Tensions ran high yesterday in a debate between mayoral candidates Ivy Taylor and Leticia Van de Putte.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a tight political race is turning ugly down the stretch.
A shocker, I know.
This one happens to be for San Antonio’s highest local office, as Mayor Ivy Taylor and former State Senator Leticia Van de Putte make their final pitches before the runoff election on June 13.
The tension between the candidates hit a boiling point yesterday during a debate broadcast by Texas Public Radio. Taylor refused to shake Van de Putte’s hand after the debate, and later sent out this tweet:
In Texas, if a person attacks your family then smiles and extends her hand, you don't shake that hand. https://t.co/cQSqhDoXa7
— Mayor Ivy R Taylor (@IvyRTaylor) June 1, 2015Taylor was apparently sore over Van de Putte referencing the controversy surrounding Taylor’s husband, Rodney, who did not file a police report in a November 2014 gang-related shooting outside his bail bond business.
Taylor explained that since two people were injured and a gun went off during the shooting, she and her husband figured that “charges would be filed and that the shooter would be pursued.”
She added that “the safety of the citizens of the city certainly is my priority.”
But Van de Putte suggested that if that were really the case, the Taylors would have filed a police report:
“We want San Antonians to be good neighbors and to help each other. But what does it say when the mayor and her family, and it’s not the first time, repeatedly refuse to help put violent criminals [in jail], and get them off the streets?” Van de Putte said.
The audio of the exchange is available here, via TPR.
Taylor and Van de Putte will hold one more debate: Wednesday, June 3 at 9 a.m. on WOAI.
Early voting for the runoff has already begun, and will continue through Tuesday, June 9.
