On the record is brought to you by Steve and Adele Dufilho.

San Antonio is a fast growing, fast moving community with something new happening every day.

And that's why each week we go on the record with the newsmakers who are driving this change.

Then we gather at the Reporters Roundtable to talk about the latest news stories with the journalists behind those stories.

Join us now as we go on the right.

Hi, everybody.

And thank you for joining us for this edition of On the Record.

I'm Randy Beamer.

And this week we saw some unusual activity at City Hall, a couple of no confidence votes.

Some controversy over the actions of a couple of council members.

Joining us to talk about that and a lot more is Mayor Ron Nuremberg.

Thanks for coming in.

Thanks for having me.

The council is going to be looking at accepting applications for an interim council member to replace Clayton Perry, who was caught on police body camera footage after an accident where he now admits apparently he hit these people.

Looks like he'd been drinking.

Originally, the council was going to vote to ask him to resign.

Everybody.

But you changed their mind on that.

Why was that?

Well, I can't speak for other members of the council.

We obviously had a fair number of citizens come up to speak to us on both sides of the issue.

A lot of the residents of District ten were pleading for Clayton to be shown a little bit of compassion and in my view, accountability and compassion are not the we can do both.

And in my view and what I said from the beginning is that if the accounts in the police report were accurate, that Councilman Perry should step down.

We have standards for the behavior of elected officials.

And also, in my view, I think we should not be shooting for the minimum standards.

We should also hold ourselves to the highest standards.

And so I maintain that he still should step down at the end of the day.

The Council did support a vote of no confidence and also initiated the process to fill a temporary vacancy, which we're beginning right now.

Did council change maybe how it reacted to this event after what happened with Councilman Bravo, his being?

I guess it was a censure, a no confidence vote.

You had taken them off some council committees after the incident where he was berating another council member.

Did it change how you react to this second time?

Not for me.

I think both followed a process.

These were two very different incidents.

One of them with regard to Councilman Perry, involves a crime, a serious crime, especially in a city that struggled so mightily with drunk driving.

And then he'll be charged with drunk driving and charged with a hit and run.

In a hit and run as well.

So in my view, there's a criminal aspect to this that needs to be investigated.

And clearly on the video is enough of a behavior to my in my mind to justify his removal or resignation.

In the case of Mario.

There are standards as well for any workplace.

And also, again, in a city that struggles with domestic violence, we can't treat this lightly.

There was an investigation, a third party independent investigation that had findings.

And so as that investigation closed, we had to take some action and in my view, a censure vote of no confidence it was the right thing to do.

Now, there had been some criticism, speaking of that, about the way that you came up with that particular censure vote, that it was behind closed doors, that Mario wasn't there, that on the stand the ball also wasn't there, and that it wasn't done in public until you put it on the agenda to decide to make the official vote.

Why was that?

Why was it.

Closed?

Let's be very clear.

This is not a trial.

This is not a public trial.

This is a workplace incident.

And there is a thorough investigation.

And for the 30 some odd days that the investigation was ongoing, Councilmember Bravo, Councilmember Sandoval and witnesses were able and were solicited statements to the investigator.

That is the process as a as a confined process to make sure that there is a a result that has some some clarity and is not corrupted in any way.

And so we acted on that investigation, and I think we were justified in doing so.

Now that that investigation is closed, we've heard from Councilmember Bravo how he wants to move forward and the that's how we're going to handle it moving forward.

Obviously, there has been a violation of standards in the workplace.

And so we'll have to be very careful that those aren't violated again.

And have you come up yet with a new code of conduct, I guess, is that going to be voted on as it.

So the attorneys are going are in the process of drafting a code.

And I do have to say that it is a shame that codes of conduct have to be drafted in any workplace.

But I think it's the right move for us as a body to set very clear expectations.

But they're in the process of doing that will be presented to the council.

What kind of teeth are either in a code of conduct or in a vote of no confidence or censure?

What does it really mean, if anything?

Well, so if this was a corporate environment, then the supervisors would be justified in an immediate termination.

The supervisors in this case are the voters who put elected officials in office.

So there are very limited circumstances in which the body can remove a member, and that's in the city charter and it's based on a conviction of a crime of moral turpitude.

And there's some interpretation that goes in there.

We weren't in that.

We obviously didn't have that situation with with Councilmember Bravo.

And there is an active criminal investigation in the case of Councilmember Perry.

So we don't have that authority as a council determine ultimately if either one can sit on the council.

So we are doing what is necessary in terms of a workplace and in reprimanding or making a statement about the appropriateness of the conduct or the fact that it has violated our standards.

And and while it doesn't have the effect of removing a member, I think it makes a statement that we have to make on behalf of the public and the expectations we want to set and the standards we want to have for our elected officials.

