Monday Musings #19: Let’s Vote!

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I have a hunch: The first mayoral runoff race in contemporary times with both candidates firmly associated with the two national political parties just might attract a greater voter turnout than otherwise expected. Local elections in San Antonio are normally devoid of partisan politics. For now at least, those days are over.

The political lines and financial backers will be clearly drawn between frontrunner Gina Ortiz Jones, the former congressional candidate and Air Force undersecretary in the Biden administration, and second-place finisher Rolando Pablos, the former Texas Secretary of State and Republican political appointee.  

I am guessing the spending for both campaigns will be robust, with both outside organizations and political action committees likely to exceed local contributions, which also should be strong now that we have a two-person contest.

We invited both candidates back on to bigcitysmalltown for a second round of conversation to give first-round voters, and those who did not vote but will do so in the runoff, a fresh look at the two very different would-be mayors.

Pablos has accepted and his episode will air on May 26th. Ortiz Jones’ team declined our offer. Campaign Manager Jordan Abelson sent this email to me and producer Cory Ames: “Unfortunately, I'm not sure if we are able to make it back on bigcitysmalltown due to our calendar being full. I'm happy to add you both to our press list if you are able to join us at an existing event.”

Hmm, we really do not need permission to attend the candidate’s events, thank you. And watching Ortiz Jones deliver her talking points is very different than having an unscripted conversation with her. Among other topics, I’d like to press her on her seemingly contradictory calls for more transparency at city hall, even as she ices the media.

There’s been ample coverage of Ortiz Jones blocking the media from entry to her election night party, and she dodged reporters at public Fiesta events, as she did me when I approached her at an earlier Texas Public Radio reception. Ortiz Jones did appear on bigcitysmalltown in an episode that aired April 19. 

These early glimpses of how she would interact with the media if elected are telling. Whether voters care is another matter.

San Antonio municipal elections are nonpartisan, yet inevitably people vote along party lines when the choices are clear. The inner city’s seven districts, 1-7, vote Democrat, while the three suburban districts, 8-10, are home to the most Republicans in the city. It’s also true that those three districts often total more votes than 1-7, yet enough voters in all districts identify as Democrats to keep the city Blue. In this instance, whoever succeeds in reaching the most registered voters and rallying their bases will be sworn in for a four-term, succeeding Mayor Ron Nirenberg, term-limited after four, two-year terms.

Voters approved six amendments to the City Charter last year, including one changing City Council and mayoral terms to two, four-year terms.

First round turnout was weak for the 27-candidate ballot, with all but two days of early voting and election day staged during Fiesta. The total vote in the mayoral race was 102,188, with an undercount of 1,150. Yes, 1% didn’t support any of the candidates. The turnout represents less than one in 10 voters, a strangely lethargic level of participation given the city’s rapid growth and major projects and issues that come with that growth.

With eight more days of early voting starting May 27 and running through June 3, and Election Day on Saturday, June 7, registered voters have ample opportunity to cast their votes – even if they did not vote in the first round. 

I issued an endorsement for Beto Altamirano, who placed third in the balloting, ahead of the four current council members and one former council member. He has not issued an endorsement for the runoff. 

While only one candidate is likely to return to bigcitysmalltown, the candidates already squared off in a debate staged last week at San Antonio College. They will meet again on Monday, May 19 at the Pearl’s Stable Hall in a debate organized by the San Antonio Report and the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. The public is welcome, but registration is required.

Newsletter readers can also watch or listen to the bigcitysmalltown episodes with Ortiz Jones and Pablos released prior to the first round of voting.

Let’s see if my hunch proves true, and significantly more voters show up for round two, or whether San Antonio notches another miserable show of civic engagement.