The Alamo Colleges District board race is heating up with Democratic organizer Nicolette Ardiente challenging the longtime trustee Gene Sprague. Sprague, who has served on the board for three decades, is credited with aiding in the transformation of the district from a scandal-ridden institution to a nationally acclaimed community college system. Despite his contributions, Sprague faces a formidable opponent in Ardiente, known for her leadership within the Bexar County Young Democrats and extensive community engagement work.
Running as new blood in this political narrative, Ardiente has made a name for herself in local Democratic politics. She went so far as to call Sprague multiple times to inquire about his plans to run again and whether he would consider endorsing her, as reported by the San Antonio Report. In a demonstration of his steadfast commitment, Sprague filed for reelection, a move that could keep him at the heart of the district's decision-making processes.
Key issues in this race involve faculty concerns and community awareness of the educational opportunities provided by the Alamo Colleges. Ardiente has highlighted the need for greater collaboration and awareness, stating in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News, “We have five community colleges who do this amazing work, yet the community just isn’t as tapped into what it means to them,” On the other hand, Sprague touts his success in workforce development initiatives and the growth of the district's vocational programs.
With early voting concluded, public attention turned to the polls which opened from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 4. The results of this election could pivot the district's trajectory—either continuing with Sprague's experienced hand or turning the page with Ardiente's fresh perspective. Ardiente brings firsthand experience with the challenges of higher education, as a classically trained pianist and a community engagement manager with Asian Texans for Justice, she understands the hardship of student debt and the importance of community college potential.
This race, while showcasing individual achievements and leadership styles of the two candidates, has also raised concerns about the nonpartisan approach of the Alamo Colleges board, which typically does not draw the same partisan interest as local school board races. According to the San Antonio Report, Sprague, a Republican, has expressed worries about Democrats upsetting the board's nonpartisan setup. However, Ardiente counters this perspective by insisting her ideological alignment will not impact her performance on the board.
