In the heated race for San Antonio Mayor, controversy struck when Gina Ortiz Jones was spotted using a cellphone during a taped debate. This was a clear violation of the debate rules that both mayoral candidates had agreed upon. According to a KTSA report, her opponent, Rolando Pablos, called attention to the phone during the exchange, leading to a pause in the debate. Footage aired on KWEX-TV shows Ortiz Jones handing her phone off after being confronted.
Justin Hollis, the campaign manager for Pablos, did not mince words, stating to KSAT, "If you can’t stand on your own two feet and answer questions from a moderator without having a device or supplemental notes that you take with you, you don’t deserve to be in office." This sentiment underscored the perceived gravity of the situation. After the incident, Ortiz Jones' campaign manager Jordan Abelson and KWEX management reportedly retreated into a conference room. Later, Abelson shared screenshots of text exchanges with Ortiz Jones that occurred before the debate, implying no wrongdoing.
The debate, which was initially set to air on May 25, was broadcast ahead of schedule by KWEX-TV, seemingly in response to the unfolding drama. KSAT has also planned its own televised debate for May 21. Meanwhile, early voting is on the horizon, beginning May 27, as voters decide who will lead San Antonio.
The response from Ortiz Jones' camp presented a different perspective. In a statement to KSAT, Abelson said, "This is a clear attempt by the Pablos campaign to divert attention away from his poor performance at the debate." He accused Pablos of refusing to address critical policy questions and suggested that voters didn’t needed an "Abbott puppet" like Pablos running San Antonio. With the mayoral runoff election scheduled for June 7, this incident adds an extra layer of intrigue to a closely watched race.
