Tag Archives: San Antonio Mayor’s Race

Texoblogosphere: Week of June 22nd

The thoughts and prayers of the Texas Progressive Alliance are with the families and friends of the victims of the horrible shooting in Charleston as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Off the Kuff looks at the latest developments in the ongoing investigation against AG Ken Paxton.

Letters from Texas advises Capitol staffers how to respond to the Texas Monthly Best and Worst Legislators list.

Libby Shaw at Texas Kaos and contributing to Daily Kos spanks the GOP for its craven use of dog whistles and thinly veiled racism. Come and Take the Truth About Playing the Race Card, GOP.

Will the outcome of Houston’s mayoral race be similar to San Antonio’s — abysmal turnout, two Democrats in a runoff, one going after Republican votes in order to win? PDiddie at Brains and Eggs would prefer almost any other scenario besides that one.

Moving towards offering an accessible and comprehensive way to view all of life, Neil at All People Have Value added a page of pictures he has taken out in everyday life to his website. APHV is part of NeilAquino.com.

Socratic Gadfly says that, although the symbolism of the Confederate flag is offensive, the First Amendment protects offensiveness, and the Supreme Court got it wrong in ruling Texas can ban Sons of Confederate Veterans vanity plates.

With municipal elections looming large in the background, Texas Leftist tried to keep up with intense political theater that was this year’s Houston City Budget… the last ever of the Annise Parker Mayoralty.

=================

And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.

The TSTA Blog has plenty of reasons to fear a Scott Walker presidency.

Better Texas Blog measures the impact in Texas of an adverse SCOTUS decision in King v. Burwell.

Juanita Jean marvels at the story about Texas’ own Fort Knox.

Texas Vox calls on the CFPB to end forced arbitration.

The Lunch Tray bemoans Ag Commissioner Sid Miller’s decision to lift a decade-old ban on deep fat fryers in schools, ironically done as part of an initiative to fight childhood obesity.

And finally, the TPA congratulates Scott Henson of Grits for Breakfast on his new gig as Executive Director of the Innocence Project of Texas.

opportuntyhouston1

 

Today’s feature photo is a screenshot from an Opportunity Houston video.  

Ivy Taylor Prevails in Run-off, Elected San Antonio Mayor

Saturday night proved to be quite the interesting contest for the Alamo City, as a veteran Democratic politician was defeated by a relative newcomer.

Ivy Taylor, former City Council member and current interim Mayor of San Antonio won her election against Leticia Van de Putte in a somewhat close race.  But at the end of the night, it wasn’t as close as some predicted.

Here’s more on Taylor’s historic victory from The Rivard Report

Interim Mayor Ivy Taylor was the last candidate to jump into the race, had the least experience in elected office of the four major candidates, and was outspent at least 2-1 by runoff opponent and former state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte. None of that was enough to unseat her from the office she has held on an interim basis since last July when Julían Castro stepped down to go to Washington and join the Obama administration.

Taylor’s victory Saturday makes her the first African-American and only the second woman to win election to the mayor’s office in San Antonio, an outcome that will have analysts puzzling for some time in an increasingly majority Hispanic city. Ultimately, what they will conclude is San Antonio is two cities. The general population is minority-majority, largely Hispanic. The city’s voting population, however, is Anglo-dominant, older and more politically conservative than the general population.

With all votes counted, Taylor defeated Van de Putte 50,659-47,328, a 3,331 vote margin and good enough for a 51.70%-48.30% win, a 3.4% difference.

Even with data pointing to a win for Taylor, some long-established voices are still in a bit of shock, as the Texas Tribune goes on to try to read the tea leaves around this (un)expected result, saying that this election should be a “wake-up call” to Democrats across the state.

It’s probably not that severe, as anything can happen in a relatively low-turnout election.  But for the Van de Putte camp, this contest should hopefully provide clues to just why the voter apathy is so prevalent across the state of Texas, and in particular among minority communities.  Studies by Voto Latino have shown that even among other minority groups, Hispanics have historically voted at lower proportions than the African-American community, citing the lack of precedent that exists in a community of more first generation and much younger potential voters.  Given that this run-off was historic for Texas with two female minorities facing off for the first time, it will be very interesting to compare demographic trends among the voters when those results are available.  Again, it’s worth noting that this was a light turnout election, and there were many other motivations to vote for or against a particular candidate besides topical identifiers (race, gender, etc.)

Whatever the case, it is Ivy Taylor who crossed the finish line, and who will preside over San Antonio City Hall.  Congratulations to the new Mayor.

Off the Kuff has more.

 

Van de Putte, Taylor Face Off For San Antonio Mayor

Last Saturday’s highly contested municipal election in San Antonio produced an historic result, as two female minority politicians advance to a run-off for the city’s top job, besting all of their numerous male contenders.  Here’s the story from Patrick Svitek of the Texas Tribune

Former state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte is set to face San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor in a runoff for the city’s top job.

[…]

It was the first step in determining who would permanently replace Julián Castro, who resigned as mayor last year to become President Obama’s secretary of housing and urban development.

