SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio is months away from choosing its next mayor, but the process of candidates putting their names in the hat has officially begun.
The filing period kicked off Jan. 15 for the city’s first mayoral race without an incumbent seeking reelection since 2009.
WATCH BELOW: 3 things to know about the San Antonio mayor, council election
After voters approved new mayoral term limits and a higher salary last November, the city’s next mayor will hold office for four years instead of two. The next mayor will also make $87,800 in the role, a significant jump from the previous mayoral salary of $61,725.
With the mayoral salary higher than ever, one political consultant believes the eventual winner would need to have deep pockets.
>> Flood of candidates sign up for San Antonio mayor, council races
Here is a list of the mayoral candidates as of Friday, Jan. 31.:
Santos Alvarado
According to his campaign’s website, Alvarado served as an active-duty member of the U.S. Army for 15 years before returning to service months after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He retired in 2011 after more than two decades in the armed services.
Arturo Espinosa
In 2023, Espinosa was one of two challengers who ran against incumbent Teri Castillo for the District 5 city council seat. Castillo won re-election.
Christopher Herring
According to the City of San Antonio, Herring applied to appoint a treasurer for his mayoral campaign. He is also a former CEO of the Alamo City Chamber of Commerce.
Gina Ortiz Jones
Gina Ortiz Jones, who twice ran for the District 23 congressional seat, has entered the mayor’s race.
She challenged Republican Tony Gonzales to represent Texas' 23rd District in 2018 and 2020.
In 2021, she was nominated and later confirmed as Under Secretary of the United States Air Force, the department’s second-highest-ranking official. She served in that capacity until March 2023.
James “Jae” Melvin
James “Jae” Melvin officially filed to run for mayor on Jan. 17.
Robert Melvin
Real estate developer Robert Melvin officially filed to run for mayor. He is the CEO of Limitless Creations, LLC.
Christopher Reyes
According to the City of San Antonio, Reyes applied to appoint a treasurer for his mayoral campaign.
Adriana Rocha Garcia
Rocha Garcia was first elected to represent District 4 on the city council in 2019. She was the first woman to enter the 2025 mayoral race last August. Rocha Garcia is also an associate marketing professor at Our Lady of the Lake University.
Watch her full interview with KSAT here.
Mauricio Sanchez
According to the City of San Antonio, Sanchez applied to appoint a treasurer for his mayoral campaign.
Sonia Traut
According to the City of San Antonio, Traut applied to appoint a treasurer for her mayoral campaign.
Tim Westley
Westley’s campaign for mayor is far from his first foray into politics. In 2016, he was defeated by Democrat Vicente Gonzalez Jr. in the race for Texas' 15th Congressional District. Gonzalez defeated Westley again in 2018 before losing a Republican primary runoff for Texas Land Commissioner in 2022.
Andrew Fernandez Vicencio
Andrew Fernandez Vicencio, an Army veteran, officially filed to run for mayor on Jan. 17.
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