{"id":166875,"date":"2026-02-16T17:25:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T17:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/166875\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T17:25:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T17:25:09","slug":"san-antonio-mayor-gina-ortiz-jones-hires-yet-another-new-communications-director","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/166875\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones hires yet another new communications director"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones speaks to reporters during a recent press conference. Credit: Michael Karlis<\/p>\n

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has a new spokesperson \u2014\u00a0again.<\/p>\n

The latest to take on the high-turnover job is Washington, D.C., insider Andrew Fuentes. He replaces Austin-based Phillipa Martinez-Berrier, who worked in challenging position for roughly five months under a contract between Jones\u2019 office and D.C.-based Frontwood Strategies.<\/p>\n

The deal with Frontwood Strategies was in place while Jones found a permanent communications director. The contract for Martinez-Berrier\u2019s services cost taxpayers $10,000 a month \u2014 a price that drew the ire<\/a> of District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte, one of two conservatives on the dais.<\/p>\n

Fuentes, a San Antonio-native and self-described Army brat, previously spent eight years working on the Hill for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. He\u2019s the fourth communications director for Jones, the Biden White House\u2019s Under Secretary of the Air Force, since she took office last June.<\/p>\n

The first person on the job, Gary Cooper, was \u201creassigned\u201d to a different city office after less than a week<\/a>. His successor, Carlos de Leon, left after less than 72 hours<\/a> in the position.<\/p>\n

Fuentes has his work cut out for him.<\/p>\n

Jones is currently under investigation<\/a> for an alleged Code of Conduct violation over accusations she verbally attacked District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur earlier this month over a disagreement about code violations at downtown nightspot the Bonham Exchange. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy style of leadership is grounded in my lived experience, and that approach does not always align with the traditional templates of female leaders or my colleagues\u2019 views,\u201d Jones said in a statement following the purported blowup.<\/p>\n

Depending on the results of the investigation, Council may call for a vote to censure Jones, a way City Council can send a signal of disapproval to one of its members without attempting to strip their powers.<\/p>\n

\u201cLord, grant him strength,\u201d one City Hall staffer said of Fuentes\u2019 hiring. The staffer asked not be named over fear of political blowback. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tJones\u2019 office also confirmed that her special assistant, Anna San Miguel, has also departed. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tMayor Gina Ortiz Jones hired a $10,000-a-month Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm to handle her communications. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"San\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe memo alleges Jones engaged in \u2018repeated instances of unprofessional conduct\u2019 during her time as mayor. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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