SAN ANTONIO - As we continue our coverage on the San Antonio city elections we turn our attention to District 9.
- 4 candidates vying for City Council District 9
- Election Day set for Saturday, May 4
- District 9 referred to as "San Antonio's engine"
Four candidates are vying for that spot. Candidate Richard Reza Versace did not make himself available for an interview.
Travel around District 9 one time and you're bound to notice some of of the biggest issues right away. Among them are traffic and public safety. Those are topics all three candidates can agree on, but how to fix it is a different story.
RELATED: Meet the Candidates: SA District 10
"Moving around in District 9 can be complicated and that's one of my goals is to try and simplify that problem," said incumbent John Courage.
Courage says he has frequent meetings with his constituents and wants to continue the work he's started.
"Mass transportation is something that we need to develop. I'm not the kind of person that would support toll roads. I think that's totally inadequate. I'm not the kind of council person who wants to see us try and develop a rail system. I think that's impractical and very expensive," he said.
LINK: San Antonio District 9 Contact Information
"District 9 is the economic engine, the driving engine for all of San Antonio," said candidate Patrick Von Dohlen.
Financial businessman Patrick Von Dohlen says he can bring something unique to council.
"I plan to bring that financial science to City Council as well. That's what's lacking on City Council, somebody has to pay for these things and it's taxpayers. It's taxpayer money so taxpayers will be better represented with my position and my presence on City Council," he said.
As the district continues to grow outward, candidate Nicholas Balderas wants it to remain responsibly rooted.
"One of the biggest issues that I would like to tackle is sprawl. The continuation of these low-density, single-family neighborhoods," Balderas said.
The San Antonio real estate agent backs the SA Tomorrow plan and SA2020, and says he wants to get it back on track.
"I think the answer to it is incentivising mixed-use development, so an area where people can live, work, shop, and play all in kind of walking distance. It becomes where the automobile is an option instead of a necessity. Creating and cultivating the communities that are centered around these mixed-use developments," he said.
Early voting begins Monday, April 22. The general election is Saturday, May 4.