District Overview

City Council District 9, located in the affluent northern part of San Antonio, stretches from Loop 410 to U.S. 281. This seat has been held for eight years by Councilman John Courage (D9), who is now running for mayor in a competitive race featuring 27 candidates.

Candidate Perspectives

Several candidates expressed a desire to shift away from some of the progressive policies recently adopted by the City Council. During the forum, candidate Daniel Mezza suggested that inadequate funding in other districts is not the responsibility of District 9, indicating a need for focused resource allocation.

“District 9 has a lot of needs. I am not going to be spreading the money across the board,” said Mezza, who has a background working with Republican leaders.

Another candidate, Misty Spears, emphasized the importance of concentrating on municipal priorities rather than social issues, arguing that doing so would free up resources to assist other districts.

“If we would just stay in our lane and get back to basic governmental functions, we would have more than enough money to help other districts,” stated Spears, who has garnered support from local police and fire unions.

Addressing District Needs

The forum revealed a clear concern among candidates regarding the balance of resources between districts. Emily Joy Garza, a newcomer to local politics, warned against abandoning equity-based budgeting, asserting that issues experienced in disadvantaged neighborhoods could ultimately affect District 9 as well.

“Unless we build a border wall around District 9, are we going to get some of that overflow?” Garza remarked, garnering applause from the audience.

Celeste Tidwell offered a balanced view on the budgeting issue, recognizing that while District 9 has specific needs, it is essential to consider the challenges faced by other parts of the city.

“It’s a very difficult question, so I’m gonna go both ways on it,” Tidwell mentioned in relation to equity budgeting.

Unique Backgrounds of Candidates

Two candidates, Angi Taylor Aramburu and April Chang, highlighted their nontraditional backgrounds, drawing on experience from fields outside of politics to inform their approaches to public service. Aramburu emphasized her history in public relations and arts management as valuable for addressing community needs.

“At this level of government, it’s important that your representatives have shown the willingness and ability to put in the work to create the type of community we want to see,” Aramburu outlined.

Chang, a nonprofit founder, shared her motivation for entering the race, pointing to a disconnect between residents’ desires and actual city initiatives.

“I’ve been at community input meetings where people repeatedly ask for things like a dog park or splash pad, yet those needs remain unaddressed,” Chang explained.

A Young Voice in the Race

Adding to the diversity of perspectives, Tristen Hoffman, a high school senior, stood out as a candidate bringing youthful energy to the forum. Hoffman expressed his readiness to represent the next generation.

“I’ve never had many of the things that these people have had in their professional careers, but I believe I have much to contribute,” Hoffman stated.