About 100 community members gathered at the Texas Public Radio Irma & Emilio Nicolas Media Center on Thursday for the only debate in the Bexar County Judge race. The event featured incumbent San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, now the Democratic frontrunner, and Republican challenger Patrick Von Dohlen, a longtime conservative activist and financial advisor.
Nirenberg’s agenda for a more responsive county
Mayor Nirenberg, who defeated incumbent Peter Sakai by a nearly 25‑point margin in the Democratic primary, used the forum to stress that Bexar County should do more than manage the court system, jail and emergency services. “Most people think that Bexar County, all they do is provide your tax bill and a jury summons. But I want you to expect more,” he told the audience.
He pledged to support working families by making health care more accessible, keeping neighborhoods safe, and removing barriers that prevent families from advancing economically. Nirenberg also defended a recent decision to reduce public‑health spending, calling it “one step in the right direction,” while acknowledging that further consolidation of services would be necessary.
“There is no reason that this community needs two public‑health departments: one in the city of San Antonio, one in Bexar County, and we’ve got to close that gap,” Nirenberg said. He added that any future tax increase could be avoided by coordinating with neighboring jurisdictions to eliminate duplicated services.
Von Dohlen’s call for fiscal accountability
Republican candidate Patrick Von Dohlen entered the debate stating his primary motivation was to prevent Nirenberg from becoming Bexar County Judge. “I saw the writing on the walls of what was going to happen in the Democratic primary,” he said, adding that the county had endured “over eight years of disturbing leadership” under the former mayor.
Von Dohlen, the sole Republican to seek the nomination, emphasized the need to audit every dollar and prioritize core services. While he expressed reservations about the public‑health cuts, he recognized the county’s fiscal pressures. “It’s crucial that we get in there and we audit every dollar, we measure it, and we deploy it officially for core services first and foremost,” he asserted.
He also highlighted the county’s budget trajectory: from roughly $1.8 billion in FY 2020 to nearly $3 billion by FY 2023, fueled by federal pandemic relief and rising property values. With the relief funds now expiring and property‑tax revenue declining, the FY 2027 budget of $2.6 billion required a $68 million draw from reserves to avoid a tax increase.
Context and next steps
Bexar County, a traditionally Democratic‑leaning area, remains heavily favored toward Nirenberg, who has framed his candidacy around expanding services for working families and improving governmental efficiency. Von Dohlen’s platform centers on fiscal restraint, transparent budgeting, and preserving essential public‑health functions.
The debate marked the only public exchange between the two candidates before the November 2026 election. Voters will weigh Nirenberg’s vision of a more proactive county against Von Dohlen’s emphasis on fiscal oversight and core‑service protection.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
