For some, the city’s upcoming, $850 million bond is more than an opportunity to fund major projects outside the scope of the annual budget — it’s a campaign strategy.

In May, voters will either approve or reject the largest bond in the city’s history on the same ballot that elects the next council.

But to capitalize, candidates must criticize, according to Greg Brockhouse, a political consultant who’s considering a run himself.

“You better be prepared to see candidates running on wasteful government spending,” Brockhouse warned. “And that land bridge is a no-brainer.”

On his blog, Brockhouse has taken aim at a bond proposal of $15 million for a land bridge to connect the two halves of beloved Hardberger Park — or, as he called it, a “land bridge for critters” that’s “an affront” to residents who need basic services.

“I think we need to get back to basics,” Brockhouse said. “We need to focus our attention and our tax dollars on where it’s needed most.”

Brockhouse said a decision on whether he’ll run in District 6 is “coming pretty quick.”

“I’m looking,” he said. “I’ve been out in the community for the past four months on a listening tour to make that decision … Probably nobody understands the issues in the district better than I do.”

Meanwhile, former District 10 Councilman Carlton Soules is disseminating a second draft of a document that bashes “Mayor Taylor’s 2017 Bond Package” as wasteful and too generous to downtown.

The updated document concluded, “This bond needs a reallocation of resources back to historical levels before it is brought to voters, or a public discussion should take place as to why this new direction is being taken.”

On Monday, Taylor told me, “I have no idea what is going through his mind. And he has not been kind enough to share it with me.” (She took special exception to Soules’s designation of the bond package as hers alone.)

Soules, who served on council alongside Taylor until 2013, wasn’t available for comment that day. On Wednesday, he got back to me.

“I do analytical work,” said Soules, who now manages campaigns. “I also happen to be a former council person who invested three years of my life looking out for my council district, and I know how bonds work. So from my perspective, I want to make sure we do the right thing for the city and the council districts.”

He denied having a larger political motive.

“I don’t have a big strategy,” Soules said. “I sent (the document) to all of the council members. I’m going to share it with community leaders.”

At the same time, he added, “Let’s be realistic. Council chose to put this on an election cycle … I’m sure that candidates also would use it. That’s just the natural thing. The largest bond in San Antonio is going to be an election issue. You just can’t separate the two.”

Historically, San Antonio voters have embraced bond packages, supporting the last two with an average of 70 percent in favor.

Brockhouse, for one, senses a political advantage in Soules’s attack.

“It’s a smokescreen for whatever Carlton is up to,” he said, adding, “The guy’s going about it the wrong way, going against the mayor and trying to take (the bond) down. That’s a political hit piece.”

bchasnoff@express-news.net