Facts about current/former elected officials in Bexar County

L-R: First Bexar County Judge of Asian decent Judge Peter Sakai with two left-handed JPs from Pct. 2, Bill Donovan (now Pct. 3) & former JP Steve Walker

Some little known facts about local Elected Officials that you might not know or recall.

Did you know?

Five Bexar County Judges served in Viet Nam.
1. Probate Judge Tom Rickoff (JAG Officer)
2. Justice of the Peace Pct. 3 Bill Donovan (Medic)
3. Former Justice of the Peace Pct. 3 Keith Baker (Hospital Admin) 

4. Former County Court #14 Judge-Elect Bill White (unknown) 
5. Former Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2, Pl. 1 Steve Walker (Unit Mail Clerk)

* Former State Rep. Joe Farias also served in Viet Nam

* Also former Constable Pct. 2 Val Flores

Did you know?

A number of local officials taught in public school before their election to higher office.
1. Bexar County Commissioner Paul Elizondo (Marine) served as a Band Director for 18 years in SAISD. He also served as a State Rep.
2. Retired Judge Barbara Nellermoe (13 yrs.-History)
3. 4th Court of Appeals Judge Marilyn Barnard (7 yrs.-English)
4. 73rd & 150 District Court Judge Renee McElhaney (taught with Judge Barnard @ McArthur HS-English)

5. Retired Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 Judge Edmundo Zaragosa taught in Harlandale ISD as well as serving on HISD School board
6. Judge Scott Roberts taught one year in Middle School
7. Bexar County Clerk Gerry Rickoff (Sp. Ed.)
8. Former JP2 Steve Walker (retired teacher) (English-Sp. Ed.-Speech)
Rickoff & Walker taught @ Southwest Middle School together (87)
9. Walker also taught Judge Edmundo Zaragosa's daughter, State Senator Carlos Uresti's son & State Rep. Joe Farias' son in Harlandale ISD when State Rep. Joe Farias served on the Board

10. Former Judge Steve Walker also taught County Judge Walden Shelton @ Krueger Middle School 44 years ago & followed him to Roosevelt High School & also knew Judge Susan Skinner as a student @ Roosevelt and taught @ Fox Tech when Judge Catherine Torres-Stahl was a sophomore

Did you Know?

1. County Court Judge David Rodriguez is the nephew of former Judge Hippo Garcia.
2. Former County Court Judge Ray Olivarri was a former probation officer.
3. Former County Judge Monica Gonzalez, along with District Judges Toni Arteaga, & Catherine Torres-Stahl served as Municipal Judges.
4. State Reps. Roland Gutierrez, former Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon  & Jose Menendez were former city councilmen.
5. Former Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Edmundo Zaragosa, along with former State Rep. Joe Farias, & Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, (now JP Pct.1) all served on the Harlandale ISD School Board. (not at the same time)
6. Retiring District Judge Sol Casseb's father Sol Casseb Jr. also served as a District Judge.
7. District Judge Lori Valenzuela is the daughter of retired Army Major Gen. Freddie Valenzuela.
8. Former Congressman Charlie Gonzalez served as a Judge & Mediator before being elected Congressman to succeed his father Henry B. Gonzalez.
8. Former Tax-Assessor Collector Sylvia Romo also served as a State Rep. & as Bexar County Democratic Party Chair.
9. Former 4th Court of Appeals Justice Steve Hilbig, served as Bexar County DA before his election on the 4th Court.
10. District Judge Peter Sakai is the first elected Judge of Asian descent.
11. Former Distict Judge Barbara Nellermoe is known by her peers as the singing Judge due to her opera-like voice.
12. Former El Rey Feo Ronnie Gabriel is the younger brother of former  District Judge Johnny Gabriel.
13. Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus who has announced he is not running for re-election is only the second San Antonio native Speaker in nearly 100 years as well as the first Speaker of Jewish lineage.
14. Probate Judge Tom Rickoff & brother Bexar County Clerk Gerry Rickoff are one set of three brothers currently serving in public office in Bexar County, the other two being former Congressman & now JP Ciro Rodriguez & Commissioner Chico Rodriguez, former Mayor Julian Castro & State Rep. Joaquin Castro.
15. County Judge Nelson Wolff & Commissioner Kevin Wolff are the first father & son currently serving on the Commissioner's Court. County Judge Jason Wolff is cousin to Comm. Kevin Wolff & nephew to County Judge Nelson Wolff.
16. Former District Judge Ray Angelini & former 4th Court of Appeals Justice Karen Angelini are the only husband & wife Judges in Bexar County.
17. Former State Rep. Frank Corte is the only Bexar County Elected Official to serve in Afghanistan with the Marines during his tenure as a State Rep.
18. DA Susan Reed is the first Female DA in Bexar County history as well as serving as a District Judge.
19. Bexar County Commissioner Paul Elizondo is Godfather to former State Senator Leticia van de Putte's children.
20. County Judge Nelson Wolff is the ony current officeholder with a building named after him. (Nelson Wolff Stadium)
21. Retired District Judge Larry Noll taught Law courses @ St. Mary's Law School to the majority of Judges in Bexar County.
22. Former 4th Court of Appeals Chief Justice Alma Lopez was the first Hispanic female to serve as a Chief Justice of a higher court in the United States. 
23. Former 4th Court of Appeals Chief Justice Catherine Stone who followed Chief Justice Alma Lopez, is only the 2nd female 4th Court of Appeals Chief Justice.

24. Retiring Judge Sol Casseb played in a band that opened for Rock Legends Steppinwolf, Iron Butterfly & Three Dog Night.

25. Former Judge Jason Pulliam is only the second African-American man to win countywide election in Bexar County. The last African-American Judge in the 70's was Judge Ben Samples who also held the same county court. (#5) former Judge Carmen Kelsey was the only African American woman to hold a Judgeship
26. Three Judges previously served as Judges to include District Judge Richard Price, former County Court Judge Bill White & Wayne Christian.

27. District 6 Councilman Ray Lopez also served as President of the NISD School Board.

28. Justice of the Peace Pct. 2, Pl. 2 now Pct. 3 Bill Donovan is certified to practice before the Supreme Court.

29. Former State Rep. Mike Villarreal won his first race as State Rep. by one vote.

30.Former State Senator Jeff Wentworth, now Pct.3 JP also served as a County Commissioner and in the Junior Chamber of Commerce with former Judge Steve Walker.

31. Former Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 Steve Walker is the only Judge to serve as a union president (Harlandale Federation of Teachers-AFL-CIO) President of the San Antonio Junior Chamber of Commerce & as a City Councilman. (Balcones Heights) Also only Judge to work as a local media reporter in television, radio & print. KENS-5, KONO Radio & Express-News & currently a Sunday columnist for La Prensa.