Policy expert Sophia Alejandro has become the latest staffer in Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones’ office to leave, bringing the total number of staff exits within the past year to eight, Jones’ office confirmed Wednesday.
Even so, the mayor’s office declined to discuss the reasons behind the departure by Alejandro, a Baylor University alum with a master’s in public administration from George Washington University. Alejandro joined the office in October to help Jones implement her agenda.
Word of Alejandro’s exit comes less than 24 hours after Jones’ office announced the hiring of TikTok realtor MarkAnthony Ball to help with the mayor’s social media presence.
The departure also comes after both Jones’ chief of staff, Jenise Carroll, and deputy chief of staff, Pat Wallace, left within a week of one another.
Other staffers who have left Jones’ office within the first year of her four-year term include:
– Jordan Abelson, who served as chief of staff from June 2025 until July 2025
– Anna San Miguel, who served as special assistant from August 2025 until October 2025
– Rory Vance, who oversaw event services from June 2025 until September 2025
– Gary Cooper, who briefly served as communications director in August 2025
– Carlos de Leon, who briefly served as communications director during October 2025
Former staffers have complained about difficult working conditions on the 2nd floor of City Hall.
One former staffer, who spoke to the Current on condition of anonymity after leaving the office, said Jones was disrespectful to staff and created a toxic work environment. Meanwhile, an ex-campaign staffer, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity after signing an NDA, maintained Jones was difficult to work with and often ignored her staff’s advice.
Separately, a person familiar with City Hall matters recalled an incident in which Jones hastened a staffer’s resignation by publicly dressing the person down for taking a seat at a meeting.
“Who told you you could sit down?” Jones allegedly asked.
That staffer resigned shortly thereafter.
UT-San Antonio political scientist Jon Taylor warned that the constant staff turnover in Jones’ office could hamper her ability to lead the city effectively.
“It makes me wonder how well the policy can be formulated, let alone implemented, when you have such a lack of continuity with the person that is supposed to help coordinate the mayor’s goals and coordinate her policy agenda,” Taylor said.
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Policy expert exits Mayor Jones’ office, upping total departures to 8
