San Antonio College Organizes, Hosts First Mayoral Runoff Debate

And then there were two.

This election year began with a historic and crowded field of 27 candidates vying to become the next mayor of San Antonio. It was a dynamic and unpredictable race that captivated residents from every corner of the city. After the May 7 election, the crowded slate narrowed to just two contenders: Gina Ortiz Jones, a former undersecretary of the Air Force, and Rolando Pablos, who previously served as Texas Secretary of State.

On Tuesday, May 6 – just three days after the election – the two finalists met face-to-face for the first time since the results were announced, squaring off at San Antonio College. The timely debate, held in front of a live audience, was five months in the making thanks to the dedication and coordination by San Antonio College’s faculty, students, and staff.

Their efforts ensured that the college not only served as a neutral ground for civic discourse but also heavily reflected the college’s mission to serve students.

Key players in organizing the debate included Brandy Martinez and Dr. Charles Mazuca, faculty members in the public policy and service department, Roxanne Barrera, student success coordinator in the Office of Student Life, and the Student Government Association (SGA). Both Martinez and Barrera also serve as faculty and staff sponsors for the SGA.

Martinez said the debate date was chosen with students in mind. Holding it any later would have interfered with finals week.

“We didn’t want students missing out on studying,” said Martinez.

Still the date meant it would be a tight deadline to get the candidates to confirm their attendance.

Still, the timing meant a tight window to get the candidates to confirm their attendance. All 27 original candidates had been invited back in March, should they make the runoff. But the two finalists didn’t confirm participation until the day before the event.

To get the word out, SGA members distributed flyers door-to-door in the neighborhoods surrounding SAC. The flyers included a QR code where residents could submit questions for the candidates in advance.

Mazuca said as they received many questions and that were falling into general categories.

“‘What's your vision for the city?  What's your plan? How do you see the job outlook and what would you do?’” recounted Mazuca. He added these were important questions because neither of the candidates has held a local office.   

Amber Palma, a senator with SAC’s Student Government Association, said SGA members held several planning meetings to prepare for the event, covering everything from setting the budget to coordinating volunteers to welcome candidates and guests.

She viewed the debate as a turning point for student political awareness.

“For a long time, I did not know what voting was or what it did, or how it could even affect me. I also didn't think I cared,” she said. “But then I'm starting to see how it does affect us. So now I very much do care. And I think other students should also be aware as well.”

“I'm a firm believer in the students being engaged,” said Martinez.  “I teach government. This is what we do. We want them to be responsible citizens, which means not just voting, but knowing what they're voting for. Getting to know the candidates and understanding what they're about and what their vision is.”

Student voices were prioritized during the debate, with the microphone going only to them. Many of them were speaking in a political forum for the first time, asking bold and thoughtful questions about issues like equitable access to education, economic opportunity for working families, and climate policy.

Gina Ortiz Jones supporters cheered as she emphasized her commitment to underserved communities and to fostering innovation within city services. “San Antonio’s strength is in its people,” she said, “and it’s time our city government reflects that.”

Rolando Pablos spoke of bold infrastructure plans, fiscal responsibility, and strengthening public-private partnerships, and challenged his opponent’s federal background, positioning himself as the more pragmatic and locally rooted choice. “We need a mayor who understands San Antonio from the ground up,” he said, earning nods from a vocal group of supporters.

As the mayoral race heads toward its final showdown, the SAC debate served as a powerful reminder: the future of the city lies not only in the hands of its leaders – but in the voices of its people.

“It's tremendously important to have an event like this at SAC,” Mazuca added. “We are doing everything we can to reinvest in community and civic engagement.”

Key Election Dates
Early voting for the runoff election—including the mayoral race and four city council seats—runs from Tuesday, May 27, through Friday, May 30, and again on Monday, June 2, through Tuesday, June 3.
Election Day is scheduled for Saturday, June 7.