Brockhouse Concedes After Nirenberg Clenches Third Term
Greg Brockhouse and Ron Nirenberg shake hands following a tumultuous election cycle. (Illustration by Christopher Ochoa.)
May 1, 2021 - San Antonio
By Valeria Torrealba, Senior Reporter | San Antonio Sentinel
Nirenberg fields questions from reporters following his victory in 2019. (Photo by William Timmerman.)
Mayoral candidate Greg Brockhouse has conceded after early votes were tallied on Saturday. Mayor Ron Nirenberg will go on to serve a third term. Brockhouse received 30 percent of the early vote, largely falling behind Nirenberg’s 63 percent.
“I have always said you don’t need to be Mayor to make a change in your community,” a statement by Brockhouse read. “You only have to care. We have cared and gave it our best shot. Congratulations to Ron and Erika as they continue their service to San Antonio.”
After losing by a narrow margin in the 2019 runoff, Brockhouse — a former District 6 Councilman — has not participated in debates against Nirenberg, who held a 67 percent approval rating regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as seen in a Bexar Facts-KSAT-San Antonio Report poll.
Brockhouse addresses the crowd for his concession speech in 2019. (Photo by B Kay Richter.)
The mayoral race candidates also comprised previous runners, including Denise-Gutierrez-Homer — who has received 1.7 percent of the early votes — and Gary Allen, who stands with 1.27 percent of the early votes.
Nirenberg has guided the City of San Antonio through the pandemic response, making 2020 a challenging second term for the mayor.
“We’ve gone through the last few years, particularly the last two years, working towards a vision for the City’s future that is inclusive, that is equitable, that is resilient,” Nirenberg said to Texas Public Radio. “We put our major initiatives forward. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, the community of San Antonio voters are overwhelmingly supportive.”
City Council Seats Face Shake-Up during Election
By Amanda Lorraine Lozano and B. Kay Richter | San Antonio Sentinel
District 1: Councilman Roberto Trevino leads the race with 4,785 votes. Mario Bravo trails behind with 3,356 votes. The two will face off in the upcoming runoff election.
District 2: The challenger, Jalen McKee-Rodriguez is currently taking the lead with 2,102 votes compared to the incumbent Jada Andrews-Sullivan with 1,371 votes. The two candidates will face off during the upcoming runoff election.
District 3: Phyllis Viagran, the sister of incumbent Rebecca Viagran, has taken the lead with 2,120 votes with Tomas Uresti clenching 1,405 votes. The two candidates will face off again during the upcoming runoff election.
District 4: Incumbent Councilperson Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia won the race by a landslide with 4,033 votes, or 71 percent.
District 5: Teri Castillo currently leads with 1,840 votes. Her competitor, Rudy Lopez trails behind, securing 908 votes. The two will face off during runoff elections.
District 6: The incumbent Councilperson Melissa Cabello Havrda is in the lead with 5,369 votes. Irina Rudolph trailed behind securing 2,648 votes.
District 7: Incumbent City Councilperson Ana Sandoval had a landslide victory, earning 9,518 votes.
District 8: The incumbent Councilperson Manny Pelaez clenched 8,975 votes with Rob Rodriguez trailing in second place with 2,994 votes.
District 9: Incumbent Councilman John Courage faces a close call. He secures 10,750 votes. His challenger Patrick Von Dolhen follows at his heels, with 7,948 votes. The two will face off during the upcoming runoff election.
District 10: The incumbent Councilperson Clayton Perry secured 9,528 votes with the challenger Ezra Johnson trailing behind with 5,177 votes.