And while it is sad, obviously, for everybody involved and awkward, how much is it affecting what you can actually get done?

I mean, a lot of people have had this kind of thing in the workplace and we know it's very distracting and cuts in the productivity.

How is it for a city council that needs to keep working?

We have to there's no choice.

And we do continue to move forward and we have.

I would say that it's it's a sad chapter for the city council.

And it's been a little bit distracting maybe for some members and frankly, for the press.

But there is work that continues and it has continued.

And my job is to make sure that the that we are continuing to move forward and you're either in the car or you're not.

So businesses move forward.

We had some very important actions taken by the council.

That's one of the questions I wanted to bring up is, okay, so what are those three headlines or so that you would have rather seen out there about what you got done than these?

Well, just in the case of last of last week, last Thursday, when Councilmember Bravo's censure vote was called, we had a lot of work being done on that same agenda.

One of them was acceptance of the San Antonio Water system's new rate structure, which is going to effectively give bill relief to almost every resident in the San Antonio water system.

It's a really important aspect of what we do, and it's a great day in terms of the San Antonio water system and people who are served by the system.

We also became in that same day the first city in Texas to make every level two charging standard and new home construction.

It's a really important future.

Forward car chargers in every house.

Absolutely.

Also, we approve the lease transfer and the sale of ownership of the San Antonio missions has moved forward.

And so we are now finally under local ownership for our the oldest professional sports franchise in the city.

All those were on the same agenda last Thursday.

There's still other work that isn't even on that agenda.

So you got to avoid some of the questions about baseball stadium.

We're going to see one downtown.

Where is it going to be and how much tax money is going to be used for?

Well, those are fair questions.

Those are questions I don't think we can answer at this time.

I will say that what I've maintained all along is that there is an importance to seeing return on investment for the San Antonio public.

And so the sale of the team, the transfer to local owners now and a group of people who are trustworthy public figures in our city is a very important moment.

Now, what happens with the stadium?

We don't have a proposal.

We know that Wolff Stadium does not meet the standards of Major League Baseball anymore.

So for.

A minor league team.

Or minor league team, so we need to either spend some money together as a community to fix that stadium, which is still a stadium that doesn't, I think, see the kinds of activity in and around it that we would like to see for our franchise.

Or we're going to have to figure out, does this team need a new place to play?

If we do, I agree with folks who have been observing this for a long, long time.

If there was a new place to play, it should be as close to the center city as possible.

And should it be built for a possibility of Major League Baseball, or is that not it?

I mean, I think that will be discussed.

I will tell you that what we've got to do is not build stadiums in the hopes that teams will come.

We've seen that before and we've been disappointed as a community.

So what can we do now to ensure that we're getting the best return on investment for the San Antonio public as possible?

And if we are going to entertain a new stadium for the San Antonio missions, I do think it needs to be as close to the center city as possible.

We also need to see very clearly what is the public benefit.

And it's not just about the stadium, it's also about the surrounding communities.

We can't also forget the area in the West Side.

What's going to happen with that stadium?

We'll stadium currently.

What's going to happen to the surrounding communities?

We've got to also, you know, consider this as a comprehensive effort to ensure that the return for for our public.

And we're almost out of time.

But the the XFL team in San Antonio the promise that are going to play in the Alamodome right next year.

At the same time this week, there are lawsuits filed over the last minor league team to play in the Alamo Dome football.

A what was it, the commander of San Antonio commanders?

What do you make of the chances of the XFL succeeding here and then leading to the possibility of a real NFL franchise here, as you said, will happen within a decade.

So let me start by saying that professional sports franchises, just like air connectivity, are trailing indicators of economic strength and prosperity.

We can't just wish and hope that we'll get more flights.

We need to actually create a market for it.

Same thing with professional sports leagues.

If there's not a market, if we can't sell the suites, if if the franchise can't see that this could be a viable market, they're not going to come.

What I've said is that we continuing to see growth and diversification and strength at the foundation of our economy.

We're one of the leaders now in workforce.

Companies are looking at San Antonio as a place to invest.

Those are all great indicators for our future success in sports league.

So I do maintain that San Antonio will be a viable NFL market in the near term future, and you can define near term as you as you want.

I've said let's look at ten years.

But we're not in the Alamo.

Don't know that the Alamo Dome is not a suitable NFL stadium.

Between here and Austin.

I think all those things are worth discussing.

You've got a place in mind.

I don't have a.

Name for it.

I don't.

But you asked about the XFL.

They're tenants of the Alamo Dome.

I do think that this has a notable chance of succeeding because they are not competing with the NFL.

They have partnerships with media outlets already well positioned to ensure that there's eyes on this league.

So I think there are great indications of early success for the XFL.

At the end of the day, what's our risk?

