Former State Senator and mayoral candidate Leticia Van De Putte is throwing her support behind San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor. The endorsement was made at a private fundraiser for Taylor on Wednesday night. It comes one year after a heated mayor's race between the two women.
Van De Putte says she and Taylor may not agree on everything but she is impressed with Taylor's accomplishments as mayor and believes voters made the right choice.
“I graded her just as harshly as I would have graded myself. Would I have had a different style? Yes. Are there things that are imperfect? Sure. Were there dust-ups? Yes,” Van De Putte says. “But on the major issues facing our city if you take that report card, you can check off. And that’s why I offered my support to Ivy Taylor.”
Van De Putte lists the police contract, the SA Tomorrow master plan, the Uber and Lyft deal, and starting Google Fiber’s rollout as some of Taylor’s achievements. Taylor welcomes the support of her former mayoral rival.
“I felt she was very gracious. I appreciated her perspective. I’ve been really focused on getting things done,” Taylor says.
After a debate at Texas Public Radio last year, Taylor refused to shake Van De Putte’s hand saying you don’t shake the hand of someone who attacks your family. On Thursday, Taylor credited the thawed relationship to time. “It heals all wounds,” she said.
Van De Putte, a Democrat, is now running a consulting firm with Republican and former Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade.
I am incredibly grateful for and humbled by your support @leticiavdp https://t.co/LxiZk1Q0OJ
— Ivy R Taylor (@IvyRTaylor) September 7, 2016
