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Incumbent San Antonio City Council progressives are sticking together this election season.

District 5 CouncilwomanTeri Castillo is backing District 1 and 2 freshmen Mario Bravo andJalen McKee-Rodriguez.

"A better San Antonio is possible," she said in a Tweet this morning encouraging people to vote early and re-elect herself, Bravo and McKee-Rodriguez.

Bravo in the downtown and near North Side District 1, McKee-Rodriguez in the East Side District 2 andCastillo in the near West Side District 5 were elected in 2021 as an assumed new progressive voting coalition. The endorsement comes even though Bravo sometimes took a back seat in his first term.

OnExpressNews.com: Your guide to the city of San Antonios May 6 election. Whats on the ballot, where to vote, key dates and more

Former District 7 Councilwoman AnaSandoval was known to vote in line with the progressives on council before she left office for a new job in January. But thecandidates in the District 7 race are less liberal thanSandoval was.

District 1 Councilman Mario Bravo (center) addresses the Mayor, City Council and City staff as they convene on Thursday, Apr. 13, 2023 for a day-long work session. During the session, the Mayor and City Council provided policy direction for service priorities for the Citys Fiscal Year 2024 Proposed Budget and Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Plan.

Some voters have remained concerned about Bravos abilities after an unprofessional outburst last year led tohis censure and a vote of no confidence from his council colleagues.

In September, Bravo berated former District 7 City Councilwoman Ana Sandoval, his former romantic partner, near the dais for not supporting his plan to use $50 million in excess CPS Energy revenue to weatherize homes instead of disbursing a roughly $30 credit to individual households. He told Sandoval that her lack of support was why he ended their relationship and didnt have children with her.

And during a council meeting, Bravo alluded to Sandoval so often that City Attorney Andy Segovia reprimanded him.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg temporarily suspended Bravo from his City Council committee assignments, and an independent investigator determined his actions violated anti-harassment and violence in the workplace policies.

After his council outburst, Bravo apologized and sought counseling.

Bravo was an Environmental Defense Fund project manager until March of last year when he decided to focus full-time on being a council member.

On ExpressNews.com: Mario Bravo had humbling lesson in his first term, but hes confident in re-election bid

Bravo and McKee-Rodriguez have found themselves in two of the most crowded city council races this season, facing off against six and nine challengers, respectively.

District 2 Councilperson Jalen McKee Rodriguez addresses the Mayor, City Council and City staff as they onvene on Thursday, Apr. 13, 2023 for a day-long work session. During the session, the Mayor and City Council provided policy direction for service priorities for the Citys Fiscal Year 2024 Proposed Budget and Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Plan.

Even so, the incumbents are garnering a lot of support.

Jeremy Roberts and Sukh Kaur, a couple of the strongest District 1 candidates, have raised tens of thousands of dollars for their campaigns. But with more than $57,000 cash on hand at the end of the most recent filing period, Bravo has about $10,000 more than Roberts andKaur combined.

McKee-Rodriguez has outraised each of his opponents, bringing in nearly $40,000 in contributions during the most recent reporting period, from Jan. 1 to March 27. Thats enabled him to hire a campaign team of almost a dozen paid staffers.

On ExpressNews.com: Jalen McKee-Rodriguez looks to make history by keeping District 2 seat

Castillo is facing the least opposition of council progressives with just two people challenging her. One of those opponents is Rudy Lopez, a retired civilian employee with the San Antonio Police Department. Castillo defeated Lopez in a runoff in 2021.

Castillo and McKee-Rodriguez among the very few council members to say they supportProposition A, also called the San Antonio Justice Charter. It would decriminalize abortion and marijuana, expand cite-and-release and ban some policing techniques. It also would create a citywide justice director to oversee the implementation of the policy changes.

On ExpressNews.com: How to vote early for San Antonios May 6 election. Well walk you through it.

Interim District 7 Councilwoman Rosie Castro, who is not seeking election in May, is the only other council member to back the proposition.

Bravo has not said if he is voting for or against the charter. He said there are parts of it he supports, such as the decriminalization of marijuana and a womans right to choose, but he is concerned that it would take away officer discretion when it comes to property theft and destruction.

Early voting started today and runs through May 2. Election Day is May 6.

megan.rodriguez@express-news.net

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Progressive Councilwoman Teri Castillo backs these incumbents - San Antonio Express-News