By Edmond Ortiz
Converse, Schertz, Windcrest and the Edgewood Independent School District will have full slates of contested races in the Nov. 3 elections.
Aug. 17 was the deadline for local candidates to snag a Nov. 3 election ballot spot in one of the five San Antonio-area cities and school districts slated to hold an election this fall.
Here are the filed candidates and where they are:
Converse voters will consider contested races for three council seats. Place 2 Councilmember Renee Paschall, who was appointed to the post earlier this year, is competing for a full term alongside parks and recreational commission member Orlando Cruz.
Another appointed council member, Jessica Hannah, is seeking a full term in the Place 4 seat with Bradley Heinz, a past council contestant.
Place 6 incumbent Nancy Droneburg drew opposition from past council member Marc Gilbert, and Nawid Zazai, an alternate parks and recreation commission member.
Converse will still hold a special election Nov. 3 when local voters will consider whether to withdraw the city from VIA Metropolitan Transit service, and to reauthorize part of a sales tax meant to support street maintenance.
East Central Independent School District
East Central ISD will not have a school board election as there are no contested races for trustees’ seats in Districts 1, 2, 5 and 7. Those officeholders – Ginger Friesenhahn, Monique Presas, James Mulkey, and Dell Braziel – each respectively filed for another four-year term.
Edgewood Independent School District
All four Edgewood ISD school board positions on this fall’s ballot are being contested. Board President and Place 1 representative James Hernandez drew a challenge from Dora Maldonado, a peer specialist/family partner.
Board Secretary and Place 2 representative Frank Espinosa is being opposed by Joe Gallegos and Elias Hernandez.
Place 3 trustee Richard Santoyo drew opposition from Dorothy Borjas, a mobile quality reviewer, and Marcus Guerra.
Place 6 trustee Michael Valdez is being opposed by Joey Cipriano. These school board seats carry four-year terms.
Council Places 3, 4 and 5 are on the city’s ballot. Place 3 Councilmember Paul Macaluso, a terminal manager, drew opposition from retiree Billie Langhus.
Place 4 Councilmember Benjamin Guerrero, a procurement analyst, drew a challenge from Kenneth Ratcliff, a church leader, attorney and a former president of the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District board.
Place 5 Councilmember Robert Westbrook, a firefighter, is in a contest with Jonathon Marquez, maintenance coordinator. These council seats have three-year terms.
South San Antonio Independent School District
South San ISD will have no school board election because of no contested races. Manuel Lopez was the lone applicant for the District 1 post.
Karla Gomez Sanchez was the sole applicant for the District 4 seat. Cynthia Ramirez alone filed for the District 6 position. These board seats have four-year terms.
Council Places 1, 2 and 3 are on the city’s ballot. Place 1 incumbent Susie Hamilton is being challenged by retired teacher Narquiz Cervantes, who is seeking a council position for a third straight election, and former Councilmember Joan Pedrotti.
Place 2 Councilmember Cindy Strzelecki drew a challenge from retiree Sue Alexander, board president of Bexar County Water Control and Improvement District No. 10, the water utility that serves properties within Windcrest’s original boundaries.
Place 3 incumbent Greg Turner is being opposed by financial consultant Robert Maloy, who ran an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 2025. These positions carry two-year terms.
Oct. 5 is the final day to register to cast a ballot in the Nov. 3 elections. Oct. 23 is the last day to apply for a ballot by mail. Early voting will begin Oct. 19.
