Ivalis Meza Gonzalez becomes the new District 8 councilwoman in San Antonio, succeeding the eight-year tenure of her predecessor.
SAN ANTONIO — For the first time in eight years, San Antonio’s District 8 will have a new representative on City Council.
Ivalis Meza Gonzalez will serve as the new District 8 councilwoman for the next four years. The district includes the city’s Medical Center, the University of Texas at San Antonio, UT Health San Antonio. Meza Gonzalez said it even has more parks than any other district in the city.
“I feel great,” Meza Gonzalez said. “We feel really good. We worked really hard for this.”
Meza Gonzalez said her campaign was more of a grassroots effort that included knocking on doors, and having neighborhood meet and greets.
“I think ultimately our message resonated with residents of District 8,” she said.
Meza Gonzalez is familiar with City Hall. She previously served as chief of staff for outgoing Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who also once represented District 8. She was a key advisor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“You can’t just unlearn any of that. It stays with you,” she said. “You learn how much the city is doing and how much these city employees are putting in.”
The councilwoman ran on different issues, including public safety and supporting seniors.
“We’ve had property crime in our district, mailbox thefts in our district,” she said. “Making sure that we have enough of those SAFFE officers in District 8 is important, because those are the neighborhood police.”
As for the most vulnerable, Meza Gonzalez said she wants to make sure they have access to resources.
“We stand on their shoulders in so many ways,” she said. “Making sure the seniors have the resources that they need to stay at home and be comfortable, and age well in a community that they moved to and built families in.”
Meza Gonzalez said the district has 27 parks and it is important to maintain the upkeep and their infrastructure. She also emphasized the importance of a community center.
“I think a community center would be important to the residents of District 8,” she said. “We are the only district in San Antonio without a community center.”
Meza Gonzalez, who is from San Antonio, said she is ready to get to work.
“I am really excited to represent this district because I want to make sure that District 8 continues to have a strong voice,” she said.
You can watch the full interview with Councilwoman Meza Gonzalez streaming now on KENS 5+, available for free on your smart TV.
In the full interview, she also discussed the upcoming city budget and reflected on her previous run for Bexar County judge.