Tim Westley is an education services specialist with the Department of Defense who ran for the GOP nomination for Texas land commissioner in 2022. He’s also a U.S. Army veteran and served as historian for the Republican Party of Texas.
Hear from the candidate
Please tell voters about yourself.
Hello, I’m Dr. Tim Westley. I moved to San Antonio in 1996 as an Active Duty Soldier at Ft. Sam Houston, TX. For the past 29 years, I have been a resident of San Antonio & Selma but have been back in San Antonio for the past year and a half.
I’m a graduate of Wayland Baptist University whereby he obtained a B.S. in Religion and a Masters of Christian Ministry. He has also earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, with a concentration on Higher Education, from Trident University International.
Professionally, I’m the former Senior Pastor of Shepherd’s Vineyard Christian Church and a former university instructor and Area Chair. Currently an Education Services Specialist with the Department of Defense, serving the Western half of the United States.
In a field of 27 mayoral candidates, what differentiates you from the others?
I bring a diverse background in military service, higher education / public school education, ministry, and political leadership, public advocacy, government leadership and experience engaging representatives at all levels of government.
I’ve been a problem solver for over 30 years in public, private, corporate and non-profit industries. Also, I am a former Critical Thinking Instructor, something that is greatly needed in City Hall.
If elected, you would be taking over at a time when the city has spent more than a year negotiating a massive downtown redevelopment effort in Project Marvel. How would you approach this project?
I don’t think such a venture as Project Marvel is needed in San Antonio while the city is struggling in many areas such as homelessness, safety, economic development, property taxes and lack of affordable homes for the younger generation.
Currently there’s not enough transparency and details on the project. If this proposal is pushed through before I am elected, I believe to ensure that Project Marvel is successfully funded without placing a financial burden on taxpayers, the city of San Antonio must explore innovative financing models. These models should maximize revenue generation, attract private investments, and deliver a positive return on investment (ROI) for the city and its citizens. The city must explore: Public-Private Partnerships (P3s), Land Value Capture (LVC), Revenue-Sharing Programs for Citizens, etc. to lessen the burden on the individual taxpayers.
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 and how would you work to address them in your first 100 days?
Homelessness. Homelessness in San Antonio is a pressing issue, with many individuals experiencing a lack of affordable housing, mental health challenges, and substance abuse problems. Conservative approaches to addressing homelessness often focus on promoting personal responsibility, encouraging private-sector solutions, and prioritizing public safety. We must: Strengthening Law Enforcement, Promote Personal Accountability, offer Private Sector and Faith-Based Solutions, invest in Affordable Housing Development and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
By combining these strategies, a conservative viewpoint on homelessness in San Antonio emphasizes creating a balance between personal responsibility, public safety, and support for those in need, with an emphasis on leveraging community resources and private sector involvement.
For the past four years San Antonio has worked closely with the Biden Administration on federally funded projects like airport development and Advanced Rapid Transit. How would you approach working with both state leaders in Austin and a new presidential administration in D.C.?
I welcome the opportunity to work with our new Presidential administration as there are a lot of ways the federal government can benefit the citizens of San Antonio and our city as a whole, likewise, working with our state officials and governor.
As to airport development, we must think strategically and decades down the road. Our airport is landlocked and though the expansion will buy some time, we must begin to think of and operate as the 7th largest city in America. Most large cities have at least two airports. At some point, we must revisit this option, and consider the multitude of financing options and the benefits such an action could bring to the city.
Lastly in reference to Advance Rapid Transit. Many residents are simply not sold on this idea. Until it can gain enough public support, we must continue to listen to “We The People” or pitch a more convincing reason for such a venture.
Read more about Tim Westley
Inside the expensive, ‘confusing,’ 27-candidate race to be San Antonio’s next mayor
