We continue our series of interviews with leading candidates for San Antonio mayor ahead of the May 3 election. Bob welcomes Gina Ortiz Jones, an Air Force veteran and former Undersecretary of the Air Force under the Biden administration, for a wide-ranging conversation about her bid to lead the city.
Ortiz Jones discusses her personal journey from growing up on the Far West Side to her national security work in Washington, and how those experiences have shaped her approach to local issues. The conversation covers:
• Her motivations for returning to San Antonio and seeking the mayor’s office
• Reflections on her leadership in the Pentagon—including policy reforms and obstacles for women and minorities in the military
• How her national service influences her perspective on public education, economic opportunity, and housing in San Antonio
• Views on the city’s economic competitiveness with Austin, Dallas, and Houston, and strategies for attracting job growth
• Her positions on the city’s housing bond, downtown development, airport expansion, and the need for data-driven policymaking
• Concerns about outside money in local elections and how national endorsements fit into a nonpartisan mayoral race
• The challenges posed by state and federal tensions with city government, and the impact on local policymaking
• The importance of early childhood education, affordable housing, and comprehensive climate action for San Antonio’s future
Ortiz Jones addresses questions about her connection to the city, her thoughts on critical topics like Project Marvel and Mayor Nirenberg's Ready to Work, and shares how her varied experience could inform both immediate and long-term city leadership.
-- --
RECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:
🎧 Explore Our Mayoral Coverage – As the 2025 race for San Antonio’s next mayor heats up, don’t miss our full series of interviews with the candidates. Hear directly from those vying to lead the city on the issues that matter most—from housing and economic development to infrastructure and public safety.
-- --
CONNECT
SPONSORS
🙌 Support the show & see our sponsors
THANK YOU
⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
⭐ Rate us on Spotify
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Intentionally Disturbing
Join me on this podcast as I navigate the murky waters of human behavior, current events, and personal anecdotes through in-depth interviews with incredible people—all served with a generous helping of sarcasm and satire. After years as a forensic and clinical psychologist, I offer a unique interview style and a low tolerance for bullshit, quickly steering conversations toward depth and darkness. I honor the seriousness while also appreciating wit. I’m your guide through the twisted labyrinth of the human psyche, armed with dark humor and biting wit.