The results mark a reversal of fortune for Van de Putte, who just months ago was trounced in the lieutenant governor’s race by Republican Dan Patrick. Talking to reporters late Saturday, she said speaking with voters across the state last year drew her even closer to San Antonio.

Former State Senator Van de Putte was the top vote-getter in last Saturday’s election, but Taylor came in as a very close second.  With the run-off set for June 13th in what will surely be a very light turnout, anything is possible for this run-off.

It will be of particular interest to see how Progressive Politics comes into play for the mayoral election.  There couldn’t be a more clear difference between the two politicians than LGBT rights.  Where Van de Putte has stood time and again in favor of marriage equality and comprehensive non-discrimination laws, Taylor famously voted against San Antonio’s Non-Discrimination ordinance.  In recent weeks doubled down on her views, calling debate over the measure a waste of time.  Given how rapidly viewpoints are shifting  across the state of Texas, it will be very interesting to see if these recent comments come back to haunt Taylor.

While it’s true that Taylor has pledged not to harm the NDO if elected to serve a full mayoral term, it is important for San Antonio voters to know that on LGBT issues, this campaign represents a very clear choice.  Let’s all hope that Alamo City voters choose wisely on June 13th.

 

 

(Feature photo credit:  San Antonio Current)

Texoblogosphere: Week of February 9th

The Texas Progressive Alliance will be more than happy to never hear the word “sequestration” again as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Off the Kuff provides his four part Mayoral manifesto for the 2015 election in Houston.

Letters from Texas turns the blog over to Russ Tidwell for an update on redistricting litigation and the question the judges in San Antonio will be ruling on.

light seeker at Texas Kaos takes Fox “News” to task for its fear mongering, distortion and misrepresentation. The Fear and Hate Chronicles.

From WCNews at Eye on Williamson: It’s amazing to me how little Texans care if corporations waste their money. Privatization Corruption Is Common In Texas.

The games people play with money when they are our elected representatives in Austin gets more disgusting by the legislative session. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs really thinks there’s got to be a better way to run state government than with the wheels greased by the lobbyists.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme notes Larry Taylor is so encrusted in the Republican bubble he brags about giving the insurance industry perks at the expense of Texans.

Neil at All People Have Value wrote about the rip current warning sign on the beach in Galveston. Sometimes we do have to swim against the tide. All People Have Value is part of NeilAquino.com.

===========================

And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.

Lone Star Ma puts out a call to action to oppose the so-called Teacher’s Protection Act, H.B. 868.

Cherise Rohr-Allegrini catalogs the latest measles outbreak and proselytizes for vaccinations.

Charlotte Vaughan Coyle stands, as a Christian, a person of faith, and a pastor, with her Muslim neighbors and all people who work for justice, peace and reconciliation.

The TSTA Blog calls vouchers “a tuition break at your expense”.

Cody Pogue reviews “Building a Better Teacher”.

Concerned Citizens reports from the first Mayoral debate in San Antonio.

Asbel Smith

(Photo of the historic Asbel Smith building in Galveston, Texas.  Credit:  Wikimedia commons)

Texoblogosphere: Week of November 24th

The Texas Progressive Alliance knows that even in a bad political year it has plenty to be thankful for as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Off the Kuff highlights Texas for Marriage, a new grassroots group whose goal is to bring marriage equality to our state.

Libby Shaw writing for Texas Kaos as well as for Daily Kos is not surprised to know Greg Abbott has jumped on the Obama bashing bandwagon on immigration. Funny how the actual lawless ones try to pin their sins on the POTUS. Greg Abbott’s Reaction to Immigration? The usual. TX Dems are not giving up.

Even as the United States Senate in the 114th Congress looks to be one of the most freakishly conservative in almost a hundred years, PDiddie at Brains and Eggs reminds everyone that — two years from now — nearly half of that Republican majority has to be defended, and many of those seats are in blue states. So maybe Democrats can work on building turnout then…?

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme is furious over Abbott’s plan to take money away from projects that promote the general welfare. What does Abbott want to do with our money? Harass Mexicans and hurt the image of the Rio Grande Valley.

Easter Lemming Liberal News noted a Pants on Fire ruling from PolitiFact, not their rating over an Obama statement on the XL pipeline but Easter Lemming‘s rating of PolitiFact’s lie.

======================

And here are some posts of interest from other Texas blogs.

The Texas Election Law Blog gently criticizes three less-than-stellar arguments from the week’s news.

The Rivard Report highlights Texas’ achievements in renewable energy.

The TSTA Blog reminds us that vouchers are a bad answer for education.

Newsdesk reviews Ted Cruz’s “politics as prop comedy” act on net neutrality and other Internet issues.

Grits for Breakfast is busy analyzing pre-filed criminal justice bills.

Texas Clean Air Matters calls out ERCOT for missing the big picture on clean energy.

Better Texas Blog reminds us that immigrants drive Texas’ economic success.

Concerned Citizens surveys the now much more interesting San Antonio Mayoral landscape.

(photo:  The Beer Can House– Houston, Texas)