‘No regrets’: A conversation with Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff

Wolff came from a family that went from selling roofing on the street corners of Southwest Military to owning Alamo Enterprises Building Supplies, Sun Harvest Farms grocery stores, and Green Fields Market with his late father and two brothers. He served in the Texas House of Representatives, on San Antonio City Council, and as the city’s mayor. A Democrat, he was elected to the Bexar County Judge seat in 2001. 

In January, Wolff’s time as county judge will come to an end when a new leader takes the seat. Before that day comes, MySA sat down with Wolff to talk about the changing political landscape, the Spurs, and his legacy starting with the past two years.

MySA: How different were the past two years under COVID-19 from the past 21 years?

Judge Nelson Wolff: I had only gone through a couple of things that were maybe somewhat similar to that. When I was on the City Council (1987 – 1991) and then mayor (1991-1995), AIDS began to really spread, and for the last 20 some-odd years I was administrator in the AIDS program. And, you know, we never could really ever get a vaccine that worked for AIDS because the complications of the disease itself.

And then we had an Ebola outbreak in Dallas and we were preparing for it here. It didn’t come. And then when COVID-19 began, I don’t know if anybody anywhere realized how major a pandemic it was going to be.

It was something entirely different than AIDS because it spread through the air rather than body fluids and so it could go anywhere. It could go extremely fast. … I don’t think anybody was prepared for it. And it became clear that we would have to impose some emergency orders to stop the spread of it. So the mayor and I ended up meeting with public health officials. I think we met together over 400 times.

During the pandemic we had 319 media briefings that we did at 6:13 p.m. every night. We read 600 daily situation reports. … I think we ended up issuing — over the two years — around 30 different emergency orders and they were all based in science, based on the data we collected, and based on medical information. We had good working relationships with [Gov. Greg Abbott] and he supported us and did similar things on the statewide [level]. … Then politics got to him and it ended up being a terrible thing.

We were overruled on a number of common sense things — wearing a mask and spreading apart — you know, just common sense things. … I must tell you, in my view, that lead to thousands and thousands of deaths across the state because they just turned it into a political nightmare. … I was attacked twice. It really showed some of the worst sides of society. … I still do not understand why politics played such a big role and it is just terrible that it did.

MySA: How do you feel about the legacy you leave behind?

Wolff: When you look at the first day I walked onto the floor of the Texas House of Representatives in January 1971, you kind of look back and think “Well, what are some of the things that you did right? Or at least you think you did right?” I’ve always thought of the reform of the criminal justice system that we’ve made to our specialty courts.

I’m proud of what we’ve done in the environment. What we’ve done in the Mission Reach at the river south. It is the largest ecological restoration of an urban river in the United States. What we’re doing at San Pedro Creek doing today. … And then what we’ve done with with our hospital district. We’ve substantially increased their revenue base over 22 years and we’ve got, now I think, the finest hospital district in the country. We do business through University Health.

MySA: What about the AT&T Center?

Wolff: Well you know, that was the first job I had when I came in [as Bexar County Judge], was to make sure it was built on time and within budget. The Spurs actually did the work, and the contractor, but [commissioners court] reviewed every session and got it open. It’s a great arena.

Then we went to the voters in 2008 to provide some additional funding to bring it up to standards and also to remodel the Freeman Coliseum. We built 350,000 square feet of climate-controlled buildings out there, so we’ve planted a lot of money into it and the grounds have been very successful.

The Spurs have been successful. They won four championships since they’ve been there.

MySA: What do you think about the fears people in San Antonio have that the Spurs want to leave?

Wolff: I think a lot of people thought that. I thought that myself. But then I spent a lot of time talking with them, particularly with Peter Holt, and with their leadership. I think I’ve got a better understanding of where they are. Their source of revenue is becoming more and more from general revenue from television. That’s nationwide. So, I think they’re going to be receiving quite a bit of money here in the next couple of years.

Stadiums are still important. There’s a lot of richer places they can go and we know that, and they know that. I think the NBA has been real good about not just shifting people around. I think the Holt’s are totally committed to San Antonio and they still control it. So I think as long as the Holts are there, I’m confident, but we also have a contract with them and there’s 10 more years to go.

If they were to move out tomorrow it would cost them I think about $120 or $130 million. We have some safeguards in terms of what would be paid if they did move. But, I think Peter Holt made it so clear to citizens that he loves the city and the Spurs and that they’re not going anywhere.

You never can tell what’s going to happen 10 years from now or what will happen down the road, but I believe in the current management. They’re investing a lot of money out there at The Rock, or the Human Performance Center, so they’re putting another stake into the ground. I think they’re going to stay here unless something happens in the future. I don’t know what that might be.

MySA: What about NFL and San Antonio?

Wolff:The NFL? I don’t really give a damn about them. What I do care about is having a professional team. And we have one and it’s called UTSA. … We don’t need to have the NFL. What we need to do is focus on UTSA. They’re exciting games. If I can’t go see them in person, which I do, then I’ll watch them on television.

Coach Jeff Traylor has done a wonderful job out there. He’s inspired them. I’m just very proud of him. I mean, the first three quarters of the recent UT game — we had their backs against the wall. We’re playing with the best teams in the nation.

MySA: Looking back at your time here, would you have done anything differently?

Wolff: You know, I’ve always been the one that you know, has no regrets. For the good or the bad. 

MySA: So what’s next? What are you working on?

Wolff: I’m trying to figure that out myself.

MySA: Are you going to take a break?

Wolff: I don’t think so. I just can’t stand to do nothing.