{"id":702547,"date":"2026-04-03T18:30:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T18:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/702547\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T18:30:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T18:30:21","slug":"san-antonio-city-council-hits-pause-on-another-one-of-mayor-gina-ortiz-jones-proposals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/702547\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio City Council hits pause on another one of Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones’ proposals"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones during a town hall meeting earlier this week. Credit: Michael Karlis<\/p>\n

San Antonio City Council voted 9-2 Thursday to postpone a discussion of a proposal by Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones aimed to boosting local voter turnout. <\/p>\n

Council was initially set to approve Jones\u2019 request to form the Mayor\u2019s Commission on Voting without discussion as part of the consent agenda. However, that derailed after District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur pulled the item for discussion.<\/p>\n

Jones first floated the idea of creating the commission during a Feb. 27 press conference \u2014 the same day council cast its historic vote<\/a> to censure the mayor over what members allege was a profanity-filled tantrum she delivered against Kaur. <\/p>\n

Under Jones\u2019 proposal, a 13-member panel would submit a report to the City Council by July 4 with recommendations on how to improve the Alamo City\u2019s lackluster voter turnout. Turnout in local elections here routinely falls well below 20%. Only 17% voted in last year\u2019s mayoral runoff, for example. <\/p>\n

The commission \u2014 which would include three members appointed by the mayor \u2014\u00a0would continue to meet biannually to review and adjust its recommendations, according to Jones\u2019 vision. <\/p>\n

While a panel created to boost voter participation seems relatively controversy-free, District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez was the only member of the dais during Thursday\u2019s meeting who voted to move ahead with the proposal.<\/p>\n

Other members expressed skepticism.<\/p>\n

District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte dismissed the commission as unnecessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting more people to vote in San Antonio is extremely important. I\u2019m all for it,\u201d Whyte said. However, \u201cI also absolutely hate boards and commissions that are either redundant or don\u2019t really serve a relevant purpose anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran said the commission, as proposed, is too vague. She said she needs more information on how members are appointed and a better timeframe for the program.<\/p>\n

Council will next hear a briefing on the proposed commission in April or May, assuming Jones still wants to entertain the idea and is willing to provide a more fleshed-out plan.<\/p>\n

Council\u2019s decision to circle back on Jones\u2019 commission is the latest setback for the mayor, who\u2019s spent considerable time butting heads with others on the dais. Jones\u2019 primary legislative win<\/a> during her first 10 months in office was a narrow 6-5 victory on moving municipal elections to November during odd years.<\/p>\n

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