The NAACP hosted a public debate between former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and incumbent Peter Sakai for the office of Bexar County Judge on Feb. 6 at the Second Baptist Community Center. Over 100 San Antonio community members attended the debate, and NAACP organizers handed out voter guides to attendees. Before the debate started, both Nirenberg and Sakai encouraged attendees to vote in the upcoming March 3 primaries.
Both candidates are Democrats, and agree on many issues such as equity-based funding distributions, tackling the affordability crisis and addressing income disparities. However, Nirenberg claimed throughout the debate that Sakai’s leadership lacked action, which Sakai rejected.
The debate intensified when the moderator, retired County Judge Linda Harrison Lewis, asked how the candidates plan to ensure that San Antonio’s Eastside receives benefits from Project Marvel. Sakai claimed that he never endorsed it, as it does not support equitable investments in the Eastside, and mentioned Nirenberg’s involvement with the project.
“I think we heard breaking news here tonight, because this is the first time I’ve heard Judge Sakai say he is against Project Marvel. He put it on the ballot,” Nirenberg said during the debate.
During the debate, the moderator asked the candidates their positions on funding law enforcement versus funding mental health prevention programs and diversion initiatives. Sakai highlighted Bexar County’s agreed-upon diversion and deflection method, which aims to help those in mental health crises receive adequate care from law enforcement. He criticized Nirenberg’s proposal for a new jail, saying it would increase property taxes and would disproportionately affect communities of color.
“The jail of Bexar County, under the watch of Peter Sakai, has been the largest mental health facility and homeless shelter in our region. That is unacceptable,” Nirenberg said.
The county has discussed diversion facilities for many years, but hasn’t made progress toward implementation, Nirenberg said. The county needs a better criminal justice system, according to Nirenberg, and he blamed Sakai for not solving these issues as the county judge.
“We have brought the University Hospital in to do the medical and mental health assessments,” Sakai said, in response to Nirenberg’s claim. “We have a jail study through their public safety plan, and we’re implementing [those changes]. You saw, then, the repeat offender shootings drop off. You quit seeing the commissioners’ court arguing with judges and the sheriff. I have brought stability to the county government. I brought dignity and respect, and we’re moving forward.”
After the moderated debate ended, audience members asked questions. Around 10 people asked questions about topics already covered in the debate, such as issues on the Eastside and the timelines for mental health initiatives. An audience member, who said he’s a photographer who sometimes takes photos for Sakai, asked Nirenberg how he can justify raising $400,000 to run against a Democrat when there are more pressing issues in the government.
“The fact of the matter is, it’s because people think that just because you belong to a party, you’re going to do the right thing. No, you’ve got to be an effective leader,” Nirenberg said. “My record shows that I will take action.”
Sakai said throughout the debate that Nirenberg’s claims were all false. He stated that he did not and does not support Project Marvel and that the issues he faces as Bexar County Judge can be attributed to Nirenberg’s actions when he was mayor. During the debate, both candidates often interrupted each other and blamed the other for either failing to take action or for supporting initiatives that, in their view, are harmful to the people of San Antonio.
