The race for the Alamo Colleges District 9 board seat has narrowed to two contenders who told students they will prioritize classroom needs and staff input if elected. At a public forum hosted by San Antonio College students, Robert Garcia and Carolyn DeLecour outlined overlapping priorities and pledged more direct campus engagement. Their contest follows a first-round election that pushed the two to a runoff, and it has taken on added intensity after election administrators adjusted early-voting sites in the district.
Beyond the forum, practical election logistics have become part of campaign conversations. A late change removed two Northside library locations from the posted early-voting schedule, prompting both campaigns to alert voters and adjust outreach materials. With the runoff scheduled for June 13 and early voting set for June 1–9, organizers and candidates warn that fewer convenient polling options could affect turnout in what is already a narrowly decided contest.
What candidates told students
At the student-organized event, the candidates emphasized a common theme: decisions should be driven by the needs of students, faculty and staff. Garcia framed his bid around a desire to inject fresh perspectives and fiscal accountability into board deliberations, promising that tax dollars should directly support classroom success. DeLecour drew on decades in the classroom, arguing that faculty morale and respect for educators are central to positive student outcomes and deserve stronger representation at the governing table.
Backgrounds and campaign messages
Garcia, a certified public accountant and alumnus of Northwest Vista College and the University of Texas at San Antonio, has emphasized responsible budgeting and frequent campus presence. He finished first in the May 2 election with 29.2 percent of the vote, and his campaign has led in fundraising. Campaign finance and transparent spending were recurring touchpoints in his remarks to students and supporters.
DeLecour, a retired educator who spent 27 years teaching at Palo Alto College, returned from retirement to run after colleagues voiced concerns that faculty perspectives were being undervalued. She earned 28.9 percent in the first round and highlighted her classroom experience as the basis for holding trustees accountable to student-centered outcomes.
Issues raised at the forum
Both candidates took questions on several campus priorities. They addressed the integration of artificial intelligence in coursework, the availability of affordable and nutritious food on campus, alignment between workforce needs and curricula, and the importance of wraparound services that support students outside the classroom. Each candidate pledged to examine resource allocation closely and to seek more voice for faculty and staff in district policymaking.
Commitment to on-campus listening
Garcia said he would visit campuses monthly to eat lunch and speak directly with students so he could bring specific, on-the-ground feedback back to the board. DeLecour stressed that trustees must be willing to ask hard questions and ensure every policy decision reflects a commitment to students. Both argued that improved educational outcomes in the Alamo Colleges system will have wider effects on poverty reduction and economic mobility in the region.
Electoral math and polling site changes
The May 2 vote produced a total of 5,271 ballots in a crowded field; Garcia led DeLecour by a narrow margin that required the runoff. Incumbent Leslie Sachanowicz finished third, and a former trustee also ran but placed lower. With only the Alamo Colleges District 9 race on the June 13 ballot for residents of that single-member district, election officials had expected low turnout, making accessible voting locations especially important.
According to officials, two Northside library venues were removed from the early-voting list because of scheduled summer-reading events, and one substitute location later declined to host voting. The district now lists San Antonio College’s Victory Center, Northeast Lakeview College and Hope Church as early-voting options for District 9 voters. Campaigns say they are scrambling to update printed materials and notify constituents about the revised roster of sites.
Voter outreach and next steps
Both Garcia and DeLecour have urged neighbors to confirm their assigned polling places and to participate despite the shuffle. Bexar County Elections provides an online calendar and a map where residents can verify hours and locations for early voting. Given the tight margins that separated the candidates in the first round, each vote and each easily accessible polling location could be decisive.
Voters in District 9 who have questions are encouraged to contact the Bexar County Elections Office or consult the county’s early-voting materials. Meanwhile, both campaigns continue to press their message that trusteeship should prioritize the people who learn and work daily in Alamo Colleges’ classrooms.