Applications are now open to be the next San Antonio City Council member for District 2.
With District 2 Councilman William “Cruz” Shaw resigning effective Jan. 7, San Antonio’s East Side council district will need a temporary replacement. The City Council opened applications Monday with the goal of selecting a new council member by early January.
Shaw has been on the council for about 18 months and is leaving to become an associate judge in the 436th Juvenile District Court under Bexar County District Judge Lisa Jarrett.
Before opening applications, community members thanked Shaw for his time in office. State Representative Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, who represents most of District 2 in the Texas House, congratulated him on his new appointment.
“It is an opportunity that I think for our young people to see someone that looks like them on the bench wearing the robe and who can help walk them through the challenges that they’re having. So we appreciate you and we wish you best on your new journey,” she said.
The city charter requires a special election to be called if a council member resigns with more than 120 days left in the term. Jan. 7 is 117 days before the end of term, so no special election will be called.
Instead, council is calling for applications of interested District 2 residents to be delivered to the city clerk’s office through 5 p.m. on Jan. 4.
City staff and the City Council will then review those applications and select up to three final applicants during a public meeting on Jan. 9. The council will select and appoint a candidate to the seat during its regular A-Session council meeting the following day.
Rose Hill, president of the Government Hill Alliance, a neighborhood association, asked the council on Monday to consider people who know the district.
“I’m asking you … when you consider the appointment … that we look at somebody that knows the community, knows the people, knows the issues in District 2, knows the [neighborhood association] presidents,” she said.
The selected applicant will serve in an interim capacity until the May election when the mayor and all 10 council seats are up for re-election. The interim councilmember is also eligible to run for the seat on a permanent basis.
Joey Palacios can be reached at Joey @TPR.org and on Twtter at @Joeycules.
