SAN ANTONIO – There is an old saying that politics makes strange bedfellows.
That was the case Sunday when Tommy Adkisson and Mike Villarreal, opposing candidates in the city's mayoral race, joined forces Sunday to attack Leticia Van de Putte over her use of donations made during her run for Texas lieutenant governor in her mayoral campaign.
St. Mary's University political science professor Henry Flores said it was strange sight to see two opponents, who are looking to separate themselves from each other and the rest of the candidates, standing together.
"As a political scientist, when I see candidates come out and attack like that, to me it's kind of a defensive measure on their part. What they're trying to do is to get a response from her," said Flores.
That response came shortly after the joint press conference from Van de Putte's campaign manager, Christian Archer.
"It looks like it's total desperation from the third- and fourth-place candidate," said Archer.
Villarreal and Adkisson do not see it that way. They defended their decision to join forces, even if it was temporary.
"When something jumps out so completely, so clearly and so incredibly as this misuse of state funds for a municipal race, then we put everything aside," Adkisson said.
"The only way for the mayor to be effective is if the mayor is trusted," Villarreal added.
Flores said the attack could help the pair's campaigns, but it can also make it more difficult for the two candidates to distinguish their platforms from one another.
"You need to bring her down to the level to fight it out on the streets," he said. "What they need to do is kind of separate themselves out from the pack, and really kind of highlight their particular positions."
Current mayor Ivy Taylor has steered clear of the issue saying it is up to the Van de Putte campaign to do what it wants with its multiple campaign accounts and to explain to donors where their money is going.
The Van de Putte campaign is adamant that come April 9, when the next set of campaign finance reports are due to be filed, their records will show no evidence of wrongdoing. Flores said the issue is going to make the next 40 days very interesting.
"It's going to be a perpetual dog fight down the line," he said.