San Antonio City Council narrowly approves moving city elections

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, center, speaks during City Council’s A Session on Thursday. Credit: Michael karlis

City Council gave Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones an early Christmas gift Thursday by voting 6-5 to move the city’s municipal elections from May to November during odd years.

At first, it appeared as if Jones might end up with another legislative loss in what’s been a turbulent first few months of her four-year tenure. However, that all changed when District 9 Councilwoman Misty Spears — one of only two conservatives on council — vocalized her support for the measure.

Spears voiced skepticism about Jones’ proposal during Council’s B session last week. However, ahead of Thursday’s vote she said she changed her mind after 87% of the 743 constituents who responded to a district-wide poll supported the change.

“The message was clear: November elections made more sense,” Spears said.

Spears added that she’s still interested in seeing even-year municipal elections also shift to November, something Austin recently did. Still, Jones’ proposal is a step in the right direction, she added.

Voting rights groups who backed Jones’ proposal said lining up municipal elections with November contests will make it easier for voters to make it to the polls, increasing turnout and citizen involvement.

District 6 Councilman Ric Galvan was the deciding vote, although he told colleagues in a lengthy speech that he was still on the fence about moving the elections.

In an unusual move, Jones took a roll-call vote.

Spears and Galvan joined District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran, District 4 Councilman Edward Munguia and Jones in passing the proposal.

Hours of public comment

The vote and discussion on the dais followed hours of public comment. The vast majority of those who spoke voiced support for moving the elections.

Among those speaking in support of the move was famed labor activist Dolores Huerta, who decades ago helped establish the National Farm Workers Association alongside Chicano rights icon Cesar Chavez. Huerta said the best way to combat voter suppression and low turnout, especially among Latino voters in Texas, is to move elections to November.

Nearly half of City Council wasn’t sold, however.

District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur argued the move was unfair to school districts, who would need to pay to hold their own elections if they’re still to take place in May. Meanwhile, District 5’s Teri Castillo, a progressive and occasional Jones ally, questioned whether moving the elections would actually yield substantially higher turnout.

District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte, the other conservative on the dais, argued there wasn’t enough public input on the move — a claim that brought audible moans from people in the chamber who’d testified in favor of Jones’ proposal.

District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito, who’s butted heads with Jones in recent months, suggested that San Antonio propose legislation to state lawmakers in the 2027 session to move even-year elections to November. Such a move would also give council more time to analyze whether shifting the election cycle improves turnout, she argued.

No future guarantees

However, Assistant City Manager Jeff Coyle warned that just because the state legislature approved a bill allowing municipalities to move elections — as it did this year — doesn’t guarantee lawmakers will do so again.

The legislation passed this session only gives municipalities until the year to decide whether to shift odd-year elections to November.

“There’s never a guarantee at the Legislature,” Coyle said. “There’s a saying at the Capitol: There are 100 ways to kill a bill and only one way to pass it.”

San Antonio’s municipal elections will officially be held in odd years beginning in 2029. As a byproduct of the change, Jones and those on council will get an extra six months on the job.

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San Antonio City Council narrowly approves moving city elections

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