Eligible residents in Bexar County Precinct 3 now have until noon Dec. 31 to file for the North Side Commissioners Court post that was vacated by Trish DeBerry, who filed to enter the Republican primary for county judge.
DeBerry is the sixth person pursuing the county’s top elected office, hoping to succeed Nelson Wolff, who in October said he would not seek a sixth term as county judge.
The Bexar County Elections Department said DeBerry applied for a spot on the March 1 primary ballot Dec. 13, the state deadline for party primary election filings.
DeBerry running for county judge meant automatic resignation from county commissioners court, according to a state law that requires a commissioner to depart their current position after declaring candidacy for another public office one year and 30 days before their term ends.
DeBerry, a former television news journalist and public relations business owner, was elected to commissioners court in the November 2020 election, succeeding Nelson Wolff's son Kevin Wolff.
Nelson Wolff initially set a Dec. 20 application deadline, but following consultation with the Texas Secretary of State's office, the filing period was briefly suspended and then extended to Dec. 31.
Nelson said it's critical that DeBerry's replacement be appointed as soon as possible. The appointed commissioner will serve on an interim basis until Dec. 31, 2022, Nelson Wolff said in a Dec. 21 statement.
"It is of vital importance that Precinct 3 continues to be represented until a qualified interim county commission is appointed," Nelson Wolff added. "Until that time, County Commissioner Trish DeBerry will continue to represent Precinct 3 and serve in a hold-over status."
Nelson Wolff also said he is seeking the best qualified candidate to represent Pct. 3, which includes much of north central San Antonio and Bexar County, as well as cities such as Hollywood Park, Hill Country Village and Shavano Park.
"After (the Dec. 31 filing deadline), I will consult with my colleagues on the Commissioners Court and will move forward from that point. I intend to appoint the interim commissioner in early January."
DeBerry will face Nathan Buchanan, a 2020 contestant for Precinct 3 constable, in the GOP primary election.
Four candidates are running in the Democratic primary for county judge. They are District 124 State Rep. Ina Minjarez, former District Judge Peter Sakai, Ivalis Meza Gonzalez—San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s former chief of staff—and Gerard Ponce, who previously ran for various local public offices, including mayor in 2015 and 2017.
