What happened
Whyte went into custody for DWI following a traffic stop late Dec. 29, per police reports. Immediately following being released from jail, Whyte has publicly apologized and expressed regret for his actions.
According to the council resolution, the city’s elected leaders recognized Whyte’s words of repentance and “finds it necessary to censure council member Whyte because his behavior of drinking and driving is not acceptable and should not be tolerated," the resolution stated.
The council resolution also stated San Antonio as having the highest per-capita rate of drunken driving crashes among large Texas cities, and that Whyte, especially as an elected representative, put the public at risk and affected council’s ability to conduct business.
Whyte’s court arraignment is set for Jan. 30, according to court records. DWI is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail.
This is the second time in the last 13 months council has rebuked one of its own because of a DWI charge, as Whyte’s predecessor, Clayton Perry, was arrested for DWI in 2022.
What they’re saying
Although Whyte was asked to recuse himself from the council vote on the resolution, he addressed those gathered at the special meeting, apologizing to colleagues, friends, family and supporters for his behavior.
“Anybody that has had even one drink should not get behind the wheel of a car, in my opinion, and i take full responsibility for my decision to drive that night,” Whyte said. “I’ve learned a lot in the last two weeks. I've got a lot of time to think about this job and what a responsibility and a privilege it is to be sitting in this position.”
Whyte said some constituents asked him to oppose the censure effort, which some supporters of Perry did when he faced a council reprimand.
But Whyte, who said he would not resign from office, also said he would accept being censured by his council colleagues and sought to move on with city business.
“Many people that have reached out have wanted me to fight this resolution that's on the table today. What I want to say to them is that we don't need to have any argument about today's resolution,” Whyte said. “This resolution is making a statement to the public that we don't want anyone to consume any amount of alcohol before they drive a car. I believe its worthy.”
Resident Greg Quiroz, a paramedic and medical sciences student, addressed council, saying he sees in the emergency room many people injured in drunk driving-related accidents.
“I urge the councilman and others to think before they drink and consider the consequences of their actions, particularly the consequences they have on overworked, under-staffed health care workers like myself and genuinely sick people whose care becomes delayed,” Quiroz said.
Nearly all council members said they accepted Whyte’s apology, and wanted to pass the resolution and go forward with city business.
But a few council members said, while censuring Whyte was appropriate, they wonder about people who are arrested and possibly face jail time for other misdemeanors such as graffiti—a reference to the failed 2023 voter initiative to expand the local cite-and-release system.
McKee-Rodriguez said he feels many individuals arrested for non-violent, low-level misdemeanors and who are regretful for their actions can be forgiven and given a second chance.
“Councilman Whyte, you now know what it feels like to be criminalized for something you've done that you now regret—actions that don't reflect on your character,” District 2 council member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez said.
