Join us for a conversation with the former Mayor of San Antonio and current candidate for Bexar County Judge. He will discuss his campaign, the politics and pressing civic issues of the moment, and what public leadership looks like in an increasingly polarized time.
Ron Nirenberg, former Mayor of San Antonio and candidate for Bexar County Judge
Ron Nirenberg is the former mayor of San Antonio, the fastest growing city with the 7th largest population in the United States.
He was raised in Austin, Texas, and attended college in San Antonio. Nirenberg is the son of an immigrant from Southeast Asia and the grandson of 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.
He was focused on making key infrastructure investments necessary to accommodate the growth of San Antonio, which is expected to nearly double in population by 2040. This forward-looking approach drives the mayor’s vision of a compassionate community with a globally competitive economy.
He 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.
Mayor Nirenberg is the Chairman of Sister Cities International, a nonpartisan organization that connects cities across the globe through civic, educational and cultural exchanges. The mayor continues to promote San Antonio as a premier 21st century city open for business, trade, and investment, attracting top talent and innovation companies. In 2018, the United States Conference of Mayors recognized Mayor Nirenberg with the Small Business Advocate award for his efforts to encourage entrepreneurism.
He believes that success is best achieved by partnerships. As councilman, Nirenberg 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, Nirenberg was the founder of two small-businesses, worked as the general manager of KRTU-FM San Antonio, and as a program director for the Annenberg Public Policy Center where he developed and directed award-winning civic engagement programs.
Mayor Nirenberg graduated summa cum laude from Trinity University and received a Master’s Degree in Communication magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania.
He and his wife, First Lady Erika Prosper, are the proud parents of their son, Jonah.