SAN ANTONIO – UPDATE: This livestream has concluded. Watch video on demand above.
As the March 1 primary election nears, Democratic Bexar County Judge candidates will take part in a forum Thursday evening, giving voters a chance to learn more about them.
The forum was hosted by the Bexar County Democratic Party.
All four Democratic candidates who are competing for the county’s top elected position will be participating in the two-hour forum. They include:
- Ivalis Meza Gonzalez, former mayoral chief of staff
- Ina Minjarez, state representative in House District 124
- Gerard Ponce, administrator and former mayoral candidate
- Peter Sakai, former district court judge
What to know
With Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff’s decision not to seek reelection, voters will choose a new person to the office for the first time since 2001.
The departure has not only attracted current and former elected officials, but a few outsiders, too.
On the Democratic ticket, mayoral Chief of Staff Ivaliz Meza Gonzalez, State Rep. Ina Minjarez, former mayoral candidate Gerard Ponce and former district court judge Peter Sakai are vying for the party’s nomination. The winner will go on to face the winner of the Republican primary — small business owner and licensed peace officer Nathan Buchanan or Bexar County Pct. 3 Commissioner Trish DeBerry.
The candidate who secures the Democratic nomination would be a favorite to win the race in the general election later this year. Bexar County has not elected a Republican as county judge since 1998.
After the campaign filing deadline passed, KSAT sent each candidate a questionnaire about why they’re running for one of Bexar County’s most important elected offices. You can read their responses here.
Early voting for the primary begins on Feb. 14, with election day slated for March 1. The deadline to register to vote is Jan. 31.
To check your voter registration status in Bexar County, click here. To find out which precinct you live in, click here.
Read more on our Vote 2022 page: