By Edmond Ortiz
Political newcomers claimed victory alongside plenty of incumbent officeholders in May 2 elections held across six north San Antonio-area cities.
Councilmember Jack Burton was re-elected to the Place 1 seat with 65% of the vote over Vanessa Martin, a digital creator and a wedding officiant.
Former Balcones Heights councilmember Juan Lecea is returning to the council dais, having won 61% of the vote over Kip Torres, an alternate planning and zoning commissioner.
Lecea, a former economic development corporation board member, has spent recent months criticizing Mayor Johnny Rodriguez’s administration on a local podcast and in person at council meetings.
Appearing at a late April council meeting, Lecea expressed concerns that the council was overlooking the EDC board’s efforts to renovate the city of Balcones Heights’ visitors center kiosk at the Wonderland of the Americas Mall. Council ultimately voted not to award renovation construction bids following Lecea’s appearance.
Lecea and Burton are now part of a council embroiled in controversy. Council voted in March to limit the mayor’s duties and access to city facilities and staff while local authorities investigate city employee complaints filed against him.
Rodriguez responded by filing a federal civil rights lawsuit, claiming the limits imposed on him by council are illegal and essentially remove him from public office. The city, multiple council members, the city administrator, the city attorney, and the police chief are defendants in the suit.
Frank Paul, a former Castle Hills council member, received 57% toward rejoining the council, where he will succeed Place 4 Councilmember Jack Joyce, who declined a re-election bid. Paul beat Vic Sylvia, a parks and projects commissioner and a scientist.
Place 1 Councilmember Jason Smith and Place 5 Councilmember Beth Daines both ran unopposed. Castle Hills voters also reauthorized a portion of the city’s sales tax to continue supporting local street maintenance.
City Council Place 6 Councilmember Jonathan Swarek won a full term with 57% of the vote over Matthew Reigelsperger, USAA in-house counsel and legal advisor with expertise in cybersecurity issues.
Swarek was the only resident to apply for the then-vacant Place 6 post in late 2024, and was sworn into office in early 2025. Before that, Swarek has been an entrepreneur, and an executive with an oil and gas company.
Place 2 Councilmember Keith Rhoden ran unopposed.
Gregg Michel, who sat on Helotes’ planning and zoning commission, received 69% to win the open Place 1 seat on the Helotes City Council. The college history professor beat out real estate firm training director Mike Gutierrez.
Another planning and zoning commissioner, Anne Carraway, was the lone applicant for the open Place 2 position. Place 4 Councilmember Sabrina McGowan drew no challenger for her re-election bid.
Chris Riley won her 12th consecutive term as Leon Valley’s mayor, collecting 74% of the vote. Evan Bohl, a private investigator and a former mayoral candidate, placed a distant second in this mayoral race. Former Councilmember Jed Hefner finished in third place.
Place 2 Councilmember Betty Heyl and Place 4 Councilmember Rey Orozco ran unopposed.
A political newcomer and two incumbents won three available at-large Shavano Park City Council posts.
U.S. Air Force veteran Christian Lyons led the way with 29% of the vote. Lyons was followed by incumbent Konrad Kuykendall, a financial advisor, and incumbent Lee Powers, a veteran law enforcement professional and a current security company manager.
Entrepreneur Alexandria Kling, a medical device sales consultant, and former council member Vicky Maisel rounded out the rest of the field.
Bexar County reported a 3% voter turnout while 7% of Kendall County voters cast a ballot in local elections there.
