Bexar County’s District Clerk race is down to 2 Democrats who’ve every had lengthy careers within the workplace — and confronted off towards each other simply 4 years in the past after they each believed its future was on the road.
Although they didn’t know each other nicely on the time, Gloria Martinez and Christine “Chris” Castillo every launched campaigns for District Clerk in 2022 after having been pushed out of their roles by incumbent Democrat Mary Angie Garcia, who they saved from advancing from her personal social gathering’s main that yr.
Martinez went on to win the runoff by about 3,000 votes towards Castillo — who continues to be gunning for the highest job.
“It was a reasonably laborious tablet to swallow, as a result of I really feel like my staff and I did every little thing proper, we ran a clear race, and we got here up quick,” Castillo mentioned. “I’m right here once more as a result of I nonetheless have that keenness, I really feel like I’ve unfinished enterprise, and I really feel like I can take this workplace to such a great place.”
On election night time Castillo took 24% of the vote in a five-way race, sending her to a different Democratic Major runoff with Martinez, who took 33%.
Martinez declined to be interviewed for the story, however posted on Fb after the first that her first-place end was proof of the success she’s had turning issues round in her first time period.
“Since you, the residents of Bexar County, we’ve made it this far,” Martinez wrote. “Thanks for standing with me. Let’s hold the momentum going.”
The winner of the Could 26 Democratic main runoff received’t should face a Republican in November, since none filed for the race.
An workplace in transition
The district clerk is in control of sustaining information and filings for the county’s roughly two dozen district courts — one thing that places of work throughout the state have began providing on-line to various levels.
It’s additionally been a spot the place workers as soon as caught round for many years, as each Martinez and Castillo did till latest years.
Each San Antonio natives began their careers there shortly after highschool, below then-District Clerk David J. Garcia, who Castillo remembers as a “stern” however compassionate boss.
“In my thoughts, I felt like ‘Properly, I’ll keep just a few years, simply get some expertise after which perhaps transfer on. However I got here to like my job,” mentioned Castillo, who rose by means of the ranks as a supervisor and division chief.
In the meantime Martinez labored within the civil, legal and juvenile divisions of the workplace, whereas additionally serving within the U.S. Navy Reserves, the place she was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
However Castillo mentioned that after Mary Angie Garcia was elected in 2018, workers began “leaping ship,” and the workplace has by no means been the identical.
After being shifted round to a number of roles, Castillo retired in 2019. Martinez was initially promoted by Garcia, in line with Castillo, however later had her personal falling out and likewise left.
“At one time, Bexar County was the best District Clerk’s workplace, loads of counties in Texas would look to us so far as our processes and the best way we deal with issues,” Castillo mentioned of the workplace. “Now different counties usually are not trying Bexar County anymore, as a result of we don’t have solutions. It’s sort of embarrassing.”
Know-how on the forefront
In her workplace’s written supplies, Martinez takes some credit score for a morale shift.
Her web site mentioned she was excited to have constructed “a devoted and environment friendly staff that may hold the wheels of justice turning.”
However in a main with 4 Democrats, many of the criticism she’s confronted was for failing to maneuver quick sufficient on technological modernizations. Particularly, opponents blamed her for Bexar County’s continued lack of on-line entry to some courtroom paperwork.
“I’ve finished analysis with the opposite bigger counties — Houston, Dallas, Fort Price — all of us appear to have the identical case administration system,” Castillo mentioned. “They do supply on-line accessibility … It’s nearly having the management to make it occur.”
Martinez posted on social media that she’s presently working with Commissioners Court docket on e-certification, which “will permit the general public to request and obtain licensed copies of paperwork electronically and keep away from coming downtown.”
She mentioned she’s additionally “exploring the probabilities of utilizing AI know-how to help departments that course of e-filings.”
In a low-interest main race, Castillo mentioned neither candidate has raised sufficient cash to do actual, focused promoting.
The problems they’re campaigning on sometimes don’t contact folks’s lives till they’re interacting with the courtroom system, she mentioned, which means such races are sometimes extra about identity-politics than {qualifications}.
“I get it, I’m Hispanic, so I do know loads of [Hispanic voters] exit and so they vote for the primary Latina,” mentioned Castillo, who will seem second on the runoff poll. “I’m making an attempt to alter their minds and clarify to them [that I’m running] due to issues which might be taking place proper now [in the clerk’s office].”
