2026 Texas May Uniform Election

James Gonzalez is from the Azores, Portugal. He graduated from Southwest High School. He is married to his wife, Lucina Tamayo-Gonzalez, and they have three children together. He attends Southwest Baptist Church.

Board of Trustees – Southwest Independent School District

James Gonzalez was born in the Azores, Portugal, and moved to San Antonio, Texas when his father was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base. He graduated from Southwest High School. James lives with his wife, Lucina, and their three children in San Antonio, Texas, and attends Southwest Baptist Church.

James is an educator. He also works at Frito-Lay, where he has been for 31 years. He previously served as the district announcer for Southwest Independent School District. 

James Gonzalez | 2026 Candidate for Southwest ISD Board of ...

James is an educator and he also works at Frito-Lay. He previously served as the district announcer for Southwest Independent School District. 

James is currently serving his first term as a member of the Southwest Independent School District Board of Trustees. He was elected in 2023. He is also running for re-election in 2026.

James currently serves as a trustee for the Southwest Independent School District board. He was first elected in 2023 and is seeking re‑election to a second term.

As of March 25, 2026, James Gonzalez did not have a website or any information online.

School Curriculum

Supports increased funding for educational programs, better resources for teachers, and enhanced support for students with special needs.

- Supports increased funding for educational programs, better resources for teachers, and enhanced support for students with special needs.

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Teachers

Access to Education

Ethics & Conduct

James Gonzalez

James was born in the Azores, Portugal, and moved to San Antonio when his father was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base. He attended schools in the district and graduated from Southwest High School. He is married to Lucina Tamayo‑Gonzalez, an educator in the district, and they have three children. He attends Southwest Baptist Church and lives in San Antonio.

As of March 25, 2026, James Gonzalez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Isaac Brickman

Rafael Perez

Felton Pierre

Graham Shirley

Jose Diaz lives with his wife and three children in San Antonio, Texas. He attends Mission Concepcion Catholic Church. 

Jose is a school board member. He works at Southwest Independent School District, where he has been since May 16, 2023.

Jose Diaz| 2026 Candidate for Southwest ISD Board of Trustees

Jose is the owner and managing member at Rolling Rock Transport LLC, a trucking service. 

José "Joe" Diaz previously ran for an at-large seat on the Southwest Independent School District Board of Trustees in 2020 but did not win. He is currently an at-large member of the Southwest Independent School District Board of Trustees. He was elected in 2023 and is serving his first term.

José Diaz (Texas) - Ballotpedia

San Antonio area school boards shaken up by May 2023 elections

Jose currently serves as a trustee for the Southwest Independent School District. He was first elected in 2023 and is serving his first term. He previously ran for an at-large seat on the Southwest Independent School District Board of Trustees in 2020 but did not win.

As of March 25, 2026, Jose "Joe" Diaz did not have a website or any information online.

Supports increased funding for public education.

Emphasizes the importance of transparency in school governance and the need for increased funding for public education.

Supports improving school facilities and enhancing educational programs.

- Emphasizes the importance of transparency in school governance and the need for increased funding for public education.
- Supports improving school facilities and enhancing educational programs.

Jose "Joe" Diaz

As of March 25, 2026, Jose "Joe" Diaz’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Maxwell Schaffner

Buket Urgen

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Pete "Pedro" Bernal has an associate's degree from Palo Alto and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in applied science at Texas A&M San Antonio.

Conservative education groups shut out in all 5 NEISD races

Pete is currently a member of the Southwest ISD Board of Trustees.

'Unusual' Southwest ISD election forces some San Antonio residents ...

Pedro previously served as a trustee for the Southwest Independent School District in 2020. He also ran in 2018, 2023, and 2024, but did not win.

As of March 25, 2026, Pete "Pedro" Bernal did not have a website or any information online.

Prioritizes policies and resources to support student safety and wellbeing.

- Prioritizes policies and resources to support student safety and wellbeing.

Believes that the current election process in Southwest ISD suppresses voter turnout and supports changing it to enhance participation.

Pete "Pedro" Bernal

As of March 25, 2026, Pete "Pedro" Bernal’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Matthew Tomas

Janice Barbee

Our Bexar County and City community spoke up—and now things ...

Yolanda Garza-Lopez is from San Antonio, Texas. She earned a degree from Trinity University. Yolanda lives with her husband in San Antonio, Texas.

Yolanda is an at-large member of the Southwest Independent School District Board of Trustees. She served in that role from 2008 until May 16, 2023.

Yolanda Garza-Lopez - Ballotpedia

Yolanda Garza-Lopez| 2026 Candidate for Southwest ISD Board of ...

Yolanda currently works for a national retail company. She previously worked for the Center for Health Empowerment, a healthcare organization

Yolanda Garza-Lopez is currently a candidate for an at-large seat on the Southwest Independent School District Board in Texas. She was first elected as an at-large trustee in 2008 and served on the board from 2008 until May 2023. During her tenure, she won re-election in 2014—defeating a challenger for two at-large seats—and again in 2020 in a contested general election.

Yolanda previously served as a trustee for the Southwest Independent School District. She served five terms from 2008 to 2023, losing reelection in 2024.

As of March 25, 2026, Yolanda Garza-Lopez did not have a website or any information online.

Opposes certain district legal spending and specific voting methods used by the district.

- Opposes certain district legal spending and specific voting methods used by the district.

- Believes that the current election process in Southwest ISD suppresses voter turnout and supports changing it to enhance participation.

Emphasizes the need for transparency in decision-making and advocates for policies that prioritize student success.

- Emphasizes the need for transparency in decision-making and advocates for policies that prioritize student success.

LinkedIn

Yolanda Garza-Lopez

Yolanda Garza-Lopez is originally from San Antonio, Texas. She attended Southwest High School and earned a degree from Trinity University. Yolanda lives with her husband in San Antonio.

Yolanda previously served as a trustee for the Southwest Independent School District. She served five terms from 2008 to 2023. Yolanda previously ran for reelection in 2024, but did not win

As of March 25, 2026, Yolanda Garza-Lopez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- A trustee is an elected member of a local school board who helps govern a public school district.

- Trustees represent community interests and are responsible for setting policies that guide how the school district operates.

- The board of trustees hires and evaluates the superintendent, who manages the day-to-day operations of the district.

- Trustees approve the district’s budget, monitor spending, and may set the local tax rate or call for bond elections to fund schools.

- The board also oversees educational programs, district goals, and overall performance.

- In Texas, trustees are elected to four-year terms, often on a rotating basis, so not all seats are elected at the same time.

- Trustees serve without financial compensation.

An official who sets policy for a local school district. 

Texas Trustee, Southwest ISD

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Texas Trustee, Southwest ISD

Election results

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School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

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Access to Education

Ethics & Conduct

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