The field for San Antonio’s May 6 municipal elections is set with 79 candidates vying for 10 spots on the City Council and the mayor’s seat.

This pool of candidates, according to City Clerk Leticia Vacek, is the largest in a San Antonio municipal election since 2004. The 2015 election saw only 42 total candidates.

No matter how these races shape up, at least 40 percent of the council will be new after the election thanks to four sitting council members — in Districts 6, 8, 9 and 10 — either choosing not to seek re-election or reaching a term limit.

With important issues such as a new budget, ongoing contract negotiations with the San Antonio Fire Department, City Manager Sheryl Sculley’s contract expiration in 2018 and a pending “Bathroom Bill” in the Texas Legislature looming, that turnover could have an instant, major impact on the Alamo City, said local political strategist Christian Archer.

“We need a City Council that works well together, but it’s going to be different because of all the fresh faces,” Archer said. “There are major issues ... on the horizon, and this City Council is going to have a steep learning curve.”

Voters will also be deciding on $830 million in bond projects.

Mayor

Incumbent Ivy Taylor, appointed by a council vote in 2014 after former Mayor Julian Castro’s departure to become then-President Obama’s Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, was first elected in a runoff over challenger Leticia Van de Putte in June 2015. Taylor will presumably face the possibility of another runoff, due to expected challenges from current District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Democratic Party Chairman Manuel Medina.

Rounding out the mayoral ballot are independent contractor Antonio Diaz, paramedic Keven Roles, consultant Gerard Ponce, clinical psychologist John Velasquez, retired security guard Rhett Smith, senior federal officer Michael Idrogo, security guard Will McLeod, inspirational speaker Felicio Flores, public servant Stephen Lucke, Napoleon Madrid and political activist Julie Oldham, who will appear on the ballot as “Mama Bexar.”

Archer, who managed five mayoral campaigns for mayors Phil Hardberger and Castro from 2005-2013 and ran Van de Putte’s 2015 push for the seat against Taylor, said a winning 51 percent margin could be hard to find in 2017.

“When there are three strong candidates in a race like this - and 11 others taking away 3-4 percentage points - it’s hard to imagine there not being a runoff there,” Archer said.

District 1

Incumbent Roberto Treviño will face attorney Lauro Bustamante, organizer Robert Feria, consultant Adrian Flores, attorney Michael Montaño and association manager Ross Treviño.

District 2

Incumbent Alan Warrick II will face attorney William “Cruz” Shaw, school liasion officer Keith A. Toney, and office manager Dori L. Brown.

District 3

Incumbent Rebecca Viagran will face student Nathan Carrizales, Sylvia E. Don, Ralph E. Gerber, Ismael Reyes, Jerome C. Durham and cultural worker Jessica O. Guerrero.

District 4

Incumbent Rey Saldaña will face youth minister Rey Guevara and Johnny Arredondo.

District 5

Incumbent Shirley Gonzales will face CEO Cynthia T. Cavazos, attorney David C. Yanez, HR employee Richard Montez, business owner Daniel Lopez and office coordinator Dolores Sotomayor.

District 6

With Councilman Ray Lopez reaching his term limit, eight candidates will vie for the District 6 spot. Logistics employee Eric Gosset, teacher Ricardo “Rick” Trevino, attorney Melissa Cabello Havrda, consultant Joseph Cortez, metadata analyst Ropal Anderson, Greg Brockhouse, payroll analyst Robert Castaneda and Don Page have all filed to run.

District 7

Incumbent Cris Medina will face Michele Dalbis-Robledo, teacher Marco Reyes, public health scientist Ana Sandoval and Alfredo Esparza Colunga.

District 8

With Nirenberg’s departure for the mayoral race, six candidates will run for the District 8 seat. Attorney Manny Pelaez, business owner Patricia Stout, UTSA employee Shane A. Hinze, product management employee Tony Valdivia, Cynthia Brehm and investment adviser Paul Martin have all filed.

District 9

With Joe Krieropting out of the race, voters have 10 new choices: educator John Courage, physician David “Doc” Cohen, CEO Patty Gibbons, legislative staffer Lynlie Wallace, salesman Matt Pina, CEO Marco Barros, business owner Patrick Von Dohlen, managing partner Adam Goodman, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Bert T. Cecconi and mental health clinician Sandra Martinez-Deyarmond.

District 10

Mike Gallagher has decided not to return, so voters have 10 choices in District 10: Andrew J. Padilla, Clayton Perry, Jonathan Delmer, attorney Ezra A. Johnson, real estate investor Reinette King, retired soldier Lon Jett IV, school psychology specialist Diana Kenny, therapist John Alvarez, producer Eric Robert Morse and child care provider Celeste Montez-Tidwell.

While Archer said this group of candidates is “diverse” and should “make for some great races,” Vacek said the uptick in participation could have a different driver.

“There’s a great deal of interest” in these spots, Vacek said, “and I believe we can attribute that to the fact that the council members and mayor are paid (positions) now.”

jgerlach@express-news.net