Beyond the Bite

• Ep 57. Low Turnout and High Stakes: What Defined the 2025 Mayor’s Race in San Antonio

  In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with guests Rob Killen and Erin Bley to break down the unexpected twists in San Antonio’s recent mayoral and city council elections. The discussion opens with a deep dive into the mayor’s race, unpacking the surge of outsider candidates, the influence of outside money, and the impact of strikingly low voter turnout. The trio highlights how shifting dynamics—from late re-entries into the race to strategic endorsements and the role of polling—upended long-held assumptions about frontrunners and reshaped the city’s political landscape.Turning to the city council races, Erin, Rob, and Eddie explore the outcomes in the key districts, analyzing what led to runoffs and the implications for voter turnout in those areas. The conversation underscores how voter confusion, a crowded field of candidates, and ballot placement may have contributed to the challenging environment for both candidates and residents. They also examine the potential for the new council makeup—paired with a new mayor—to shape the city’s approach to major initiatives and community challenges.The episode wraps up with an insightful look ahead at the issues awaiting the new municipal leadership, including the high-stakes Project Marvel, budget uncertainties, and challenges facing CPS Energy and SAWS. Rob and Erin reflect on the importance of strong staffing, strategic committee assignments, and the need for the mayor and council to build cohesive relationships and prioritize clear communication with voters. Whether it’s bridging divides between city and county government or navigating the complexities of economic development, the guests emphasize that the choices made in the coming months will have lasting impacts on San Antonio’s growth and governance.https://ginaortizjones.com/https://pablosformayor.com/

  --------  

  54:29
• Ep 56. Who Will Lead San Antonio’s Next Era As Mayor?

  In this special episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete offers listeners an in-depth "Mayoral Candidate Mashup" ahead of San Antonio’s 2025 mayoral election. Instead of the typical soundbite answers found in traditional forums, this episode features 3-4 minute highlights from Aldrete’s interviews with each of the nine top contenders. These candidates include former and current city council members, business leaders, and individuals with experience at the state and federal levels, each sharing their visions, priorities, and approaches for the future of San Antonio.Listeners get a wide-ranging look at the issues and themes shaping the race—from infrastructure, public safety, and economic development, to education, collaboration, and efficient city governance. The episode captures perspectives from candidates such as John Courage, Manny Pelaez, Beto Altamirano, Rolando Pablos, Adriana Rocha Garcia, Robert Melvin, Clayton Perry, Gina Ortiz Jones, and Melissa Cabello Havrda. Each segment provides an authentic glimpse into their priorities, whether it’s advocating for citywide reevaluation, fostering business growth, strengthening ties with state and federal leadership, or championing public education and community input. This episode serves as a valuable resource for voters looking to move "Beyond the Bite" and get a closer, more personal sense of which candidate best aligns with their hopes for the city.To listen the entire episode of a candidate, use the links below.John Couragehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bite/id1682999395?i=1000651865809Manny Pelaezhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bite/id1682999395?i=1000657770466Beto Altamiranohttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bite/id1682999395?i=1000676613243Rolando Pabloshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bite/id1682999395?i=1000679025595Adriana Rocha Garciahttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bite/id1682999395?i=1000693375366Robert Melvinhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bite/id1682999395?i=1000697598463Clayton Perryhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bite/id1682999395?i=1000701698050Gina Ortiz Joneshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bite/id1682999395?i=1000702666080Melissa Cabello Havrdahttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bite/id1682999395?i=1000702980198

  --------  

  45:00
• Ep 55. Melissa Cabello Havrda On Her Mayoral Campaign and San Antonio's Future

