SAN ANTONIO – Two of the candidates for San Antonio mayor are leaving their seats in the Texas Legislature to do it, but their exit strategies have resulted in different circumstances for their constituents.
Seven months ago, state Rep. Mike Villarreal decided to run for mayor, despite his name already on the ballot for the District 123 House seat.
Villarreal said he would stay on the ballot for his District 123 House seat and if re-elected, he would resign later. That way Democratic precinct chairs would not get to choose his replacement. Instead, voters would in a special election.
"I wanted all of my voters to have a chance to weigh in and best decide who should represent them," Villarreal said. "What's most important is that the voters ultimately get to decide."
However, there is now a runoff in that special election featuring Diego Bernal and Nunzio Previtera, meaning the seat will be empty when the Legislature begins next week.
Villarreal said that will not make a difference.
"I'm confident that we're going to elect a new state (representative) to replace me in the Legislature," Villarreal said. "That person will be sworn in in 30 days, before committee assignments are even given out."
Leticia Van de Putte is also leaving the Legislature to run for mayor.
However, circumstances allowed her to take a different route into the mayor's race.
Instead of resigning her Senate seat, she is remaining in the Legislature until her successor is chosen.
"My obligation was to the people who have elected me and to the people of District 26 who need that voice," Van de Putte said. "They deserve that representation and so until my successor is sworn in, then I will perform the duties of senator."
She was re-elected state senator and decided to run for mayor after her defeat in the race for lieutenant governor.
Still, she said constituents in the 123rd are losing out.
"Mike Villarreal has been running for mayor for seven months, but the way that he did that leaves the seat without representation," Van de Putte said.
That is, until the runoff election is finished probably sometime in February.