Ron Nirenberg

Ron Nirenberg
Mayor of San Antonio
Assumed office
June 21, 2017
Preceded by Ivy Taylor
Member of the San Antonio City Council for District 8
In office
July 1, 2013 – June 21, 2017
Preceded by W. Reed Williams
Succeeded by Manny Pelaez
Personal details
Born Ronald Adrian Nirenberg
(1977-04-11) April 11, 1977[1]
Nationality American
Political party Nonpartisan
Spouse(s) Erika Prosper
Children Jonah[2]
Website City website
Campaign website

Ronald Adrian Nirenberg (born April 11, 1977) is an American politician and the current mayor of San Antonio, Texas. He was elected following his defeat of the incumbent mayor Ivy Taylor in the runoff for the 2017 mayoral race. Prior to his election, Nirenberg served as a member of the San Antonio City Council for District 8 for two terms.[3] He was sworn into office on June 21, 2017.[4]

Background

Nirenberg states he is of Eastern European Jewish descent (from Poland and Russia) on his father's side and of mixed Filipino, Malaysian, Indian, and British heritage from his mother’s side.[5] Nirenberg's father met Nirenberg's mother while the couple was serving with the Peace Corps in Malaysia.[6] His paternal grandparents immigrated to the United States before World War II, passing through Ellis Island. His Roman Catholic mother is half-Filipino and was born in Penang, Malaysia (then part of the colonial British protectorate of Malaya). His maternal grandmother was an Anglo-Indian mestiza born to a Scottish father and an indigenous Indian mother, while his maternal grandfather was a Tagalog-speaking Filipino musician with possible roots in Mindanao.[7] Nirenberg, who is Methodist, was raised in the capital city of Austin, Texas. He has been a long-term devotee of weightlifting, having participated in the sport since he was fourteen. He frequently works out at the Barshop Jewish Community Center in San Antonio. He was on the wrestling team in high school, and for seven years, he competed as a strength athlete, having developed an interest in the sport from watching the syndicated television series, American Gladiators.[8]

Nirenberg attended Trinity University in San Antonio and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in communication. He later attended the University of Pennsylvania, from which he procured his Master of Arts in communications.[9] After college, he was a program director for the Annenberg Public Policy Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[10]

Election history

2017 San Antonio mayoral race

On December 10, 2016, Nirenberg became the first primary challenger to Ivy Taylor for her position as mayor of San Antonio.[11] On May 6, 2017, the first round of voting was held, with no candidate reaching the required majority of 50% of the vote. Nirenberg and Taylor finished with the two highest vote totals and advanced to a runoff election held June 10, 2017. Although Nirenberg trailed Taylor in the primary vote, he went on to defeat Taylor 54.59-45.41%.[12] In so doing, Nirenberg became the first person in twenty years to defeat an incumbent mayor of San Antonio who sought re-election.[13][14]

Tenure

Although Nirenberg ran for office as a nonpartisan politician (in Texas, all municipal elections are officially nonpartisan), he was considered to have run on a more progressive platform. In 2013, Nirenberg endorsed a city ordinance which bans discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Taylor, then also a member of the city council, voted against the ordinance. Taylor also opposed the city's filing of a lawsuit against the new state law which defines a misdemeanor offense for municipal officials who refuse to cooperate with federal authorities seeking to halt illegal immigration. Signed by Governor Greg Abbott, the law targets the sanctuary city movement. Nirenberg, conversely, backs the lawsuit.[6]

As mayor, Nirenberg has focused on the challenges of significant growth being experienced in San Antonio, including transportation reform, housing, crime and public safety, and economic development. His transportation agenda includes improving air service in San Antonio through more direct and nonstop international connections and enhanced airport infrastructure, traffic congestion relief, and building a modern, multimodal transportation system for San Antonio.[15]

Personal life

Nirenberg is married to Erika Prosper, director of customer insights for H-E-B. The couple has one son, Jonah.[16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ronald Adrian Nirenberg". Family Search. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  2. ↑ Nirenberg, Ron. "Values". Vote Ron. Ron Nirenberg Campaign. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  3. ↑ Baugh, Josh (June 10, 2017). "Ivy Taylor trailing challenger Ron Nirenberg in early election results". San Antonio Express News. Hearst Media. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Ron Nirenberg sworn in as mayor of San Antonio". News 4 San Antonio. June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  5. ↑ Baugh, Josh (April 1, 2017). "Nirenberg's big gamble". San Antonio Express-News. Hearst Media. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  6. 1 2 "San Antonio Elects Progressive Mayor Who Celebrates His Jewish Heritage". The Jewish Daily Forward. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. June 12, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  7. ↑ Gomez, Buddy (June 2, 2017). "OPINION: The Filipino-American in San Antonio, Texas". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  8. ↑ Marini, Richard A. (June 16, 2017). "Mayor-elect is fit to lead. Like, really fit". San Antonio Express-News. Hearst Media. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  9. ↑ Nirenberg, Ronald. "Ron Nirenberg". LinkedIn. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Anenberg Public Policy Center: Ron Nirenberg". annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  11. ↑ Arias, Pilar (December 10, 2016). "SA Councilman Ron Nirenberg announces mayoral bid". KSAT-TV. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  12. ↑ Elections Department (June 10, 2017). "Unofficial Results: City of San Antonio - Runoff". Bexar County. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  13. ↑ Cary, Michael (May 17, 2006). "News: Party lines". San Antonio Current. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  14. ↑ Baugh, Josh (June 12, 2017). "Mayor-elect Nirenberg has hit the ground running". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  15. ↑ O'Hare, Peggy (May 23, 2018). "City's population growth largest in nation, census data shows". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  16. ↑ Rodriguez, Ken (July 27, 2017). "Erika Prosper: From Field Work to First Lady". The Rivard Report. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
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