SAN ANTONIO — Peter Sakai gaveled in a new era Tuesday morning as he took over the seat of former Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, who helmed the County Commissioners Court for more than two decades.
Judge Sakai, officially sworn in on New Year’s Day, expressed a commitment to constant communication, efficiency and listening to the people of Bexar County.
“Going to go on a listening tour and we are going to be talking to all the department heads, we’re going to talk to all the elected officials. I want to hear how we can make Bexar County more efficient and effective,” Sakai said.
From the judicial bench to the commissioners court, Sakai stressed he’s ready for a new year of progress across Bexar County.
He also pressed on bridging the digital divide by creating a public internet utility, considering that one in five Bexar County households lacks internet access.
On Tuesday, Bexar County commissioners approved $150,000 for a Wellness Recharge Room at the staff-strained jail with an overall goal of boosting worker morale.
Commissioners also greenlit a $150,000 grant for Velocity Texas, a local nonprofit that focuses on creating jobs in the bioscience field.
“I’m excited about the matters that were presented and passed today by the court,” Sakai said. “We finished here before lunch time and we’re going to go back to work, and I think we made it real clear we’re going to be open. We’re going to be transparent.”
As a district court judge, he oversaw mainly youth-related cases for more than 26 years. During his political campaign, Sakai noted a desire to speed up the judicial system by tackling the backlog in cases.
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