  The odds of her succeeding in life have never really been in her favor, but through hard work and determination, Melissa Cabello Havrda overcame the odds, graduated from college, graduated from law school, began her own law firm and got elected to the City Council. Now, she wants to be San Antonio’s next mayor.She’s running a grassroots campaign in a very crowded field. Cabello Havrda shares her journey from launching her campaign in December to navigating a field of 26 opponents, emphasizing her commitment to community engagement and grassroots organizing. She explores the dynamics of mayoral forums and the importance of understanding constituents' needs, as well as reflecting on the camaraderie and challenges faced alongside other candidates.Councilwoman Cabello Havrda delves into current issues impacting San Antonio, highlighting her leadership in advocating for the controversial Reproductive Justice Fund. She dove into this issue from a sense of purpose and mission and touches on some of the complexities surrounding council positions on this issue. Additionally, the Councilwoman shares her active efforts on construction impacts on small businesses, emphasizing initiatives like the Responsible Bidder Ordinance and liaison roles to enhance city outreach and support for local businesses.Throughout the episode, Cabello Havrda talked about dressing for the job you want. Unlike other candidates, she doesn’t have a 100-day plan, because she says as a current member of the City Council, she has already been working on her priorities and leading the way on them. Issue like helping to pass a capital reserve fund for CPS Energy as a home for surplus funds to help CPS tackle capital equipment costs and to apply as a down payment on any future rate hikes. She concludes the episode by emphasizing her vision of transforming city government into a highly efficient and community-centered entity, aiming to focus on zero-based and performance-based budgeting to better meet San Antonio’s diverse needs.https://melissaforsa.com/https://x.com/melissaforsahttps://www.instagram.com/melissaformayorhttps://www.facebook.com/melissaforsa/Podcast Production Service by EveryWord Media

  --------  

  39:48
• Ep. 54. From Air Force to Mayoral Candidate: Why Gina Ortiz Jones Wants To Be San Antonio Mayor

  To understand Gina Ortiz Jones, you have to start with her personal journey. In this episode, she reflects on her path from growing up on the far West Side of San Antonio to serving as the 27th Under Secretary of the Air Force. She shares how her upbringing and military experience have shaped her belief in the importance of strong local leadership, community investment, and expanded educational opportunities.The conversation then shifts to key issues facing San Antonio, including education, public health, and economic development. Ortiz Jones lays out her vision for addressing inequities in the education system, emphasizing the critical role of early childhood education and the need for stronger investment in Pre-K programs. She argues that if more funding were directed toward Pre-K 4 SA, there might be less need for programs like “Ready to Work,” which have faced challenges in delivering results.Host Eddie Aldrete also explores Ortiz Jones’s views on construction impacts to small businesses and her approach to city operations. She speaks candidly about several local initiatives, including “Project Marvel,” and stresses the importance of transparency and accountability in city government.The episode closes on a hopeful note, as Ortiz Jones shares her aspirations for San Antonio’s future and her commitment to using her leadership experience to help the city meet its challenges and seize new opportunities.Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media

  --------  

  44:51
• Ep 53. Clayton Perry's Perspective on Moving Past the Status Quo

  With former City Councilman Clayton Perry, what you see is what you get. The folksy, jovial former councilman definitely knows what he doesn’t like and that’s a city that spends too much, is way behind on funding infrastructure projects and a city that keeps veering outside of its’ municipal lane getting involved in state and federal issues that will either generate lawsuits or in some form, come back to haunt us.In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with mayoral candidate and former San Antonio City Councilman Clayton Perry to discuss the current political landscape of San Antonio and his vision in the mayoral race. Reflecting on his time on the council, Perry shares insights into how the city's leadership style, interpersonal relations, and policy decisions have shaped its growth. He emphasizes the importance of cooperation between council members and highlights his ability to work with colleagues from different political backgrounds to push San Antonio forward.Perry talks a lot about the basics, because he says, that’s what San Antonio residents care about. Issues like crime and why we need to move faster to put more cops on the street and the need to tackle $4 billion dollars in needed infrastructure projects like improved streets. Perry believes these are essential to address before San Antonio can attract key businesses and grow economically.He's not a fan of Project Marvel and says San Antonio’s relationships with Austin and Washington need major repairs. He says outside money has too big of an influence in city elections, and that we need more attention on the need to reduce San Antonio’s systemic poverty.https://perryformayor.com/https://www.instagram.com/corvettepopo/https://www.linkedin.com/in/clayton-perry-16a3365/https://www.facebook.com/clayton.perry.547Podcast Production Service by EveryWord Media

  --------  

  41:13

More News podcasts

Trending News podcasts

About Beyond the Bite