Category: San Antonio News

Editor’s note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of San Antonio’s restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news. Openings and closings In perhaps the most unexpected downtown development of the year, fancy-pants jamon purveyor Enrique Tomas Experience is coming to Rivercenter Mall. A “coming soon” sign has popped up at the former Maria Mia Mexican Bistro space at…

With only a few months before primary elections, candidates across Bexar County are ramping up their campaigns.

Several consequential county offices are up for grabs, including Bexar County Judge and district attorney.

Early voting for the primary begins on Feb. 14, with election day slated for March 1. The deadline to register to vote is Jan. 31.

To check your voter registration status in Bexar County, click here. To find out which precinct you live in, click here.

There is a chance the election dates could change pending the outcome of lawsuits that have been filed against the state over redistricting maps.

Here’s a breakdown of the Bexar County races to watch.

Bexar County Judge

Democratic candidates: Ivalis Meza Gonzalez, Ina Minjarez, Gerard Ponce, Peter SakaiRepublican candidates: Nathan Buchanan, Trish DeBerry

Analysis: After a lifetime of public service, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff announced last year that he would not seek reelection for the county’s top office.

Wolff, who has been county judge since 2001, made the announcement in October with more than a year left on his term. That way, “good candidates” would have time to launch their campaigns, he said.

The departure has not only attracted current and former elected officials, but a few outsiders, too.

On the Democratic ticket, mayoral Chief of Staff Ivaliz Meza Gonzalez, state Rep. Ina Minjarez, former mayoral candidate Gerard Ponce and former district court judge Peter Sakai are vying for the party’s nomination.

On the Republican ticket, there are only two candidates — small business owner and licensed peace officer Nathan Buchanan and Bexar County Pct. 3 Commissioner Trish DeBerry. DeBerry threw her hat in the ring just hours before the filing deadline, making the decision to resign from the Pct. 3 post to run for the county judge position.

Bexar County voters have not elected a Republican as county judge since 1998.

Read more about the candidates’ platforms here.

Bexar County District Attorney

Democratic candidate: Joe GonzalesRepublican candidates: Meredith Chacon, Marc LaHood

Analysis: Joe Gonzales is running for reelection, seeking his second term as Bexar County District Attorney.

Though Gonzales has been able to tout certain victories, like the successful implementation of the county’s cite and release program, other challenges remain, like the growing backlog in domestic violence cases.

The district attorney’s office has also been hindered with communication issues between prosecutors and law enforcement, leading to delays in at least one high-profile murder case.

Gonzales’ primary race is uncontested, but two familiar names are seeking to clinch the Republican nomination and challenge him in November.

Meredith Chacon, a former Bexar County prosecutor, has already taken aim at Gonzales’ policies. Marc LaHood, brother of former Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood, is also running in the Republican primary.

Marc Lahood is an attorney and a partner of the family-run firm LaHood Law, specializing in criminal defense, personal injury law, probate issues and family law.

Read more: Who’s running for district attorney, district judge and county court judge in 2022

Bexar County Commissioner Pct. 3

DeBerry’s decision to run for county judge triggered the state’s resign-to-run law and opens up a new spot on the county commissioners court.

Wolff has appointed former appeals court judge Marialyn Barnard as interim commissioner, the voters in November will decide on who will fill out the rest of the term until 2024.

Rather than have candidates run for the county commissioner post in the primary, state law dictates that each county political party will nominate a candidate. Those candidates will go head-to-head on the November ballot.

The parties have yet to decide on their nominations but nonetheless, the race will be an important one to keep an eye on.

Read more about the process of picking the next Pct. 3 county commissioner here.

Bexar County Commissioner Pct. 4

Democratic candidate: Tommy CalvertRepublican candidate: Larry Ricketts

Analysis: Nominations are all but guaranteed for Democrat Tommy Calvert and Republican Larry Ricketts, who are running unopposed for Bexar County Commissioner Pct. 4.

Calvert has held the seat since 2014, seeking a third term in office this November. Ricketts is seeking public office again after losing to Kathryn Brown for the precinct’s constable office in 2020.

Roughly 500,000 residents live in the precinct, which covers eastern Bexar County. This race, along with the county judge and Pct. 3 county commissioner races that will be decided in the November general election, could change the makeup of the court for the next four years.

