San Antonio Councilman Marc Whyte has been hit with consequences following his DWI arrest last month. Mayor Ron Nirenberg's office confirmed Thursday that Whyte has been removed from all his council committee assignments. The news came after an incident on December 29, when Whyte was stopped for erratic driving and admitted to consuming several beers at different locations prior to getting behind the wheel. In a memo obtained by the San Antonio Report, Nirenberg said City Council will convene Sunday to potentially censure the councilman.
The actions taken against Whyte contrast with the council's rapid response to his predecessor, Clayton Perry, who was involved in a hit-and-run while intoxicated. Differences in how to, or if to formally reprimand Whyte are becoming apparent among council members who seem torn over the procedure. Perry's flagrant misdeeds resulted in a unanimous no-confidence vote, but most council members have hesitated to speak out against Whyte, pending further information. As District 5 Council Member Teri Castillo told Express News, "I think we're at a point where we need to learn more details."
Details of Whyte's arrest include his refusal to take a breathalyzer test, which led to a court-ordered blood draw. The results of the blood alcohol test are still to come. The night he was pulled over, Whyle had attended a social gathering at El Mirasol where two other councilwomen were present. In a statement obtained by the San Antonio Report, Nirenberg stated, "Council members Cabello Havrda and Kaur apparently were there separately, but the facts are pretty minimal."
The stakes are high, with Whyte, who was elected with almost 58% of the vote, now facing potential censure and an upcoming court hearing set for January 30. In the court of public opinion, responses likely to diverge depending on the outcome of the blood tests and the council's decision. As Whyte said after the council's meeting, "We've got to move forward, because there's a lot of work to be done for District 10 and the city. Whatever the City Council and the mayor decides is something that I'll accept," according to an interview with the San Antonio Report.
