SAN ANTONIO — Travis Wiltshire, an Alamo Heights ISD parent, recently ran for a seat on the school board, becoming the first African American candidate ever to do so.
“After the election, it was very draining, so I went on vacation,” Wiltshire said.
He didn’t win, but he says when he returned from his trip, he was met with yet another obstacle.
“When I came back, I noticed my yard did not look the way it did when I left,” Wiltshire said.
Wiltshire was among 20-some known homeowners who said their yards and plants had been poisoned with an unknown chemical.
They all say the one connection they had was their support for Wiltshire.
A GoFundMe was started shortly after to raise reward money that would go to anyone who gives information leading to an arrest. On the page it says the number of damaged homes has now increased to 42 different properties.
“It’s a disappointment, the fact that these things are occurring. I was saddened and felt responsible for the fact that, if there is a connection between me running for this position and yards signs with my name on it, I just felt bad I could be linked to this,” Wiltshire said. “Was it really a good idea for me to run if this is the type of thing this has caused?"
The GoFundMe effort has raised more than $6,500 thus far to find the culprit of all the damage. But, as of Friday, no arrest has been made.
“I just love the fact they’ve take the bull by the head and said, 'Not in our community,'" Wiltshire said.
The Alamo Heights Police Department says anyone with any information should contact them as soon as possible.