Landin top in strong Dist. 5 field
West of downtown and inside Loop 410, District 5 is rich in history and culture, but with low-income households and aging infrastructure and housing stock, it is also historically underserved.
Reversing the district’s generational poverty will require the next council member representing it to build on the incremental success of the previous representative.
The terming-out of District 5 City Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales after eight years has unleashed a flood of contenders for the open seat. For such a large group, it’s one in which all the candidates who appeared before the Editorial Board showed themselves to be serious, thoughtful and passionate about their district. Many would represent the West Side well.
We recommend
as the best choice. At 25, Landin, vice president of operations for a medical clinic, is a fairly young candidate and, if elected, would be one of the youngest people to serve on City Council. But his unique blend of personal and professional experiences, his command of the issues and specific needs for his district, his understanding of local government and his work ethic easily outweigh any concerns about his youth.
Despite being homeless most of his high school years, he graduated from Fox Tech and St. Mary’s University. He was an education brand strategist for Pre-k 4 SA and director of marketing and communications
Landin Norberto “Geremy”
for the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. We were particularly impressed with Landin’s comments about addressing homelessness, breaking down this complex issue by focusing on three key points: ID recovery, a housing-first policy and then allocating part of the city’s workforce development plan toward those experiencing homelessness. By recovering IDS and providing housing, Landin said, the two greatest barriers to re-entry are removed. There is no doubt his experience of homelessness informed his answer.
Landin also opposes Proposition B, which would do away with collective bargaining for San Antonio police officers, saying he thought disciplinary concerns could be better addressed through contract negotiations.
There was little policy difference among the eight candidates who met with the board: Ricardo Moreno, Jason Mata, Rudy Lopez, Anthony Gres, Teri Castillo (who supports Proposition B), Marie Crabb and David Yanez. That so many candidates of this caliber are offering their service speaks to the talent in District 5 and is reason for optimism.
But Landin’s answers to questions about policies and issues were often more nuanced and detailed than his opponents. One reason we believe he is best positioned to represent District 5 on City Council.