San Antonio's mayoral race is heating up as Beto Altamirano, tech entrepreneur and South Texas native, announced his candidacy to become the city's next mayor. Altamirano is now the third contender and the first non-City Council member to declare his intentions for the 2025 race. He joins Councilmembers John Courage and Manny Pelaez in a bid to succeed term-limited Mayor Ron Nirenberg, according to KENS 5.
The Irys Technologies co-founder, born to immigrant parents in Mission, Texas, crafted his announcement around a platform that pledges to address public safety, job creation, and child welfare, boasting of his ties to the community which he says inspired him to choose San Antonio to start his company it was this nexus of heritage and collective ambition that he hopes to harness in his mayoral run "Our community is what inspired me to keep going," Altamirano says in his announcement video, which also features local citizens sharing their stories, as Texas Public Radio reported.
With degrees from the University of Texas and Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Altamirano brings a pedigree that marries political science with public administration, further bolstered by his past roles which include serving as vice chair for the Port Authority of San Antonio and representing the U.S. on the United Nations Economic Commission, the latter a detail highlighted on his campaign website. His business acumen is on display through Irys, responsible for the city's 311 app, and noted for recent acquisition of Diversified Technical Services Inc. His international and local board contributions also paint the picture of a deeply invested and connected stakeholder in San Antonio's future.
"I'm running for Mayor because the ‘story of us’ is San Antonio's next chapter our city has always been defined by its rich heritage and the people that call it home," said Altamirano in a post on X that encapsulated his campaign's ethos his strategy clearly seeks to resonate on a personal level with voters yet address overarching concerns like strategic policing and infrastructure preparedness for the city's growth. In tackling issues of crime, Altamirano proposes a balanced approach that emphasizes not only policing but community investments, a stance extracted from his campaign page.
I'm running for Mayor because the ‘story of us’ is San Antonio's next chapter. Our city has always been defined by its rich heritage and the people that calls it home. This journey isn't about one of us; it's about all of us. Together, we can build the future of this great city.… pic.twitter.com/bs9m6LH6C9
— Beto Altamirano (@betoaltamirano) May 31, 2024
While Altamirano may not boast experience in an elected office, his campaign is not without political pedigree; he was involved with John Kerry's 2012 presidential campaign and has held positions at the White House and U.S. State Department. The official campaign kick-off is slated for Saturday at The Friendly Spot Ice House, where supporters and potential voters can hear more about his vision for San Antonio, as per Texas Public Radio.
