Ron Nirenberg served four two-year terms as mayor of San Antonio. Credit: Sanford Nowlin
Former Mayor Ron Nirenberg violated rules barring the use of city resources for political campaigns and other private purposes, San Antonio’s Ethics Review Board ruled Monday night, according to the San Antonio Report.
The board issued Nirenberg a letter of admonition for the breach, which involved the use of city resources to create content for his campaign’s Facebook page.
The ethics review stems from a 63-page complaint filed by an animal-welfare activist Kelly Reid Walls that accused Nirenberg, who left office earlier this year, of posting dozens of campaign photos that violate city rules by showing him posing with first responders or in city-owned property the public can’t access.
The filing also alleged Nirenberg violating city rules on the reporting of gifts because he failed to file paperwork disclosing his acceptance of a Spurs jersey signed by star player Victor Wembanyama.
However, the Ethics Review Board dismissed the complaint over the jersey because the former mayor amended his financial disclosure documents after the complaint was filed, according to the San Antonio Report.
The board’s admonition comes as Nirenberg, who was termed out of office after serving four two-year terms, weighs a run for another political office.
Sources familiar with the former mayor’s deliberations told the Express-News the Democrat is considering a run for either governor or county judge. A political committee called Texans for Ron Nirenberg was recently formed as a fundraising tool.
Nirenberg didn’t argue his case in front of the Ethics Review Board, according to the San Antonio Report. Instead, his attorney, Frank Burney, filed a formal response arguing his client wouldn’t intentionally or knowingly break the law.
“He expresses regret for this misstep and takes full responsibility,” Burney said in the letter, according to the news report.
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This article appears in Sep 3-17.