Days before the San Antonio mayoral election runoff, church and state united to urge voters to the polls and while there, to remember that San Antonians need a living wage. COPS / Metro leaders and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, with Commissioners Tommy Calvert and Paul Elizondo, held a joint press conference announcing that the County would do their part to increase wages, and that the City should as well. Councilmembers Shirley Gonzalez and Rey Saldana showed up in support.
In the lead up to this election, leaders held an accountability session with Mayoral candidates, asking for their support on matching the County wage hike (to $13 / hour this year and $15 / hour in two ) and increasing investment in long-term workforce development.
Leaders' efforts to increase voter turnout-- targeting nontraditional voters with nontraditional means -- appeared to work. In Las Palmas Library on the westside, voter turnout increased by 44% for the run-off election for Mayor. The San Antonio Express News also reported that Districts 5 and 6 saw the highest increases in new voter participation.
A New Living Wage in San Antonio, Rivard Report
Bexar County Set to Raise Minimum Wage for Employees and Contract Workers, WOAI
Raising Minimum Wage to $13 for City Employees, San Antonio Current