US Congressman Greg Casar (TX 35)
Congressman Greg Casar represents Texas’s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio. A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Congressman Casar was sworn into office in January 2023. Prior to being elected to Congress, he served on the Austin City Council for seven years. There, he championed and passed progressive policies including protections for renters from corporate abuse, ensuring folks with a criminal background have a fair chance at employment, and bold affordable housing programs.
TX State Senator José Menéndez (District 26)
The son of immigrants, José Menéndez grew up working at his family’s small business located in San Antonio’s West Side. He graduated from Central Catholic High School before earning degrees in Business Administration and Latin American Studies at Southern Methodist University.
Senator Menéndez began his public service career in 1997 when he was elected to the San Antonio City Council District 6 office, representing the city’s West Side. He was then elected to serve as State Representative for House District 124 in 2000. He was later appointed to the Appropriations Committee where he secured millions of dollars for various crucial San Antonio initiatives. In his final session serving in the House, Menéndez was appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Defense and Veterans’ Affairs where he secured one of the state’s largest mental health programs for Veterans.
He has been serving as the State Senator for District 26 since 2015. During his term in office, Menéndez passed over 200 bills that benefited children, seniors, veterans, and San Antonio families. One of the bills, David’s Law, empowers students, parents, schools, and law enforcement to combat and prevent cyberbullying. Along with his successful legislation, Senator Menéndez has secured millions of dollars for advancements in education, healthcare, parks, and additional funding developments, including $17 million for the Alamo Colleges. His contact information can be found on the TX Senate website.
TX State House Representative Diego M. Bernal (District 123)
Representative Bernal was born in South Texas and raised in San Antonio. After graduating from law school, he returned to San Antonio permanently. As a staff attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), advocating and litigating on behalf of working people, children, and immigrant communities. In June 2011, he was elected to the San Antonio City Council representing District 1. Bernal wrote and passed the strictest payday loan regulation in the state of Texas. He also passed the Non-Discrimination Ordinance (NDO), ensuring everyone is treated equal and fairly. He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in February 2015. His contact information can be found on the TX House of Representatives website.
Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert (Precinct 4)
Commissioner Calvert holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts. He started his own public relations and public affairs firm, Calvert International Consulting (CIC), in 2002. Over the past 16 years, CIC has been a trusted advisor to public sector leaders.
Calvert’s public affairs work began in 1998 when he served as an aide to the San Antonio City Council. His work has taken him to positions in the Texas House of Representatives, as well as the United States Congress where he served as director of special projects for the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Having already secured $432 million for Precinct 4’s infrastructure in his lifetime, Commissioner Calvert has hit the ground running. As County Commissioner, Calvert makes public safety a priority by working with neighborhood associations, businesses, sheriffs, and constables to increase manpower for patrols, as well as build a sheriff substation on the Northeast side. Calvert will work with Commissioner’s Court to pass a policy of hiring people from neighborhoods where it builds infrastructure. He also has a plan to help create jobs within Precinct 4. His contact information can be found on the Bexar County Precinct 4 website.
City Council Representative Sukh Kaur (District 1)
Sukh rhymes with “look” and Kaur is pronounced the same way as “core.”
Dr. Sukh Kaur was elected to serve District 1 on June 10, 2023. She is an advocate for minimizing infrastructure disruptions to neighborhoods and businesses, improved public safety, and supporting small businesses. She is the first South Asian to serve on the City Council. She is a Sikh American, an educator, realtor, developer and yoga teacher who loves San Antonio. Her contact information can be found on the Office of City Council website.