ALAMO HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL ELECTION IS MAY 9TH
SEVERAL INCUMBENTS FACE OPPONENTS
Voters living in ZIP code 78209 won’t have many contested races to consider in the May 9 general elections, but the contests are no less important. In Alamo Heights, Sarah Reveley is challenging Louis Cooper’s bid for a sixth straight term as mayor. Cooper attended grade school in the Alamo Heights Independent School District (AHISD), and then graduated from Southern Methodist University. The lifelong Alamo Heights resident presently owns and runs Calling Solutions Inc., a teleservices company.
Cooper was first elected to the City Council in 2001. He says today’s most crucial city issues are reviewing and updating the city’s zoning codes and mitigating drainage problems in the Broadway/Austin Highway area. “The task for this (review) committee is to propose changes to the code that would be more in line with the values of the city of Alamo Heights,” Cooper says. As for the drainage issue, he adds: “Recently I have had some very positive meetings on some real alternatives to get the water off these streets.”
Reveley earned degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and at Texas A&M-Kingsville. She has spent much of her professional life in interior planning and design. The 12-year Alamo Heights resident is now a retired volunteer historian and genealogist with a focus on the history of The Alamo.
Reveley advocates reviewing the commercial zoning part in the city’s comprehensive plan. “A second development project (Argyle Residential proposal) has bogged down in the very same city processes we had before. This is an important issue, one that will set the pace for all commercial development to come,” she says. Reveley is also campaigning on forming a citywide parks and green space plan, and improving streets, drainage and sidewalks. “We must develop a parks foundation and support a parks director with the knowledge and leadership to implement a cohesive citywide plan,” she added.
Alamo Heights Councilman Bobby Hasslocher, a 50-year resident, is running for his third term on City Council, Place 1. Hasslocher is a businessman, rancher and an owner of Hasslocher Enterprises. He envisions Alamo Heights remaining a city of remarkable neighborhoods: “It is important to remember the foundation of our community is our neighborhoods and the close-knit residents who live in them.” With the new City Hall facilities completed, Hasslocher remains dedicated to working on the issues that face Alamo Heights. He emphasizes, “Our water supply is a top priority; our city’s water supply is independently owned by Alamo Heights. This makes our water conservation, protection and long-term planning crucial.” Hasslocher, the former chairman of the Edwards Underground Water District, has a vast working knowledge of water issues. He points out, “A continued conservative approach to maintaining our city’s financial integrity through budgeting for our future is mandatory. It is of the utmost importance that the city’s bond rating remain high and protected.”
General contractor Lawson Jessee is challenging two-term incumbent Bobby Hasslocher for the Council Place 1 seat.
Jessee went to school in the AHISD and graduated with a construction science degree from Texas A&M University. He is managing a $97 million construction project at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and is also a committee chairperson with the Urban Land Institute. Jessee says that despite having many charming buildings and homes, certain parts of Alamo Heights, such as the Broadway commercial corridor, need renewal. “The way forward already exists in the comprehensive plan that this city set forth years ago. The problem comes from the execution of this very thing,” he added. Jessee also backs having an adequate long-range city water supply and fixing parking problems in some parts of the city. “We can’t just accept the same old solutions to the same old problem though; we must be creative and innovative in dealing with this issue,” he added about water.
Incumbent Bobby Rosenthal is running unopposed for Place 2.
Voters in San Antonio District 10 have a choice between current Councilman Mike Gallagher and Celeste Montez-Tidwell. A retired U.S. Air Force colonel, Gallagher seeks to secure his first full term in office. He was president of the Northeast Neighborhood Alliance and chaired the city’s board of adjustment. He earned degrees from New Mexico State University and the University of Oklahoma. Gallagher supports strengthening neighborhoods through better engagement, a high level of public safety, fiscal responsibility and sound transportation and infrastructure. Montez-Tidwell earned a degree from San Antonio College and majored in criminal justice at Temple University. Taking care of public safety personnel, carefully guiding the city’s growth and neighborhood economic development are her top issues.