Texas House District 118

Democratic candidate: Frank RamirezRepublican candidate: John Lujan

Analysis: In November, following the retirement of Rep. Leo Pacheco, Republicans celebrated the flipped seat in House District 118 after John Lujan edged out Frank Ramirez, winning 51% of the vote. Lujan will be representing the district for his second time after a short stint in the office in 2016.

The victory is short-lived, as the two will rematch in November after uncontested primary races in March.

The House seat will be a good barometer gauging Republicans’ progress with reaching Hispanic voters in Central and South Texas.

Texas House District 122

Democratic candidates: Angi AramburuRepublican candidates: Adam Blanchard, Elisa Chan, Mark Daniel Cuthbert, Mark Dorazio

Analysis: After serving in the Texas House for more than a decade, Rep. Lyle Larson (R-San Antonio) has decided not to seek reelection.

Larson had become increasingly outspoken against his own party throughout the previous legislative sessions as his party passed controversial bills on voting and abortion. Most recently, Larson expressed disappointment in how Republicans handled redistricting.

Many potential successors are lining up for the reliably Republican House seat, which covers parts of northern Bexar County. GOP candidates running in the primary include San Antonio businessman Adam Blanchard, former San Antonio City Council member Elisa Chan, banking executive Mark Daniel Cuthbert and Mark Dorazio, a former Bexar County GOP Chair.

On the Democratic ticket, there is only one candidate — personal trainer Angi Aramburu.

Texas House District 124

Democratic candidates: Josey Garcia, Steven Gilmore, Gerald Brian LopezRepublican candidate: Johnny Arredondo

Analysis: Texas House District 124, which covers western Bexar County, is sure to have new representation after Rep. Ina Minjarez decided to pursue the county judge office.

Josey Garcia, a leader of local grassroots group Reliable Revolutionaries; Steven Gilmore, an attorney; and Gerald Brian Lopez, self-employed; are running for the Democratic nomination.

On the Republican side, Johnny Arredondo, who is retired, is running unopposed.

The seat is likely to go to the Democratic candidate who wins the primary.

Congressional District 15

Democratic candidates: Eliza Alvarado, Julio Garza, Ruben Ramirez, John Villarreal Rigney, Vanessa Stephanie Tijerina, Michelle VallejoRepublican candidates: Sara Canady, Aizar Cavazos, Vangela Churchill, Monica De La Cruz, Mauro Garza, Angela Juarez, Ryan Krause, John Lerma, Steve Schmuker Jr.

Analysis: With Congressman Vicente Gonzalez running in the newly redrawn Congressional District 34, the voters of Congressional District 15 are sure to elect a new representative this November.

Redistricting made the traditionally Democratic district more competitive, giving Republicans a better chance to flip the seat. Under the current maps, Gonzalez only narrowly won the district against Monica De La Cruz, who is running for the seat again.

The other Republican candidates running for the nomination are Justice of the Peace Sara Canady, retired Border Patrol agent Aizar Cavazos, assistant principal Vangela Churchill, former congressional candidate Mauro Garza, self-employed Angela Juarez, self-employed Ryan Krause, retiree John Lerma and professor Steve Schmuker Jr.

The Democratic candidates in the race include educator Eliza Alvarado, self-employed Julio Garza, attorney Ruben Ramriez, attorney John Villarreal Rigney, Vanessa Stephanie Tijerina, and Michelle Vallejo.

Congressional District 23

Democratic candidates: Priscilla Golden, John LiraRepublican candidates: Alma Arredondo-Lynch, Alìa Garcia, Tony Gonzales

Analysis: Generally viewed as one of the most competitive congressional districts in Texas, both parties will be eyeing this seat.

Rep. Tony Gonzales kept the seat Republican when he beat Air Force veteran Gina Ortiz Jones in 2020, and hopes to be re-elected.

Before clinching the nomination, though, he has to campaign against Alma Arredondo-Lynch, a conservative dentist and rancher, and Alìa Garcia.

On the Democratic ticket, social worker Priscilla Golden will face John Lira, a Marine.

Congressional District 28

Democratic candidates: Tannya Judith Benavides, Jessica Cisneros, Henry CuellarRepublican candidates: Ed Cabrera, Steven Fowler, Cassy Garcia, Eric Hohman, Willie Vasquez Ng, Rolando Rodriguez, Sandra Whitten

Analysis: Though Congressman Henry Cuellar has been elected to Congressional District 28 since 2005, he saw his most serious challenge in the 2020 Democratic primary.

