The Committee to Incorporate Sandy Oaks (CISO) was formed in 2012. According to an Express News article, the group formed after reviewing data from the 2010 census that showed just how many people live in the area. The group was chaired by Pedro Orduno, co-chaired by Jim Clement, and at one time or another also included Charlotte Rabe, Leeta Radcliff, Javier Sanchez, and many others. On September 11, 2014, Jim Clement admitted that CISO originally started out with 15 people and ended with only 3 or 4 people.
To gain knowledge about the incorporation process, the Committee to Incorporate Sandy Oaks reached out to the Mayor of Von Ormy, Art Martinez de Vara, who had first hand experience with the incorporation process as he had helped Von Ormy evolve into a city back in 2008.
In March 29, 2012, the Committee to Incorporate Sandy Oaks submitted paperwork to the City of San Antonio to be released from San Antonio’s Extra Teritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). Their request of 9 square miles was denied in August of 2013, as was CISO’s 2nd request for 4 square miles. San Antonio eventually released 2.4 square miles in November 2013.
The Committee to Incorporate Sandy Oaks formed the Sandy Oaks Political Action Committee (SOPAC) on February 14, 2014. The PAC was used for political campaign purposes such as the vote for incorporation as well as the first City Council election for Sandy Oaks in August of 2014. More can be learned about SOPAC by clicking here.
To inform the community about incorporation, the Committee to Incorporate Sandy Oaks sent out a postcard to currently registered voters on April 16, 2014. It also hosted a meeting at the Waterwood Park club house on the 24th of April, 4 days before early voting for incorporation started. The purpose of the meeting was to describe the process leading up to the vote as well as what would happen afterwards. This included CISO telling the community that it would announce the deadline for people to apply to run for the office of Mayor and City Council.
Chair Pedro Orduno
Pedro Orduno is a middle school social studies teacher who at the time of incorporation had lived in the Waterwood community for 18 years.
For more articles involving Pedro Orduno click here.
Co-Chair Jim Clement
Jim Clement is a 21 year retired Air Force Technical Sergeant, who at the time of incorporation had lived in the Waterwood community for 26 years. He has been involved in the community as the Waterwood Park Property Owner’s Association (WPPOA) president on multiple occasions. Clement was vice president of the board of trusties for the BexarMet Water District, and chairman of the personnel committee.
In Summer 2014, Jim Clement ran unopposed for Mayor of Sandy Oaks but gained only 63% of the vote.
For more articles involving Jim Clement click here.
Art Martinez de Vara, Consultant
Art Martinez de Vara runs his own law firm and at the time of Sandy Oaks incorporation was mayor of Von Ormy, a small city in the Southwest of Bexar County. As adviser to CISO Martinez de Vara helped with with the legalities and procedures of incorporation. He is also being used as an attorney for the WPPOA as well as the adviser for SOPAC.
After incorporation and the election of the city council, Art Martinez de Vara was placed as the city’s official attorney without an official vote or appointment. After residents voiced outrage the city council (3/5 SOPAC members) officially hired him as city attorney.
For more articles involving Art Martinez de Vara click here.
More Information
To see more articles that involve the Committee to Incorporate Sandy Oaks click here.
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