About - San Antonio River Authority Sign

Elections

The Board of Directors (Board) of the San Antonio River Authority called for an election of two (2) Directors for the November 7, 2023 election. The June 22, 2023 Ordinance ordering the election can be viewed here.

A twelve (12) member Board governs the San Antonio River Authority (River Authority). The Board consists of two at-large members from each of Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad counties, and one member for each of the four River Authority districts in Bexar County, for a total of twelve (12) members.

All positions are elected except in the case of an unexpected vacancy prior to a term ending, in which case the Governor of the State of Texas appoints a replacement to complete the term. Board terms are staggered with elections held in November of odd numbered years. The River Authority calls its election by ordinance and in accordance with the Texas election code.  Each election is administered through each county’s elections office. When candidates are unopposed, the Texas election code allows for the River Authority to declare by ordinance that the candidates are unopposed and are elected to office.

After this past legislative session, the legislature changed the length of the term for members of the Board of Directors from six-years to four-years with no term limits. The two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes shall be declared elected. To ensure Board member’s terms continue to be staggered during the transition from six-year terms to four-year terms, the person who receives the highest number of votes shall be elected to the first at-large Bexar County Director position and serve a four-year term beginning January 1, 2024 and ending December 31, 2027. The candidate who receives the second highest number of votes shall be elected to the second at-large Bexar County Director position and serve a two-year term beginning on January 1, 2024 and ending on December 31, 2025. After the election in 2023, all subsequent elections will be held every four years and all Board members will serve a four-year term.    

Board Positions

The two (2)  Board positions included in election on November 7, 2023 are:

  • Bexar County at large (2 positions)

Application deadline for the November 7, 2023 election is August 21, 2023 at 5:00pm 

District Maps
San Antonio River Authority Districts
San Antonio River Authority Bexar County Districts
San Antonio River Authority Board Requirements:

The duties of the Members of the Board are described in the River Authority bylaws and enabling act. Individuals considering running for office for the River Authority Board are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the bylaws and the enabling act. (please add link to updated Enabling Act)

  1. Regular Meeting Requirements: The Board of Directors meets in regular monthly sessions on the third Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. at the principal office of the River Authority, 100 E. Guenther Street, in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. Meetings are typically two to three hours in length. The Board may hold regular meetings at other locations and times if so ordered by the Board. In addition, the Board may establish additional committees and/or task forces to assist the Board by a majority vote of the Board. All members of the Board may serve on one or more Board committees and/or task forces. All Board Regular meetings are conducted in conformance with the Texas Open Meetings Act.
  2. Training Requirements: A person who is elected or appointed as a member of the Board may not vote, deliberate or be counted as a Board member until the person completes a training program in compliance with Section 13-a of the enabling act. The training program includes but is not limited to information on: 
    1. - Laws governing the River Authority’s operations as well as those laws applicable to Board members; 
    2. - Programs, functions, rules, and budget of the River Authority;
    3. - Scope of and limitations on the rulemaking authority of the Board;
    4. - Results of the most recent formal audit of the River Authority;
    5. - Open Meetings Act: The Board of Directors of the River Authority are subject to the Open Meetings Act (OMA) and are required to participate in educational training pursuant to section 551.005 of the Texas Government Code. The training requirement applies to all elected or appointed officials who participate in meetings subject to the OMA. The law requires that members subject to the OMA complete training within 90 days of taking the oath of office or otherwise assuming the responsibilities of office. To learn more about the Open Meetings Act Training, please visit: texasattorneygeneral.gov
    6. - Public Information Act: All information produced by and for the River Authority Board of Directors and staff is subject to the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code 552). The public has a right to prompt access to the records of the River Authority that are not confidential or otherwise protected. All communications of River Authority Board members regarding River Authority  business are subject to the Public Information Act (i.e. email, documents, text messages, meetings and minutes, as well as election filling information).
  3. Financial Disclosure Requirements:
    1. Every year River Authority Board members are required to file personal financial statements (PFS) with the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) ethics.state.tx.us. Please note this information is subject to the Public Information Act. 

  4. Ethics: River Authority Board members are subject to rules of ethics (Section 19) including disclosure of conflicts of interest.

  5. Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible to be elected or appointed as a Director, all candidates must meet the following requirements as provided by enabling act (section 9):

    (i) any person over the age of twenty-one (21) years, (ii) residing within the District and within the county from which they are elected or appointed and (iii) possessing the qualifications of a juror shall be eligible to be elected or appointed and to serve as a director.

November 7, 2023 Election Timeline
July 22

First day to file an application for a place on the ballot

Aug 21

Last day to file an application for a place on the ballot

Aug 23

Drawing to determine places on the ballot 

Aug 25

Last day to file a declaration of write-in candidacy 

Notice of the date, hour and place of the drawing to determine places on the ballot posted

Aug 28

Last day for a candidate to withdraw.

Last day for a write-in candidate to withdraw. If a write-in candidate withdraws by this date their name is omitted from the ballot.

Oct 9

Last day to register to vote

Oct 23

First day of early voting

Oct 27

Last day for early voting clerk to receive applications for a ballot to be voted by mail

Nov 3

Last day of early voting

Nov 7

Election Day

Jan 8

New board members are sworn in at the Board of Directors meeting

 

Election Packet Information

Candidates may obtain an election packet in person at the San Antonio River Authority, or by clicking here.

100 E Guenther St
San Antonio TX, 78204
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except for holidays)

Election Packet Content

Application ACTA Instruction Guide Chapter 258 Election Code
Petition in lieu Campaign Finance Guide Title 15
Declarations of Write-In Campaign Finance Report Political Advertising: What You Need to Know
Appointment of a Campaign Treasurer by a Candidate (CTA) Form Correction Affidavit Unexpended Report Form
CTA Instruction Guide Texas Ethics Commission Filing Schedule Unexpended Report Form Instruction Guide
Amendment: Appointment of a Campaign Treasurer by a Candidate (ACTA) Form Code of Fair Campaign Practices  

 

For official candidacy eligibility, the following documents must be received by the San Antonio River Authority no later than 5pm on August 21, 2023:

  • Application
  • $100 Filing Fee or Petition in Lieu
  • Appointment of a Campaign Treasurer by a Candidate (CTA) Form

It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that all documents and payment have been received by the River Authority. Documents must be returned to the River Authority in person during regular business hours Monday‐Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except for holidays), or by mail at:

C/O San Antonio River Authority Elections Coordinator
100 E Guenther St
San Antonio TX, 78204

 

Helpful Links
Glossary of Elections Terminology
Secretary of State: Candidate Information
Bexar County Elections Department
Wilson County Elections Department
Karnes County Elections Department
Goliad County Elections Department