The San Antonio City Council has stripped Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones of her sole authority to appoint tri-chairs to the executive committee for the 2027–2032 bond package. While not mandated by city code, previous mayors have traditionally appointed the three tri-chairs.
The move follows Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones’ Oct. 19 announcement of her appointees: Jim Perschbach, president and CEO of Port San Antonio; Jelynne LeBlanc Jamison, president and CEO of the Center for Health Care Services; and Mario Obledo Jr., chief of government and public affairs at the San Antonio Food Bank.
The ordinance, approved during an Oct. 21 special meeting, establishes a subcommittee to review tri-chair candidates and submit recommendations to the full council for final approval. The subcommittee would consist of Councilmembers Sukh Kaur (D1) and Phyllis Viagran (D3).
The special meeting was called by Teri Castillo (D5), Marina Alderete-Gavito (D7) and Marc Whyte (D10). Castillo said the change ensures all districts have a voice in shaping leadership for a limited bond capacity.
“We understand with the limited bond capacity, it has never been more important to have a strong representation at the table, and getting there is a collaborative effort,” Castillo said. “Bringing the tri-chair appointments before the full council makes sure every district has a voice in how these decisions are made.”
City Manager Erik Walsh said the subcommittee would review candidates and recommend appointments for the full council to consider. The recommendations could include Jones’ appointees or three new candidates.
Walsh described the tri-chairs as important to the bond committee’s public engagement process, providing continuity and serving as public-facing representatives of the bond package. Their role is particularly important during the election process, he said, because they can participate in fundraising and initiatives that council members are legally prohibited from joining.
The tri-chairs do not have direct authority over the bond package, which is shaped by bond committee recommendations and approved by the City Council.
“They’re there to provide kind of that outward exposure and to build confidence in terms of the proposed election and the projects and the momentum,” Walsh said.
Following Walsh’s explanation, Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) called the ordinance “silly” and unnecessary, arguing that it would manufacture conflict over the mayor’s appointments.
“We’re here to elongate and create and manufacture conflict related to the bond despite the fact that we haven’t even figured out the final dollar amount,” McKee-Rodriguez said.
Jones agreed with McKee-Rodriguez, saying the council should focus on more pressing bond-related issues.
The Oct. 21 vote followed a similar proposal that council narrowly rejected on June 11. The primary difference was that the October ordinance removed a provision requiring council approval of co-chair appointments to bond committees.
At the June meeting, Castillo said her team had been examining the appointment process since 2024 but had not pursued an ordinance amid changes in city leadership.
Jones and Councilmembers McKee-Rodriguez, Edward Mungia (D4), Ric Galvan (D6), Ivalis Meza Gonzalez (D8) and Misty Spears (D9) voted against the June proposal, causing it to fail.
On Oct. 21, Galvan and Meza Gonzalez voted in favor, while Spears was absent. The ordinance passed 7-3.