San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones speaks during a conference. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / SuperWIKI

San Antonio’s Ethics Review Board (ERB) on Monday voted unanimously to toss out a complaint against Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones that accused her of wrongfully using city resources while trying to lure the 2028 Democratic National Convention. 

Kyle Sinclair, a former vice chair of the Bexar County Republican Party, filed the complaint, alleging Jones broke ethics rules by sending a letter to Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin on city letterhead. Sinclair subsequently told reporters that he would drop the grievance if Jones used official city letterhead to also invite the Republican National Convention to San Antonio in 2032. 

Former San Antonio City Attorney Frank Garza, who spoke on behalf of Jones during the hearing, told the six-member ERB that Sinclair’s comments prove the complaint was politically motivated, Texas Public Radio reports. 

“So, it’s not that [Jones] wrote the letter on city stationery, it’s that [Sinclair] disagreed as to who she wrote it to,” Garza said. “If it is a violation of the ethics code to write a letter to the Democratic National Convention, why would it not be a violation to write it to the Republican National Committee?”

What’t more, it wasn’t Jones’ idea to write the letter in the first place, TPR reports, citing Monday’s testimony. 

ERB-appointed attorney Nadeen Abou-Hossa said the DNC asked Jones to submit a bid for the convention, according to the radio report.

Jones reportedly asked City Manager Erik Walsh to draft the letter with the help of Visit San Antonio CEO Mario Bass. City Attorney Andy Segovia then approved the communication. 

Jones was traveling and didn’t attend Monday’s meeting in person. However, she issued a statement thanking the ERB for making what she believed to be the right decision. 

“This was a politically motivated complaint that lacked merit,” Jones said. “I will continue representing all San Antonians by exploring opportunities that bring business to our city and showcase our culturally rich communities.”

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