Dear Helotes Friends,

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me. As a small business owner and committed volunteer on community and public boards, I understand the value of collaboration. As a Council Member of the City of Helotes, I know Helotes is better when we work together. It’s an honor to work with you, listen to you, and serve you to the best of my ability.

Raised in Helotes

I was raised in Helotes and moved back in 2020 to live and work in the community that helped form who I am today. I attended Helotes Elementary School, worked at El Chaparral during high school, took horseback riding lessons near the Marnoch Homestead, and enjoyed listening to concerts at Floore’s – sometimes from my family’s backyard. My wonderful husband, Patrick, and I have been married for 15 years, and we live in Helotes Park Estates in the home where I grew up.

Leading business strategies

I leverage my business and community leadership experience in my position as a City Council member. My career has focused on developing solutions to public safety, healthcare, education, and transportation issues through effective public relations and marketing programs. I began my career in public broadcasting in San Antonio, where I learned the importance of establishing solid relationships, understanding the needs of various audiences, and delivering results that met and exceeded expectations.

I spent the next few years of my career moving up the ranks of the marketing and PR departments at organizations such as CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. I moved to the Washington, DC, area to lead PR and marketing strategies for an international law firm and launched SQM Communications LLC in 2012. I earned a bachelor’s degree in English at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Serving my community

My parents, Jacinto Quirarte, a founding dean at The University of Texas at San Antonio, and Sara, a community volunteer, taught me the importance of public service through their example. I have a long record of dedicated community service with organizations focused on helping people lift themselves out of poverty through emergency shelters, supportive housing, and employment programs, as well as helping people with food insecurity through food distribution programs.

Upon returning to Helotes in 2020, I jumped in with both feet to volunteer and be active in the community, serving as a board member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and volunteering at its food pantry, as well as serving as a board member of the Historical Society of Helotes.

Engaging residents and representing Helotes’ best interests

When the Helotes City Council and Planning & Zoning Commission faced a rezoning request for a 366-unit apartment development across from the entrance to Old Town, I organized a network of concerned residents to ensure our voices were heard. What began as a small group discussing our concerns in my living room led to numerous residents expressing their opposition to the proposed development to our city’s leaders through emails, an online petition with 257 signatures from Helotes residents, and dozens of residents who spoke at four public hearings. This collective effort led to a unanimous “no” from our City Council to the developers’ rezoning request. This involvement with the city and its residents was the seed for my interest in our local government.

Moving Helotes forward

I’ve seen the growth, and it presents challenges and opportunities for business owners in Old Town and throughout Helotes, our residents, and our neighborhoods. I support smart development that fits within our community and the small businesses that are the backbone of our community. I am proud to represent Helotes and will work hard to help ensure our community remains a great place to live, work, and visit.

Council Member (Place 4)

City of Helotes