Editorial: Whyte the best choice in District 10
Express-News Editorial Board
April 18, 2023
With District 10 City Councilman Clayton Perry leaving office in disgrace, having taken a plea deal in his drunken driving and hit-and-run case, this North Side seat is wide open.
In a crowded field, Marc Whyte gets our recommendation.
An attorney, Whyte has put in the time, having served as the District 10 representative on the city’s Ethics Review Board as well as the board of Port San Antonio and on the zoning commission.
In 2018, he ran for the District 121 seat in the Texas House of Representatives, but lost in the Republican primary. We were impressed with Whyte then and see a candidate who has grown since that last run.
In this nonpartisan race, Whyte has Perry’s endorsement as well as the endorsements of seven former District 10 councilmen. We were impressed with his background, past public service and knowledge of municipal issues.
During our candidate meeting, Whyte said his mediation skills will serve him well at City Hall. He also has good relationships with a number of City Council members, thanks to his service on various city boards. His presence on council would add to the city discussion.
“Throughout my life, I’ve been able to work with different groups of people to advance the ball on whatever the issue may be,” he said.
Whyte is decidedly conservative — and so is this district. He wants to lower property taxes, improve public safety and boost economic development. He is “absolutely against” Proposition A, the justice charter that would decrease police officer discretion, calling it “bad for the city.”
And he’s concerned that District 10 “is getting left behind” regarding its share of budget and infrastructure dollars.
Robert Flores, Bryan Martin, Rick Otley and Joel Solis also met with us. We were impressed with their perspectives, knowledge of the issues and civic mindedness.
Solis and Martin are especially strong candidates — offering bold and progressive viewpoints. Solis, a retired engineer, serves as the District 10 representative to the Building Standards Board. If elected, he would focus on improving infrastructure and greater economic development in the district.
Martin, who owns an electric bike startup, was the only candidate of the group to support Proposition A, citing concerns about the impacts of pretrial incarceration, recidivism rates and racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
But Whyte stands out in this race due to his public service, support he has garnered from past District 10 representatives and legal expertise. He would hit the ground running and clearly reflects the views of voters in District 10.