Viagran unable to work in person after emergency surgery
Council Member Phyllis Viagran is recovering from an emergency surgery this month, which is keeping her from carrying out city business in-person.
Viagran will work remotely and participate in City Council business virtually “for the time being,” according to her office.
“I appreciate the well-wishes and prayers during this time,” the District 3 council member said in a statement.
It’s unclear what kind of surgery Viagran had and when it took place.
Viagran was not made available for an interview over the past two days.
Several council colleagues who serve with her on committees say they’ve heard little about the council member’s condition, though there had been rumors that she was dealing with a serious health problem. They hadn’t seen her in person at meetings or events for weeks.
The Southeast Side council member last attended a council meeting in person on Feb. 1. (There were no meetings the week of Feb. 5 when most City Council members flew to Washington for a trip hosted by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and partners.)
District 4 Council Member Adriana Rocha Garcia said Viagran and District 5 Council Member Teri Castillo were the only members who didn’t travel to Washington that week.
Viagran missed four council meetings over two weeks after her colleagues returned from D.C., but she showed up to a Wednesday meeting via video conferencing. She appeared to have left the meeting before it concluded.
Viagran, 51, won the District 3 seat in 2021 when her sister, Rebecca Viagran, termed-out after representing the district for eight years.
Viagran chairs the council’s Audit committee and serves on the Community Health, Economic and Workforce Development, and Planning and Community Development committees.
The second-term councilwoman earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Texas Tech University and a master’s in bicultural studies from UTSA. She has been an elementary school teacher, community service specialist at the San Antonio Police Department and destination services coordinator at Visit San Antonio.