San Antonio Councilman Marc Whyte, who recently nabbed a DWI charge, is steering through troubled waters with the same lawyer who kept his predecessor out of the slammer for a similar offense, according to a report by MSN. After his Dec. 29 blunder, Whyte, 43, clamped on to defense attorney David Christian for assistance, a familiar face in the legal terrain who came to the aid of ex-Councilman Clayton Perry and is defending a local reporter on a DUI charge.
On that fated Friday night, Whyte got flagged by the law for tipping the speed limit and zigzagging on NE Loop 410, with the San Antonio Police alleging he was under the influence. Despite swerving around a breathalyzer, authorities obtained a court order for a blood draw, and the results are pending from the Texas Department of Public Safety, as ran by KSAT. Before the incident, Whyte reportedly played chauffeur to District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, who was sidelined by sickness and unable to drive herself home.
With the backdrop of being the solitary conservative voice on the City Council, Whyte, who snatched the District 10 spot by a hefty majority in May, appears determined to confront the narrative. "I did have drinks that day, and so I should not have driven home," Whyte stated in an interview with the Express-News, articulating the philosophy that one drop too many should bench any driver from getting behind the wheel. Hurdling over the admission, Whyte's claim of a clear conscience contrasts his precursor's conduct, as Perry was involved in a hit-and-run after soaking up booze at a local watering hole. It's unclear, as that time ticks by, what reprisal, if any, Whyte might face from his peers at the council court.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg has remained tight-lipped about any potential disciplinary action against Whyte. He acknowledged Whyte's straight-up response to the incident but reminded that "Representatives of the public should be held to a higher standard," a sentiment that trickles through the veins of public service and rings through his statement to KSAT. Meanwhile, opinions diverge among District 10's denizens some faithful, some flustered. While past councilmen advocate patience until more slices of info come to light, others, like Lon Jett IV, have pulled the rug out from under Whyte, expressing sheer disillusionment with the councilman's behavior.
As for Councilwoman Havrda, who has mayoral aspirations for 2025, she kept mum on the matter, her spokesperson foregoing comment on the ride home. And though Whyte was quick to unshoulder Havrda and District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur from any blame, stating it was his own decision to drive, the question hanging over City Hall's head remains – will Whyte face the music similar to Perry's tune, or will the council strike a different chord?