It is simply that we are allowing them to play in the in the in the Alamo Dome.

They're paying rent and we're going to develop great community support around that.

So I think there's a low risk, high return for us.

It's another thing to watch aside from what's going on at City Hall.

Thank you very much for talking about all of that mayor on Nuremburg.

Thanks.

Thanks for having.

Joining us now is the new Precinct three county commissioner for Bear County Grant Moody, the Republican who was just voted into office, replacing initially it was Trish, the Barry who had that seat elected in 2020, resigned in 2021 to run for county judge in Maryland.

Bernard has been the interim in that position.

You ran and just won.

And now you're you're telling me, first of all, that you are not in office yet, but about to be here and figuring out the timeline?

What is that?

Well, thanks, Randi.

Thanks for having me here.

And yeah, you know, after election night, we're we're starting the transition process.

We're working with the.

County staff to understand what that timeline kind of.

Looks like.

But because this was.

A vacancy in the next week or two, we'll get sworn in and we'll get.

Started.

Now, you've been a precinct chair before in the party.

You went to the convention, but this is your first time in elected office.

It is.

Why did you want to run?

You have a resume that people have talked about, because it goes from everything from growing up on a farm to being in the Marines, Eagle Scout, valedictorian, valedictorian, economics at the U.S.

Naval Academy.

Football player at the Naval Academy did all of this then before the business world, Valero Energy, now after USAA.

What do you have that you want to offer to people here in their county?

Why did you run?

Well, I have a desire.

You know.

A history of.

Public service, you.

Know, as a marine.

But but also the.

Opportunity to to.

Add value.

Right here in our county.

And at our.

Home.

And I think that the business experience I've had.

Both at USAA and Valero, will be well served in kind of transitioning that.

To help solve some of the accounting problems.

What kind of Republican are you now?

The Jeff McManus, the county chair, said that he would only support true Republicans.

What does that mean these days?

Are you a Trump supporter or are you an election denier?

How do you describe your version of conservative Republican politics?

Well, I'm not an election denier.

I think that there's.

You know, we get too caught up in labels and interparty rivalries.

I think that, you know, I have a conservative set of principles and values, but I'm also a problem solver.

And I think that I bring that from the business world.

And I hope.

To, you know, help solve some of our Bear County problems that we have.

What about jail over time?

We just saw this week county commissioners having to vote for another 2.2 million for jail over time.

I assume that's one thing that you've looked at here.

Where do you think the county needs to go with the problems at the jail, not getting enough people to work there?

Well, I.

Think it's a big problem.

Part of it, I think, is in understanding.

How we recruit those.

Staff and make sure that we're.

Recruiting the right people.

But, you know, obviously, there's there's a problem with turnover and that's causing, you know, the forced overtime that's that's leading to, you know, the spiral of additional folks quitting.

And it's just a problem that that continues to propagate itself.

And so I think that.

You know, we need to get ahead.

Of it.

We need to understand what the staffing needs are.

And then we need to understand how we can best recruit for those positions.

But continuing to pay millions and.

Millions of dollars in overtime is not the solution here.

We need to get ahead of the problem.

And, you.

Know, I plan to work on that.

What are your two top objectives as you start this job in the next couple of weeks?

Well, I want to.

You know, jump into the role and really learn.

I have my business experience.

But, you know, this is going to be new to me.

And so understanding these big issues, I have some data points I've read about the issues, I've heard about the issues, but but really diving into the details and then.

You know, try to work to solve.

Them with with county staff and with my colleagues on the commissioners.

Court And do you expect the drama that we've seen at City Council will bleed over into county commissioners at all?

I mean, there were some personal issues with the commissioner and the sheriff last year.

Yeah.

You know, I.

Think there's a way to disagree without being disagreeable.

And, you know, my my goal will be to try to help solve problems.

Collaboratively on commissioners court.

I mean, I'm sure there's going to be times where I'm going to be a lone voice for for some my conservative principles on court.

But I. I don't think it needs to be personal.

And I think the more we can keep focus, whether it's in campaigns or actual governance on the issues, rather than making it personal, the better.

All right.

Well, thanks very much and good luck.

Grant Moody, the new Republican in Precinct three Uber County.

Thanks.

Thank you.

For any reporters roundtable this week.

We'd already heard from the mayor about what's going on at City Hall, but covering City Hall for Texas Public Radio.

Joey Palacio is a City Hall reporter up there for a maybe two front row close to the action view of this.

What's your take on all that has gone on in the past few weeks and how it's affecting the actual work of the council?

Well, it's been a very exciting week on council, to say the least.

You know, last Thursday, when Councilman Mario Bravo was being censured and received a no confidence vote, just hours later, we saw a city council member turn himself in for an alleged hit and run accident where drunk driving may have potentially been a factor.

