Ethics Meeting
Judge Nelson Wolff, Bexar County Judge
Nelson William Wolff has represented Bexar County in various
political offices since 1971, when he was elected to the Texas House of
Representatives. After that he was elected to the Texas Senate in 1973, the San
Antonio City Council in 1987 and he served as Mayor of San Antonio from 1991 to
1995. He currently serves as Bexar County Judge, a position he was appointed to
in 2001 and has since been elected to three times, most recently in November
2010. He is only the second person in more than a century to serve as both Mayor
of San Antonio and Bexar County Judge.
With his colleagues on the Commissioners Court and in the City of San
Antonio, Judge Wolff has worked to promote greater economic development in Bexar
County, including the successful efforts to lure Medtronic; Kohls; Becton,
Dickinson; and the expansion of Toyota Motor Manufacturing to include production
of the Tacoma. Most recently he’s been very active working with numerous
companies tied to the Eagle Ford Shale play such as Halliburton, Baker Hughes,
EOG Resources, Schlumberger and Weatherford.
Judge Wolff also led the effort to create a $500 million, 10-year regional
flood control program that is now in its third year. The program is addressing
flooding regardless of political jurisdiction so all of Bexar County and the
surrounding areas can be protected.
He initiated the County’s effort to successfully convince voters to approve a
visitor tax-backed bond package for $415 million using a mixture of hotel
occupancy and motor vehicle rental taxes. Those bond funds are aiding in the
construction of 13 amateur sports facilities — four of which are already
complete, a dedicated performing arts venue at the Municipal Auditorium,
improvements to the San Antonio River and future improvements to the Community
Arenas.
In July 2008, Judge Wolff and Commissioners Court approved a $900 million
plan backed by bonds issued over three years to build a new trauma center and
provide other improvements for the University Health System.
As Mayor of San Antonio, Wolff oversaw the establishment of the University of
Texas at San Antonio Downtown Campus; construction of the Nelson W. Wolff
Municipal Stadium, home to the San Antonio Missions; and the development of the
San Antonio Public Library’s central branch designed by renowned architect
Ricardo Legorreta. Also during his four-year tenure, the new City Hall Chambers
opened in the Municipal Plaza Building and he led the effort to pass the largest
parks bond issue in city history.
Wolff has authored four books and is an avid reader and collector of 20th
Century first editions. Challenge of Change, published in 1975, is
about Wolff’s experience in the Texas Legislature and the Constitutional
Convention he participated in and for which he was largely responsible.
Baseball for Real Men reflects on life and Wolff’s love of the game.
Mayor: An Inside View of San Antonio Politics 1981-1995 takes a look at
local politics during his and Henry Cisneros’ years leading the city. Wolff’s
most recent book Transforming San Antonio: An Insider’s View of the AT&T
Center, Toyota, the PGA Village and the River Walk Extension explores the
four major developments in recent history that have provided urban renewal and
growth for the city.
Wolff holds a bachelor of business administration from St. Mary’s University
and a doctorate of jurisprudence from St. Mary’s University School of Law.
Throughout his life, Wolff has excelled in both politics and business.
In 1961, Wolff, his father and two brothers formed Alamo Enterprises Building
Supplies, which they grew to an eight-store chain before selling in 1977. A year
later with his brothers George and Gary, Wolff founded Sun Harvest Farms, a
successful chain of natural food stores. They sold the nine-store chain in 1999.
Together, Wolff and his wife, Tracy, have six children and five
grandchildren.