PEOPLE Peter Sakai Bexar County judge
BY EDMOND ORTIZ
THE MAIN ISSUES Peter Sakai’s campaign for Bexar
County judge in 2022 revolved around four overarching issues, which he told Community Impact will still be a foundation for his style of governance.
Fight economic in ation locally, support small businesses and create higher-paying jobs.
Peter Sakai nished his rst 100 days as Bexar County judge, the county’s top elected o cial, on April 11. A Democrat elected to a four-year term as county judge in the Nov. 8 general election, Sakai previously spent 26 years as a 225th District Court judge handling civil law cases. He focused on family law cases, including those involving child abuse and neglect. Sakai talked with Community Impact about his career and overall approach to his newest role. This article has been edited for clarity and length.
Create “rocket dockets” to expedite justice system cases, free up jail space and sentence criminals faster.
AFTER LEAVING THE JUDI CIARY, WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO RUN FOR COUNTY JUDGE? After four terms as a district court judge, I was kind of on cruise control on the political scene. I had completed what I wanted to accomplish. I did everything I could, but of course the child welfare system still has problems. When it came time to decide what I wanted to do, [former County Judge Nelson] Wol was announcing his retirement. He, his wife, Tracy, and I have always been close. I talked with Judge Wol and Tracy. and I asked him, “Are you really going to retire?” He said he was really going to retire. I said, “Well, I will want to run for your position.” I talked to my wife, Rachel, about doing this, and she gave me her full support. The only thing she told me was that if I was going to retire, I wasn’t going to just go home, and watch TV and sit on the sofa. I had to think of a path to follow. This is a whole di erent path. WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED IN YOUR FIRST 100 DAYS? We are tackling a comprehensive Bexar County-wide organizational
WHICH OF YOUR SKILLS CARRY OVER FROM THE JUDI CIARY TO BEING THE COUN TY’S TOP ELECTED OFFICIAL? I’ll put it this way. I met with a well-known developer. I talked to them about my skill set. I told them what you see is what you get. I was a judge who developed a reputation for listening and listen- ing intently. There’s a di erence. It means you’re listening to both sides of an argument, and then you gure out who’s telling the truth or which side should prevail. I also have to have the ability to apply the rule of law, which is very big with me. There are big decisions I’ve had to make as a civil district judge, such as the [city employee] paid leave issue. You just have to be able to make a decision. HOW DO YOU ENGAGE CONSTITUENTS? I’ve met with the business com- munity; I’ve met with developers; I’ve met with the owners of the San Antonio Missions. I’ve made it very clear that I want to see a return on invest- ment. If I can see that, get an example of that, that would help.
review, adjusting the pay scale for county sta ers, getting millions of dollars to local school districts for mental health assistance, putting more Narcan in the hands of sheri ’s deputies, adding positions for law enforcement and building a new sta lounge at the jail. YOU SAID YOU SOUGHT TO FOCUS ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AS COUNTY JUDGE, BUT HOW DOES THAT AFFECT OTHER COUNTY ISSUES? I think the voters gave me an overwhelming mandate—that’s what we want, to focus on children and families. I promised I’d look at all issues that a ect children and families. I look at the decisions I have to make as a county judge through an equity lens—what’s happening for our children and families? Those issues are economic development, education, workforce development, domestic violence, drug and alcohol treatment, mental health care, homelessness, and a ordable housing. These are the issues I want to tackle during my time as county judge. Some of those issues are very big, but at the very least I want a discussion on them.
Improve road infrastructure, including internet utilities , to close the digital divide in underserved areas.
Shore up public health with a new county public health division, especially in unincorporated areas.
Stay in contact Physical/mailing address: 101 W. Nueva St., 10th Floor San Antonio, Texas 78205 210-335-1326 www.bexar.org/1127/ bexar-county-judge-peter-sakai O ce hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Sat.-Sun. and county holidays County Judge Peter Sakai and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg attend a JETRO San Antonio event Feb. 7. COURTESY PETER SAKAI
THREE CONVENIENT CAMPUSES SERVING SAN ANTONIO
hello SUMMER
T F
NORTH CENTRAL: 12222 Huebner Rd. STONE OAK: 20615 Huebner Rd. DOMINION: 6185 Camp Bullis Rd.
10
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook