By Edmond Ortiz
Although he filed paperwork for his candidacy earlier in the week, former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg held a Nov. 15 rally to officially launch his campaign for Bexar County judge.
Nirenberg throws his hat into the ring
Having just ended an eight-year mayoral run last June, Nirenberg is now turning his attention to the March 3 Democratic primary where he will challenge current County Judge Peter Sakai, who launched his bid for a second four-year term on Nov. 1.
Nirenberg, presently a Trinity University professor, spoke to more than 200 supporters during his county judge campaign stop at the Backyard on Broadway restaurant. Those supporters included ex-mayor and former County Judge Nelson Wolff, State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer and San Antonio District 2 City Councilmember McKee-Rodriguez.
Public safety and government efficiency are among Nirenberg’s top campaign priorities. He said his years as a San Antonio City Council member and then mayor have provided him skills and experience to enhance law enforcement, reduce case backlogs in the Bexar County District Attorney’s office, and address staffing issues and inmate overcrowding at the county jail.
Nirenberg also talked about a need to improve cooperation between the city and county, and eliminate duplicative services and initiatives between city and county governments, such as parallel plans to increase affordable housing.
“The power of local government isn’t what we can do alone, it’s how we can collaborate to improve people’s lives,” Nirenberg said at his campaign launch. “Cities and the county work best when they work together, but right now, they’re often rowing in opposite directions.”
Sakai touts achievements, work left to do
Sakai held his re-election campaign launch at Progresso Hall on the West Side, an event that featured 100-plus supporters, including Precinct 1 County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores, Mary Alice Cisneros, wife of former Mayor Henry Cisneros, Balcones Heights Mayor Johnny Rodriguez, Kirby Mayor Janeshia Grider, and Leon Valley Mayor Chris Riley.
Sakai said, if re-elected, he would continue focusing on issues such as helping to improve the livelihoods of county residents, particularly working-class families, and expanding the county’s economy and job creation efforts.
Sakai spent more than 20 years in the local judicial system before running his first campaign for an elected government executive position – county judge – in 2022. He beat Ina Minjarez in the Democratic primary before topping Republican Trish DeBerry and Libertarian Edgar Coyle in the general election that fall. Sakai won with 57% of the vote, succeeding Nelson Wolff.
“Every job I’ve held, it was never about the next political opportunity,” Sakai said on Nov. 1. “I am a servant leader to serve you, and I will be a servant leader putting the needs of our county first.”
