In this episode of "Beyond the Bite," Eddie Aldrete sits down with guests Demonte Alexander, CEO of Citizen Reach and Director of Public Affairs for Bridgewater Consulting, and Shay Bluntzer from Marlin Blue Strategists to discuss their professional transitions and insights into the current state and future of San Antonio politics.

Demonte elaborates on the mission of Citizen Reach, focusing on public engagement to help various entities build consensus within the community, and outlines his strategic work with Bridgewater Consulting in the work they do in the utilities sector. Shay reflects on founding Marlin Blue Strategists after nearly two decades at NuStar Energy, emphasizing the importance of government relations in the energy sector and his ongoing support for organizations like Haven for Hope.

The conversation transitions into an analysis of the political landscape in Texas, particularly the recent election of State Representative Dustin Burrows as Speaker of the Texas House. Shay and Demonte break down the political dynamics and legislative challenges that led to Burrows’ election, including the impact of key votes on impeachment and school choice. They also discuss the implications of the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, also known as the "Death Star" bill, and its effect on local governance versus state mandates. San Antonio city leaders strongly opposed that bill, whose author is the new Speaker of the House, and the guests discuss what that means for cities in general and San Antonio more specifically.

In the latter part of the podcast, the focus shifts to San Antonio's upcoming mayoral and city council races. Eddie, Shay, and Demonte discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the open seats and the importance of collaborative leadership. They analyze the fundraising efforts of various candidates and the significance of their financial reports. The conversation highlights the necessity for the next mayor and city council to foster better relationships with state leadership to effectively address local issues such as infrastructure, public safety, and economic development.

The episode concludes with a hopeful outlook on what characteristics and policies could benefit San Antonio's future leadership.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/demonte-alexander-7a6a7620/

https://www.bridgewcg.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shay-bluntzer-054a1813/

https://marlinbluestrategists.com/

https://house.texas.gov/members/3055

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