Latinos For Texas Blog

Today is it… I’ll be pacing until the final results come in.

From the Express-News’ Carlos Guerra:

Carlos Guerra: Castro, Hardberger tangle one last time before today’s vote
Web Posted: 06/07/2005 12:00 AM CDT

San Antonio Express-News

The reason the mayoral contest was surprisingly tame until mid-April, even though the three frontrunners are male attorneys, can be summed up in one word: strategy.

Beginning with the first poll and into the May election, City Councilman Julián Castro topped every survey. So, former judge Phil Hardberger and City Councilman Carroll Schubert focused on squeezing each other out of a runoff berth against the frontrunner.

Hardberger decried Schubert’s cozy ties to developers and other City Hall insiders, and chided his unflinching support of the city’s most controversial, tax-fueled projects.

Schubert, on the other hand, painted Hardberger as a tax-and-spend liberal who had to be sued before he paid his property taxes and asserted that the former judge would raise city tax rates.

But until it was evident that Schubert’s chances were sinking, both he and Hardberger exercised restraint, knowing that whoever made it into a runoff would need the other’s backers to win.

During that period, Castro did not exactly get a free ride, but it was certainly a smooth one and he used the respite wisely. He put forth his vision of uniting the city to reach greater heights, with smarter and more balanced growth, a more competitive workforce, more lucrative jobs for everyone and make a cleaned-up City Hall more accessible to all.

In the 30 days since Schubert was eliminated in the runoff, however, the 70-year-old Hardberger and Castro, who is 40 years his junior, have clashed with increasing intensity over their records.

While Hardberger demonstrated lawyering skills honed over decades, Castro showed a surprising maturity and coolness under fire, and a debate prowess that equals, and at times, exceeds Hardberger’s.

Monday, only 14 hours before the polls opened to determine who will be San Antonio’s next mayor, Castro and Hardberger met for the 72nd and final debate on KTSA’s Chris Duel Show.

Under prodding by Duel and Ruben Hernandez, the two contenders delivered a cordial, but spark-filled hour during which each sharply attacked the other’s positions, record and the vested interests of their supporters.

There were softball queries, like the now almost traditional “boxers or briefs?” along with “Who’s your favorite Spur?” (For Castro, Manú Ginobili for his relentless drive and creativity, while Hardberger cited David Robinson’s exemplary life and work).

But most questioning was about real issues, and the answers were frank and unexpectedly direct.

Hardberger continued attacking Castro as an indecisive insider whose positions have changed, prompting Castro to point out that Hardberger now embraces and takes money from the same well-connected developers and wealthy City Hall insiders that Hardberger faulted Schubert for having.

But it was in the debate’s opening statements that the candidates’ differences were best highlighted.

“We may be the same on some issues, and we may be different on some issues,” Hardberger said. “But when all is said and done, who is going to be the best mayor for San Antonio?”

“San Antonio has a choice, and it’s about more than who will be mayor,” Castro stated. “The choice is about the future direction of this city. My vision is to create a city with world-class opportunity and culture, with small town quality of life and a city government we can trust.”

Now, the choice is yours.

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To contact Carlos Guerra, call (210) 250-3545 or e-mail cguerra@express-news.net.
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