Last Thursday was a very eventful day.

And to go back a little bit, Councilman Bravo had an investigation that was going on regarding actions that had happened on September 15th.

And the culmination of that was the censure vote that we saw the council take a few days before that case that had broken a story that Councilman Perry, District ten, was involved in this potential hit and run.

And the councilman had been quiet for a few days.

We got a statement the day or so after actually the Wednesday after the accident that had happened on Sunday, saying that he had been involved in a car crash, that he had gone to the hospital, that he had said that he didn't remember the incident and that was all we had heard until the next day.

That Thursday, when he turned himself in at the satellite magistrate office at the Bear County Courthouse, and he was processed and is now going through the process and released and posted bond and is now going through the legal system.

Do you think what happened with Mario Bravo affected how council responded to Clayton Perry?

Definitely happened a lot quicker because there was, like I mentioned, the investigation, which took little less than two months, so maybe a month and a half to go through the censure and a no confidence vote against Clayton Perry happened and a little more actually about less than a week after the news had broken.

So the council did take a much more accelerated step, and I think that's because there was so much evidence that had come out.

Yeah.

Body cam footage and that he talked about it and there was a police report and all this, a whole different kind of incident.

But what about how the council gets along and is getting things done after these kinds of no confidence censure votes?

Well, so.

Interestingly enough, during the Council meeting, a special meeting that was called on Monday where they were going to ask Councilman Perry to resign.

There was this shift among the council members to where the call for resignation was removed under an amendment that was put forward by District eight.

Councilman Emanuel.

And this was after he spoke this was after he spoke and expressed remorse and apologized.

Right.

And that apparently sway everybody except for the mayor.

Well, from the dais, that's what Councilman Elias had said, that they removed a section of the resolution that showed the councilman that said Councilman Perry had showed no remorse.

And so Councilman Polonius had said, you know, we should strike that.

And the council ultimately voted to strike that.

And then they also took out the call for resignation.

And then there was an amendment that was approved by Councilman Adriano Rocher Garcia of District four that started the process of the temporary appointment and essentially granting Councilman Perry a sabbatical from the council while this case moves forward.

And he hinted at that he would be getting help.

And looking ahead, what do you see happening here?

They have to have the recommendations in, I guess, or applications in by the end of November or before.

And then they're going to go through them this.

And they have you know, they're shaking up the council assignments.

The committee assignments.

Right.

Watching all this, have they has it changed any of the effectiveness or the speed you think they were, which they're getting things done?

Well, so this what we've been watching everything happen in real time.

Every day.

Something new has been developing up to this.

And so this week, the mayor has reshuffled council committees on the latest developments.

So Councilman Perry has been taken off of all of his committees.

He's was no.

Most notably the chair of the Audit and Accountability Committee.

We know that Councilman Perry has prided himself on being a very fiscal conservative.

He was also on public safety.

And so he was removed from that committee.

And probably the replacement that they choose at the end of this month will be taking some of those committees.

But that has yet to yet to be seen.

Councilman Bravo was restored to some council committees, but not the same ones that he was on before.

When the investigation had started, the mayor had stripped of his council committees and one committee.

Such was the Community Health and Culture Committee.

I may have spoken on that one, but it he was on that committee with Councilman Sandoval where the the person he is accused of berating.

And according to the San Antonio Express-News, it's as many people know they are.

They were former romantic partners.

And he had said that her his her her decision on not supporting one of his his proposal for extra CPS energy revenue.

He had said, you know, that was one of the reasons that demonstrated why he didn't want to have children with her, according to the Express-News.

So because they were both on this Community Health and Culture Committee the week after that happened, that committee meeting was canceled.

So now Councilman Bravo is no longer on that committee with her.

He has been put on public safety, economic development, and also audit.

And notably, Bravo and Sandoval are not on any council committees together.

So I imagine there may have kind of been this almost political Tetris and trying to figure out which council member is going to go where, because a lot of times council members will be on five committees or so, but Bravo was only placed on three committees.

And it's kind of, I guess, workplace shift scheduling when two people can't work together.

So I'm sure that there were some some things that did some decisions that had to be made on who can be with who.

Well, it's been interesting to watch all this.

And you will be there for Texas Public Radio and the new assignment that you have specifically from local government to city hall.

Reporter After they saw all this, they said you need to be there.

Is that what happened?

More or less.

There were some, some changes within my position, but.

Yeah, so.

All right.

Well, thank you very much for your insight.

Joey Palacios, City Hall reporter, Texas Public Radio.

Thanks for being here and thank you for joining us for this edition of On the Record.

You can see this show again.

You can watch previous shows and you can download the podcast at KLRN.org.

And we'll see you next time.

On the record is brought to you by Steve and Adele Dufilho