Ron Nirenberg is the mayor of San Antonio , which has the 7th largest population in the United States and is one of the nation ’ s fastest growing cities . Mayor Nirenberg is the first San Antonio Mayor of Asian Pacific Islander descent . His mother is Filipino and his paternal grandparents were immigrants from Eastern Europe who passed through Ellis Island . Through his personal experiences , Mayor Nirenberg developed a core commitment to civic participation and the universal values of liberty , justice , and equal opportunity for every person .
First elected in 2017 , Mayor Nirenberg was re-elected to a fourth term on May 6 , 2023 . Under Mayor Nirenberg ’ s leadership the City of San Antonio has adopted a compassionate approach to migrants , establishing a Migrant Resource Center with non-profit partners to address the safety and logistical needs of asylum seekers passing through San Antonio as they arrange to travel to their host cities across the nation . Mayor Nirenberg has been a vocal proponent of a compassionate , welcoming policy since his tenure as a City Councilman for San Antonio ’ s Council district with the most refugees .
Under his leadership as mayor , the city has adopted an equity framework in budgeting to reduce poverty , improve public health , and overcome historical socioeconomic inequality . He is focused on making key investments necessary to accommodate San Antonio ’ s rapid growth . This forwardlooking approach drives the mayor ’ s vision of a compassionate community with a globally competitive economy .
The mayor ’ s policy priorities include workforce development . In 2020 , he successfully championed SA Ready to Work , a four-year workforce development program approved by 77 percent of voters and funded without raising the tax rate . Mayor Nirenberg also played a leading role crafting a longterm solution in 2020 for funding the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program .
In 2017 , Mayor Nirenberg created the Mayor ’ s Housing Policy Task Force seeking to ensure that all San Antonians , regardless of income level , can find quality affordable housing within the city limits . The task force recommendations were approved by City Council in 2018 .
Mayor Nirenberg was first elected to represent District 8 on the San Antonio City Council in 2013 . During his two terms , he championed smart city and regional planning , inclusive economic development , environmental stewardship , fiscal responsibility and governmental accountability . As councilman , he brought together a public-private coalition to save the world-renowned Bracken Bat Cave , the largest colony of bats in the world .
Prior to his public service , Mayor Nirenberg was the founder of two small-businesses , worked as the general manager of KRTU-FM San Antonio , and served as a program director for the Annenberg Public Policy Center where he developed and directed award-winning civic engagement programs .