Alamo Heights Independent School District and City of Terrell Hills are canceling their elections because there are no contested races. Early voting starts April 27.
ALAMO HEIGHTS EARLY VOTING MAY 9 ELECTION INFORMATION
EARLY VOTING
Early Voting for the May 9 General Election Slated For April 27-May 5
Early Voting for the General Election will take place on Monday, April 27 through Tuesday, May 5 at any of the designated Bexar County voting locations. Lion’s Field Adult & Senior Center, Olmos Park City Hall, and Tobin Library at Oakwell are the most convenient early voting locations for Alamo Heights residents. Early voting hours and dates are as follows:
Monday, April 27
through Friday, May 1
8am to 6pm
Saturday, May 2
8am to 8pm
Sunday, May 3, Closed
Monday, May 4
through Tuesday, May 5
8am to 8pm
ELECTION DAY VOTING
Election Day is Saturday, May 9, 2015 and election activities will be conducted at Alamo Heights City Hall in the Council Chambers, located at 6116 Broadway Street, for Precincts 3020, 3025, and 3026 from 7am to 7pm
There are additional voting opportunities: Ballot by Mail or Curbside Voting. Please bring a photo I.D. and your voter’s registration card for processing. Senate Bill 14 now requires voters to present an approved form of photo identification in order to vote in all Texas Elections.
BALLOT BY MAIL:
You may vote by mail if you meet one of these requirements:
1) Over the age of 65
2) Disabled
3) Expected absence from County during hours of early voting by personal appearance or on election day
4) Confined in jail, but eligible
5) Military, through Federal Postcard Application (FPCA)
Students attending a college or university outside of Bexar County can vote ballot by mail, if their primary address is listed in Alamo Heights, noting their current address.
Early voting ballot applications are available at City Hall, 6116 Broadway Street, San Antonio, Texas 78209
BALLOT BY MAIL REQUESTS
MUST BE ADDRESSED TO:
Early Voting Clerk
203 W. Nueva Suite 3.61
San Antonio, TX 78207
The last day ballots by mail must be received (not postmarked) by the Early Voting Clerk (Bexar County) is no later than the close of business on Thursday, April 30, 2015.
CURBSIDE VOTING
Curbside Voting Available during Early Voting or on Election Day
If you are physically unable to enter the polling place, you may ask that an election officer bring a voting machine to you at the entrance of the polling place or to your car at curbside. Plan ahead so election officials will expect you. Call 210-335-0362 to arrange curbside voting in advance.
GRANDE COMMUNICATIONS RINGS 1 GIGABIT INTERNET SERVICE TO 78209
Grande Communications, a broadband communications company based in San Marcos, is bringing I Gigabit Internet service to San Antonio. Two neighborhoods, Alamo Heights and Terrell Hills, now have access to Grande’s Power 1000. Grande has announced new Internet plans that offer fast speeds at affordable values. New and existing customers can choose from speeds of 200, 300 and 400 Mbps/I Gigabit. The company also offers 15 and 50 Mbps. Grande’s exclusive Power 400 is the highest speed offered in areas that do not yet carry I Gigabit service, It was the first provider to launch this service in Austin and is committed to offering great service and higher speed options at the most affordable prices.
These Internet speeds are also included in Grande’s Get-It-All bundles featuring improved options to include premium channels for customers who opt for additional TV and phone service.
“We understand our customers’ needs for more Internet speed options with low and mid-range pricing, and we strive to deliver a better value than our competitiors,” says Matt Rohre, senior vice president of operations and general manager for Grande. “Upgrading our network, improving reliability and offering fast Internet speeds that are available to everyone in our service area truly illustrates our desire to be here for our Texas customers.”
For more information, go to mygrande.com,
or call 1-866-2GRANDE.
BY EDMOND ORTIZ
