When San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro resigned to join President Obama’s cabinet he ignited a free-for-all among 14 candidates who wanted to replace him. Through candidate forums and an examination of the campaigns it became clear that four contenders had the knowledge and organization to compete.
So- how to cover so many candidates and give voters a reason to pay attention?
The stories that set our coverage apart included a deep look at the quality of the people running- the core values they’d bring to the job; events that had shaped their lives; how they made decisions. We spent time with the candidates at their homes and in their neighborhoods. The insight lead to public radio profiles which sought to answer that most important question-who would you trust to lead your city?
Those profiles were broadcast May 8, 2015, in a public affairs program, Looking for a Leader.
Texas Public Radio believes the program contributed to coverage and content that allowed voters to better understand the candidates seeking the city’s highest office.