Progressives organized against the moderate Democrat, backing immigration attorney Jessica Cisneros. Cuellar edged out Cisneros, winning 51.8% of the vote in the primary.

The race was shaken up in January after the FBI raided Cuellar’s home in Laredo amid an active investigation.

This year features a rematch between Cuellar and Cisneros, who embody differing visions of the party’s future, along with a third candidate — teacher and organizer Tannya Judith Benavides.

Republicans are also hoping to put up a competitive race in the district, as they have made progress with Latino voters in South Texas in 2020. The crowded GOP primary features rancher Ed Cabrera, combat veteran Lt. Col. Steven Fowler, political staffer Cassy Garcia, management analyst Eric Hohman, former Bexar County Sheriff candidate Willie Vasquez Ng, self-employed Rolando Rodriguez and youth and preschool director Sandra Whitten.

Congressional District 35

Democratic candidates: Greg Casar, Eddie Rodriguez, Carla-Joy Sisco, Rebecca ViagranRepublican candidates: Bill Condict, Jenai Aragona, Marilyn Jackson, Alejandro Ledezma, Dan McQueen, Sam Montoya, Asa George Kent Palagi, Michael Rodriguez, Dan Sawatzki, Jennifer Sundt.

Analysis: This reliably Democratic district will have new representation after redistricting drew Congressman Lloyd Doggett out of it. Instead, Doggett will run for Congressional District 37, one of the state’s new seats.

Four Democrats are hoping to succeed him, three of whom have held office before. Austin City Council Member Greg Casar, State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, consultant Carla-Joy Sisco, and former San Antonio City Council Member Rebecca Viagran are vying for the primary.

The Republican primary, meanwhile, is an even more crowded race with 10 candidates running for the party’s nomination. They include program scheduler Bill Condict, realtor Jenai Aragona, insurance agent Marilyn Jackson, construction worker Alejandro Ledezma, former 37-day mayor of Corpus Christi Dan McQueen, reporter Sam Montoya, soldier and entrepreneur Asa George Kent Palagi, household manager Michael Rodriguez, retired U.S. Air Force service member Dan Sawatzki and attorney Jennifer Sundt.

Read more on our Vote 2022 page:

Last minute campaign announcement creates opening for Bexar County commissioner in Pct. 3. What happens next?Bexar County Judge candidates tell KSAT why they’re running

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A hearing into the validity of a judicial candidate’s application for the 285th District Court stretched late into the evening Tuesday, hours after several judges recused themselves from hearing the case.

A lawsuit filed last month by 285th District Court candidate Nadine Nieto accuses her opponent in the March Democratic primary, Lisa Uresti-Dasher, of having multiple discrepancies on her sworn application for the position.

The suit, which seeks to have Uresti-Dasher removed from the ballot, states that the local attorney used two versions of her name: Lisa Uresti-Dasher and Lisa Uresti Dasher, while applying to run.

Additionally, Nieto said before Tuesday’s hearing that she does not believe Uresti-Dasher is running under her legal name, and is instead attempting to gain name recognition among voters by using her maiden name.

Uresti-Dasher is the daughter of longtime Bexar County tax assessor-collector Albert Uresti and the niece of disgraced former Texas state senator Carlos Uresti, who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for federal fraud and money laundering convictions.

Campaign signs for Uresti-Dasher posted across San Antonio contain the familiar green and white color scheme used by other members of her family who have run for public office.

“There were a lot of inaccuracies on her application,” Nieto said Monday, after the previously scheduled hybrid hearing was moved online.

“It’s important to our community to have honest, trustworthy judges. And this election is about the integrity of this bench and it’s about the integrity of elections in general,” said Nieto, who added that people running for judge should be able to tell the truth on a simple application.

Technical issues

Tuesday’s hearing got underway around 1:30 p.m. and was pushed to a second day after the proceedings stretched past 5 p.m. It was scheduled to resume virtually at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Tuesday’s hearing was rife with technical issues, screechy audio and interruptions.

After the name “Rebecca” was spoken several times, repeatedly interrupting the proceeding, visiting Judge John Gabriel threatened to have the interrupter removed.

