MannyIsGod
02-27-2005, 05:58 PM
Council incumbents challenged
Web Posted: 02/27/2005 12:00 AM CST
Rebeca Rodriguez
Express-News Political Writer
Two years after running on platforms of change, several City Council incumbents find themselves defending their seats during the May 7 city elections.
"I think it's healthy that we have competitive races," said Larry Hufford, a St. Mary's University political scientist, noting that some incumbents might have problems of their own making, such as scandal or perceived ineffective leadership.
That said, toppling a sitting officeholder isn't easy.
Four of 11 council seats, including the post of mayor, are open this year due to term limits. The candidate filing period runs through March 7.
Mayor Ed Garza, after serving four years as a councilman and another four as mayor, cannot run for city office again.
Councilmen Enrique Barrera, Julián Castro and Carroll Schubert also are term-limited; Castro and Schubert are running for mayor.
Among those facing challengers are Councilmen Joel Williams, Ron Segovia, Art Hall and Chip Haass. With about a week left in the filing period, that list could grow.
In District 2, incumbent Williams is facing at least two challengers: East Side activist David Arevalo and Sheila McNeil, a one-time aide to former District 2 Councilman John Sanders.
Controversy has brought at least one challenger out against District 3 Councilman Ron Segovia.
Roland Gutierrez, an attorney who ran for the seat in 2003 and for Bexar County Commissioners Court in 2004, is running against Segovia.
The former police officer retired from the force in 2003 under a cloud of suspicion over alleged violations of department policy, which Segovia denies.
In a separate incident last year, a grand jury opted not to indict Segovia on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault with bodily harm. The charges stemmed from an incident involving a TV reporter, who was his girlfriend at the time.
Although Segovia's problems may not give Gutierrez a free pass, "they will certainly make the race far more competitive than it should have been had the alleged incidents not occurred," Hufford said.
District 4 Councilman Richard Perez has drawn no opponents so far. Perez has come under fire recently in an alleged bidding scandal involving his family's company, Fairway Landscape and Nursery, Inc. and KellyUSA.
Six people have filed in District 6, left vacant by Barrera.
The largest field of candidates so far is in District 7, where eight contenders have either filed paperwork or announced their intention to run.
Art Hall, the incumbent in District 8, will face at least three challengers. They include attorney Gabe Perales, who ran in the Republican primary for Congressional District 28, and familiar foe Bert Cecconi, who owns a dental manufacturing firm.
The District 9 seat, which Schubert is vacating, has attracted two contenders. They are Kevin Wolff, the son of Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, and Weston Martinez, an SBC data services manager.
District 1 Councilman Roger Flores has not drawn opposition so far. Nor have District 4 Councilman Richard Perez or District 5 Councilwoman Patti Radle.
Web Posted: 02/27/2005 12:00 AM CST
Rebeca Rodriguez
Express-News Political Writer
Two years after running on platforms of change, several City Council incumbents find themselves defending their seats during the May 7 city elections.
"I think it's healthy that we have competitive races," said Larry Hufford, a St. Mary's University political scientist, noting that some incumbents might have problems of their own making, such as scandal or perceived ineffective leadership.
That said, toppling a sitting officeholder isn't easy.
Four of 11 council seats, including the post of mayor, are open this year due to term limits. The candidate filing period runs through March 7.
Mayor Ed Garza, after serving four years as a councilman and another four as mayor, cannot run for city office again.
Councilmen Enrique Barrera, Julián Castro and Carroll Schubert also are term-limited; Castro and Schubert are running for mayor.
Among those facing challengers are Councilmen Joel Williams, Ron Segovia, Art Hall and Chip Haass. With about a week left in the filing period, that list could grow.
In District 2, incumbent Williams is facing at least two challengers: East Side activist David Arevalo and Sheila McNeil, a one-time aide to former District 2 Councilman John Sanders.
Controversy has brought at least one challenger out against District 3 Councilman Ron Segovia.
Roland Gutierrez, an attorney who ran for the seat in 2003 and for Bexar County Commissioners Court in 2004, is running against Segovia.
The former police officer retired from the force in 2003 under a cloud of suspicion over alleged violations of department policy, which Segovia denies.
In a separate incident last year, a grand jury opted not to indict Segovia on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault with bodily harm. The charges stemmed from an incident involving a TV reporter, who was his girlfriend at the time.
Although Segovia's problems may not give Gutierrez a free pass, "they will certainly make the race far more competitive than it should have been had the alleged incidents not occurred," Hufford said.
District 4 Councilman Richard Perez has drawn no opponents so far. Perez has come under fire recently in an alleged bidding scandal involving his family's company, Fairway Landscape and Nursery, Inc. and KellyUSA.
Six people have filed in District 6, left vacant by Barrera.
The largest field of candidates so far is in District 7, where eight contenders have either filed paperwork or announced their intention to run.
Art Hall, the incumbent in District 8, will face at least three challengers. They include attorney Gabe Perales, who ran in the Republican primary for Congressional District 28, and familiar foe Bert Cecconi, who owns a dental manufacturing firm.
The District 9 seat, which Schubert is vacating, has attracted two contenders. They are Kevin Wolff, the son of Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, and Weston Martinez, an SBC data services manager.
District 1 Councilman Roger Flores has not drawn opposition so far. Nor have District 4 Councilman Richard Perez or District 5 Councilwoman Patti Radle.