Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin Wolff has an inexperienced Democratic challenger in 19-year-old UTSA sophomore Brandon J. Johnson, yet even in a solidly-GOP precinct, the incumbent — with a pending DWI charge — makes no assumptions about his Nov. 8 re-election bid.

Addressing the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board, Wolff said his criminal case, set for hearing next month, won’t prevent him from continuing his public service and has already given him valuable insight into the criminal justice process.

Wolff, 51, contends his two terms representing North Bexar County on Commissioners Court as its only GOP member have been successful and merit re-election. He hopes to continue specializing in transportation policy as vice chairman of the Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Johnson, a Maryland native, moved here in 2015 to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio, where his majors are public administration and criminal justice and he’s been active in student government.

Though his work experience is limited to a supermarket produce department, Johnson believes he has a good chance of upsetting Wolff because “it’s about the people. 2016 is a very interesting election cycle.”

Wolff praised Johnson for “taking an interest and engaging” in local government and the political process.

“It’s difficult to get our population — especially our younger population — involved,” said Wolff, who previously served two terms on San Antonio’s City Council after military service and a 20-year business career.

Wolff said he’ll stay the course on his basic goal of meeting infrastructure needs.

“We’ve been able to pass over $1 billion in new transportation infrastructure across the county,” he said.

Joining Johnson and Wolff on the general election ballot is Libertarian Jason Pipoly, a USAA employee and advocate for individual rights. His Facebook page states he’s the only paraplegic in the world to swim the Catalina Channel and English Channel.

Johnson, who has raised $2,000 for his campaign, was unfazed when asked why he didn’t acquire more government experience before running for office.

“Our Founding Fathers, they wanted everybody to be part of the political system. I met the requirements to run for this office. I feel that I’m qualified to hold this elected office,” Johnson said.

“To say, ‘You don’t have the qualifications yet, you’re not quite old enough, you don’t have that experience someone older would have’ — it deters a lot of good people from running for office,” Johnson said.

“By doing this, I’m not only giving a voice to the voiceless … it’s an empowering thing for others to see a young person, still in school, taking on an important role,” Johnson said.

His top issue, Johnson said, is providing adequate transportation in a fast-growing county, with his main approach being to improve bus service. Another concern is public safety, citing a lack of street lights in some areas.

Johnson said he approved of some of Wolff’s actions, “but I just think a lot of citizens’ voices need to be heard in Precinct 3 … They feel their voices are not being heard by Commissioners Court,” he said.

Wolff’s legal issue doesn’t necessarily disqualify him from public service, Johnson said.

“I’m going to leave that up to the voters … and let the justice system take its course,” Johnson said.

A hearing in Wolff’s case is set for Oct. 12 in a county court-at-law.

After his arrest July 31, Wolff admitted he had mixed liquor and medications and said he would plead no contest to the misdemeanor charge as soon as possible, but the case has been delayed twice.

“I can assume it’s because the blood test hasn’t come back in, and the district attorney’s office has made it clear to us that he doesn’t want to hear the case until that comes in,” Wolff said.

Results are expected “any day now,” he said.

Wolff insists the case doesn’t disqualify or discourage him from public service.

“Whether I did that intentionally or unintentionally, at the end of the day, it’s still my responsibility, and I’m not making any excuses for it and I will pay whatever the price is to pay,” Wolff said.

“I do not think that that negatively impacts my ability to do this job. In fact, I could argue that it gives me some experience I didn’t have previously that actually applies to our job,” Wolff said.

“While I would prefer that I not have that particular experience, I’ll try to make some lemonade out of lemons,” he said.

jgonzalez@express-news.net

Twitter: @johnwgonzalez