Roland Gutierrez

District 3 City Councilman Roland Gutierrez said he’s opening the doors of his office to seek qualified applicants to fill his council seat.

“I want to open this process to anyone who is passionate about the South Side, and wants to keep working the initiatives we have started,” Gutierrez said. “Anyone who is interested in the position should contact my office.”

Gutierrez, 37, announced on Oct. 20 he would run for the House District 119 seat being vacated by state Rep. Robert Puente. Gutierrez decision to run for the state House requires him to resign his District 3 Southeast Side council seat later this year.

Names that have surfaced as likely interim replacements for Gutierrez’s District 3 seat include Jennifer Ramos and Carlos Villarreal.

Ramos works as an aide for Gutierrez and also serves as an Alamo Community College District board of trustees. Villarreal is a board member of the San Antonio Independent School District. Gutierrez, as an outgoing councilman, can recommend to the council his replacement. The City Charter requires a council majority to pick the interim appointee.

Gutierrez said while Ramos and Villareal are people he is considering for the position, he has not made a final decision.

“(Ramos) is someone who works with me. I am very familiar with her and how hard she works for this district,” Gutierrez said. “But by no means is the process closed or been decided.”

Gutierrez said applicants should be people who have a history or community service on the South Side, especially with neighborhood organizations.

“They should either be people who have been elected officials before, or people who are part of neighborhood committees,” Gutierrez said. “To be effective as a councilman, you have to know your neighborhood committee presidents, and be able to work with them closely.”

Gutierrez also said being a councilman means working long hours, even on weekends.

The rewards of being a councilman are helping to improve the district you live in, said Gutierrez.

“You get to be a part of changing the community for the better by bringing new libraries, or roads and economic development,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez said anyone interested in the District 3 council seat should contact Gutierrez’s office, or visit his Web site, www.rolandgutierrez.com.