Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has finally done what some political analysts have suggested she do to bolster her win record: hire someone with extensive experience at San Antonio City Hall.
Longtime local political operative Patricia “Pat” Wallace has now signed on as Jones’ deputy chief of staff, the Express-News reported late Wednesday afternoon.
Wallace served as chief of staff to former District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez, a role she filled since 2017. During that time, she navigated Pelaez’s often-colorful commentary on the dais, including the time her boss referred to some of his colleagues as “poverty pimps” when discussing social safety net initiatives.
Before being tapped by Jones, Wallace served as chief of staff for first-term District 8 City Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez, who was arrested on a drunk driving charge mere weeks after being sworn in.
In other words, Wallace is no stranger to navigating conflict and negative press, both of which have marked Jones’ first term, which began in June.
Up until this point, Jones’ office has largely been staffed people with experience outside of San Antonio politics, something observers say has hindered her ability to forge a coalition on council.
UT-San Antonio political scientist Jon Taylor recently told the Current that bringing on staffers with deep City Hall knowledge could help Jones in the long run.
“I think that’s where she’s stumbled the most, she didn’t recognize the political landscape,” the professor said.
To point, Jones’ current chief of staff, Jenise Carroll, is a retired Air Force colonel whose last position was at the FBI. Meanwhile, Carroll’s predecessor, Jordan Abelson, previously told the Current that she’d never been to San Antonio before being tapped to run Jones’ mayral campaign.
Jones also has struggled to keep staff, having lost Abelson, communications director Gary Cooper and former events coordinator Rory Vance all within her first four months in office.
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