that public safety is one of the top three issues on the minds of voters and so we must think of comprehensive solutions to address crime. The implementation of Prop A will face significant legal challenges as the DA has already stated five to six items are unenforceable. I think what’s most necessary is that we continue to have conversations on enforceable policy that will make our community safer while focusing on equity.
How do you feel the city has done at balancing the needs of downtown and the neighborhoods, from bond projects to budget priorities?
District 1 is the heart of our city. A thriving downtown and strong neighborhoods are both necessary components to the success of our city. The investments into downtown have supported accessibility and use for residents while also increasing economic benefits by supporting tax revenue for the city. Hemisfair park has been a growing attraction for diverse families from all over the city and should continue to be supported so it can serve as the epicenter of our downtown. At the same time, our non-downtown D1 neighborhoods need an equitable slice of our budget. Our streets and sidewalks can not be ignored. Overdue investments in all District 1 parks and infrastructure need to be addressed. I would push for a balanced approach that invests in all parts of the district.
If elected, how do you plan to solicit input and feedback from residents in your district?
A lack of transparency and communication is a huge concern with our current Council office and hence I promise to always keep communication lines open so residents aren’t left in the dark. I will always be available for neighbors. Moreover, diverse coalitions are vital to effect positive change that will benefit ALL members of our community. I am committed to meeting and working with all leaders and stakeholders positively impacting our district and city. Lastly, through my experience in public education I have learned that we can’t simply use a “come to us” strategy. I will make a concerted effort to continue meeting with community members in their homes and neighborhoods to hear about their concerns so we can develop solutions together.
Read more
District 1 challenger Kaur outraises Bravo in runoff while Gavito holds cash advantage in District 7
City Council runoff candidates face off in back-to-back debates
Runoff battle asks District 1 voters if they have confidence in Bravo — or newcomer Kaur
Embattled Bravo again leans on neighborhood support in hotly contested District 1 race
Candidates line up to challenge Councilman Mario Bravo in District 1
