🗳️ Mayor's Race 2025 Episodes
As San Antonio prepares to elect its next mayor, bigcitysmalltown brings you in-depth, one-on-one conversations with the candidates vying for your vote. Hosted by veteran journalist Bob Rivard, this special series offers a thoughtful, nonpartisan look at the people, priorities, and policies shaping the city’s future.
From housing and infrastructure to economic growth and climate action, these interviews aim to inform and engage listeners on what’s at stake—and who’s stepping up to lead.
Follow along as we ask each candidate: Why do you want to be mayor of San Antonio?
From housing and infrastructure to economic growth and climate action, these interviews aim to inform and engage listeners on what’s at stake—and who’s stepping up to lead.
Follow along as we ask each candidate: Why do you want to be mayor of San Antonio?
April 21, 2025
119. The Mayor’s Race: Rolando Pablos on Economic Competitiveness, Poverty, and Cross-Border Partnerships for San Antonio
We conclude our April series of conversations with San Antonio’s leading mayoral candidates as Bob sits down with Rolando Pablos—a businessman, attorney, and former republican Texas Secretary of State—to discuss his campaign, priorities, and...
Guest: Rolando Pablos
April 20, 2025
118. The Mayor’s Race: Manny Pelaez on Ferocious Advocacy, Economic Growth, and the Future of San Antonio
We continue our series of interviews with leading candidates for San Antonio mayor. Bob is joined by District 8 City Councilman Manny Pelaez, an attorney with deep roots in both public service and economic development, as he seeks to become the next...
Guest: Manny Pelaez
April 19, 2025
117. The Mayor’s Race: Gina Ortiz Jones on Public Service, Equity, and Leading with Data
We continue our series of interviews with leading candidates for San Antonio mayor ahead of the May 3 election. Bob welcomes Gina Ortiz Jones, an Air Force veteran and former Undersecretary of the Air Force under the Biden administration, for a...
Guest: Gina Ortiz Jones
April 18, 2025
116. The Mayor’s Race: Melissa Cabello Havrda on Community, Accountability, and San Antonio's Next Chapter
In this episode, Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda shares her personal background growing up on the West Side, her legal and public service career, and her early influences—including time spent working under former mayors Ed Garza and Lila...
Guest: Melissa Cabello Havrda
April 14, 2025
115. The Mayor’s Race: Adriana Rocha Garcia on Housing, Opportunity, and the Future of San Antonio
In this episode, Bob continues our coverage of San Antonio’s crowded mayoral race with Councilwoman Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia of District 4. A professor of marketing at Our Lady of the Lake University and former president of the San Antonio Housing...
Guest: Adriana Rocha Garcia
April 11, 2025
114. The Mayor’s Race: Beto Altamirano on Infrastructure, Innovation, and San Antonio’s Identity
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we delve into San Antonio's dynamic political landscape as our city prepares for its first mayoral race without an incumbent in sixteen years. With Mayor Ron Nirenberg's term concluding, the upcoming election on May 3...
Guest: Beto Altamirano