DeBerry concedes race for Bexar County judge as Sakai takes early lead

Republican candidate Trish DeBerry has conceded the race for Bexar County judge after former District Judge Peter Sakai took the lead in early voting totals released Tuesday night. “I will continue to be passionate about this community,” DeBerry said shortly after 8 p.m. She stood on stage with her children and said she’s enjoyed acting as a role model for them. It doesn’t matter, if they fail, she said. “Today is not a loss.” Sakai had 59 percent of the early votes, while DeBerry, former Pct. 3 commissioner, had 38 percent. Libertarian candidate Edgar Coyle had just 3 percent. Sakai will lead a Democrat-controlled Commissioners Court, managing the purse strings of a fast-growing urban county. He will take the reins from Nelson Wolff, who was appointed in 2001 and has been re-elected to the post ever since. Wolff will retire from politics when he steps down on Dec. 31 at the age of 82.

“Let me be clear, tonight’s victory belongs to all of you,” Sakai said. “It belongs to the next generation — people who have dreamed to be the first person of color to be the next governor of Texas or, hey, how about this: the next president being an Asian American.” The judge pointed out that both he and Mayor Ron Nirenberg are Asian American leaders. Nirenberg is part Filipino and Sakai is Japanese. Sakai spoke of respect for immigrants, who work hard because they understand embracing diversity, having a world that believes in equity, and a community that fosters unity. Sakai laid out the challenges ahead, including recovering from the pandemic, building a stronger local and regional economy and providing countywide access to health care. He said there needs to be an educated workforce, citing his “cradle to career” initiative that makes education the key to combating generational poverty. The judge said he hopes to continue protecting the community and combating domestic violence, particularly by adequately funding the jail, the justice system, the district attorney’s office and the sheriff’s office. “It will take more than a year or two, but today’s victory fuels my drive and commitment to you that we will see unprecedented improvements and growth in Bexar County,” Sakai said.