Uresti-Dasher’s uncle, Tomas Uresti, acknowledged failing to mute his phone’s microphone while watching the hearing and apologized.

Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen testified Tuesday that the ballots for the March 1 primary must be printed by Jan. 13.

Early voting for the primary is scheduled to begin February 14, according to the Texas Secretary of State.

Bexar County Democratic Party Chair Monica Alcantara testified that she viewed Uresti-Dasher’s use of that name as a “permitted nickname.”

Attorneys for Uresti-Dasher, who unsuccessfully filed a motion to have the suit dismissed, acknowledged that parts of their client’s application were inaccurate.

Uresti-Dasher’s attorney pushed back on the characterization from Nieto’s attorney, however, that the application contained “false” information.

A key part of the suit is the allegation that Uresti-Dasher provided inaccurate information about how long she has lived in the state of Texas as well as the district the court represents, Bexar County.

Reached by telephone last week, Uresti-Dasher acknowledged living in Pennsylvania while her husband went through medical training as well as living in Minnesota and Wisconsin while attending law schools in those two states.

Uresti-Dasher also lived, for a time, in Harris County, according to her and a check of public records.

She is scheduled to testify Wednesday.

The sale to Lime Rock Resources comes on the heels of the company’s mounting debt in 2021.

A historic downtown building could be a big opportunity for developers.

San Antonio police have arrested a man accused of masturbating outside someone’s home while delivering H-E-B groceries.

Police said the delivery man, later identified as 29-year-old Xavier Downs, was caught exposing himself on a Ring doorbell video on Sept. 26. He was arrested Sunday and charged with indecent exposure, jail records show.

A customer had ordered groceries from H-E-B and Downs dropped them off outside the customer’s front door, an arrest warrant affidavit states.

After Downs went back to his vehicle, the customer opened the front door to retrieve his groceries and didn’t have contact with Downs.

The affidavit states that the Ring camera had a motion notification and recorded Downs in front of the door masturbating.

Downs left the area near the front door when he heard a dog barking from inside the home, police said.

This is the second time Downs was charged with indecent exposure in connection with food delivery.

Police said he was accused of a related offense connected to a DoorDash delivery in February.

Records show he has been released on bond.

With the U.S. logging its highest single-day total of new COVID-19 cases (441,278 infections) and some 281, 808, 270 cases documented worldwide, new treatments are in major demand — especially in emerging nations. To that end, Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine announced a new COVID-19 vaccine that’s ready to deploy in India and soon, other underserved countries. Corbevax, which is dubbed “The world’s COVID-19 vaccine,” utilizes a traditional recombinant protein-based technology that…

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff appointed former appeals court judge Marialyn Barnard as the Interim Precinct 3 County Commissioner on Tuesday.

She was immediately sworn in by Federal Judge Orlando Garcia and will serve in the interim position until Jan. 1, 2023, replacing former Pct. 3 Commissioner Trish DeBerry, who is running for Bexar County Judge.

Wolff said he received a total of 27 applications but that Barnard’s “stood above all.” Wolff said in making his decision he considered the candidate’s civic involvement, whether they had served as an elected official, their private sector experience, whether they understood county government and the judicial and criminal system. He also wanted someone with independence and leadership qualities who would be ready for the job given the year’s first Commissioner’s Court meeting is scheduled for next week.

Barnard, a Republican, served on the Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals from 2009-2018 when she lost her re-election bid in the 2018 midterm elections.

Barnard will remain in the interim position for the entire year until the person chosen by voters in November’s election will fill out the remainder of the term until 2024.

Just a year into her term as commissioner, DeBerry announced last month that she would be running for county judge in the upcoming election. Per state law, DeBerry had to resign in order to embark on the political campaign.

Because of the timing of the resignation, the Texas Secretary of State’s Office said Bexar County’s political parties will be able to make their own nominations for the office for November’s General Election rather than have candidates file for March’s Primary.

Precinct 3 covers the north side of Bexar County.

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A man has died following a fire at his home on the West Side on Tuesday morning, according to the San Antonio Fire Department.

The fire was reported just after 6:30 a.m. in the 1400 block of San Andreas St., not far from Culebra and Callaghan roads.

The majority of the flames were contained before 7:30 a.m., but first responders were seen performing life-saving measures on the man in front of the home. Authorities said he later died.

He has not been identified.

Firefighters are still working to extinguish hot spots.

This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.

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