San Antonio City Council 2025 election guide
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Four out of 10 San Antonio City Council districts will not have an incumbent on the May 3 ballot.
Why it matters: The next group of city councilmembers will serve longer four-year terms after voters approved increasing the term length from two years.
Here's what you need to know about the races without an incumbent.
District 4
Gregorio De La Paz: Works in construction management and ran for the seat unsuccessfully in 2023.
Ernest Arrellano: A former South San ISD trustee who unsuccessfully ran in the Democratic primary to be Bexar County Commissioner in Precinct 1 last year.
Johnathon Cruz: A public school principal.
Jose "Pepe" Martinez: The owner of a trucking company.
Edward Mungia: A staffer in the District 4 office who served as a trustee for South San ISD and a board member for MOVE Texas. He is endorsed by outgoing District 4 Councilmember Adriana Rocha Garcia.
District 6
Vanessa Chavez: An enrollment manager for IDEA Public Schools who previously worked for the city's housing department and on staff in City Council District 7.
Kelly Ann Gonzalez: Has worked as a labor organizer for city employees and is endorsed by outgoing District 6 Councilmember Melissa Cabello Havrda.
Ric Galvan: A staffer for City Council District 5.
"San" Carlos Antonio Raymond: A U.S. Army veteran.
Chris Baecker: A middle school teacher and college professor in economics who works with InfuseSA, a nonprofit that tracks city activities.
Bobby Herrera: Represented District 6 on the City Council in the '90s. He did not win reelection after he was accused of being intoxicated and interfering with a police investigation outside a strip club, per the Express-News.
- Herrera ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2019.
Gerald Lopez: A former chief of staff to former Councilmember Ray Lopez who has served as a trustee for Northside ISD and currently as a trustee for Alamo Colleges District.
Lawson Alaniz-Picasso: A member of CPS Energy's Community Input Committee who has experienced homelessness in the past. She has also served on city boards.
District 8
Sakib Shaikh: A real estate agent who also manages properties and has worked in the District 8 office as director of constituent services.
Cesario Garcia: A film producer and student who ran unsuccessfully for the District 8 seat in 2021 and 2023.
Cindy Onyekwelu: A software engineering contractor for the U.S. Air Force.
Rodney "Rod" Kidd: An operations consultant.
Ivalis Meza Gonzalez: Former chief of staff to Mayor Ron Nirenberg who ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat in the 2022 race for Bexar County Judge.
Paula McGee: An attorney who has served on the city's Zoning Commission and Ethics Review Board, as well as the board of the Alamo Colleges Foundation.
District 9
Angi Taylor Aramburu: Has experience in public relations and nonprofit arts marketing and currently serves on the Mayor's Fitness Council. She is endorsed by outgoing District 9 Councilmember John Courage.
Emily Joy Garza: A Stone Oak small business owner.
Daniel Mezza: An entrepreneur and CEO of Puro Nitro Coffee. He's worked on staff for former Republican U.S. Rep. Will Hurd and Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
Misty Spears: The director of constituent services for Republican Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody, and has his endorsement.
Celeste N Tidwell: Past aide in the Texas House who previously ran for City Council in District 10.
April Chang: Has a background in medical sales and was a force behind Mitchell's Landing, an all-abilities playground.
Tristen Hoffman: A high school senior who plans to study economics.