Burnt Orange Report

Elena Guarjardo Takes Office

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The first openly gay elected official in San Antonio, Elana Guarjardo, is now holding office and a SAEN piece on her bring some things to light.

During the campaign, Guajardo neither kept her lifestyle at arm's length nor made it a central issue of the race.

But now that she's poised to take office, it remains to be seen how she will be received by the larger San Antonio community, which may be moderate politically but is more conservative on social issues, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said.

"I think the city itself is philosophically a little left of center, but when it comes to gayness it's a different story," Wolff said.

Her near Northwest Side district is heavily Hispanic and Catholic, a demographic that doesn't often take a progressive view of controversial topics like homosexuality and abortion.

And while the District 7 campaign was a largely polite affair, it was marred by a crass mailer sent to prospective voters.

The unsigned postcard sought to inform residents of certain issues with several council candidates, including the fact that Guajardo is a lesbian.

But the issue apparently had little currency with many voters, said Maria Berriozábal, a former councilwoman and candidate for mayor in 1991.

"I had older ladies, mexicanas, telling me, 'Y eso que tiene que ver? (What does that have to do with anything?)'" Berriozábal said. "People would say to me, 'Es independiente (She's independent).'"

It's good to see that the reactionaries weren't out in force in her election. Maybe it's a sign of changing times, maybe it is a sign of a safe Democratic seat. It looks like others have an eye on her, in a good way.

Guajardo's candidacy caught the eye of the Washington-based Victory Fund, which tapped her as part of a long-term orchestrated offensive against what they see as an increase in threatening legislation, such as restricting the rights of gay and lesbian adoptive parents.

"It is one of our goals to return openly gay representation to the Texas Legislature," said Robin Brand, vice president for campaigns and elections of the Victory Fund.

Brand said the group's efforts aren't unlike those of many other political action committees — grooming candidates at the local level in the hopes they'll be elected to higher office to promote their viewpoint.

"We were excited about Elena's run because she's the first openly gay elected City Council member in the eighth largest city in the country," Brand said.

Although Guajardo said it's way too soon to even begin speculating about a future legislative run, she likely will be someone that organizations like the Victory Fund keep an eye on.

To say the least, BOR will be keeping an eye on her as well.